The Prophet Elisha
2 Kings 6:16 So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
Once, the King of Syria thought he had a spy. Every time he went to attack Israel, Israel knew ahead of time where the attack would be. A servant told him, “It isn’t a rat! It’s a prophet!” Indeed, the prophet Elisha had been giving the King of Israel inside intel from God about where and how Syria would attack.
So, the King of Syria sent his armies after one prophet and his servant. They were in the city of Dothan at the time. The armies came by night and surrounded the city. When Elisha’s servant saw it, he was terrified. But Elisha was unbothered. He said, “Those with us are more than those who are with them.” Then he prayed for God to open the servant’s eyes that he might see – and he did. “And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”
Elisha had been right, and those angelic warriors were far better than anything Syria had.
No blood was shed that day. Elisha instead prayed for God to blind the Syrian army. Elisha led them to the King of Israel, asked the Lord to open their eyes, and instructed that they be fed a great feast and sent home.
The God of Elijah is the Lord God of Sabbaoth – that is, the God of armies. This God could send forth His heavenly armies to destroy all who oppose Him. Yet, He does something so much greater. He makes peace. As when He came as a man to suffer and die, He let Himself be arrested. Instead of calling twelve legions of angels to fight, He healed His enemy’s ear and He died to save the world.
Who is this that comes in glory
With the trump of jubilee?
Lord of battles, God of armies,
He has gained the victory.
He who on the cross did suffer,
He who from the grave arose,
He has vanquished sin and Satan;
He by death has crushed His foes.
Lutheran Service Book 494:2