In 2 Kings 6:8 (following the passage discussed in the previous article), a country called Aram was at war with the country of Israel. Wars weren’t uncommon throughout the history of God’s people in ancient times, I’m afraid, so it’s important to clarify which country was fighting with them at this time.
In verses 8-12, the king of Aram was getting frustrated because the king of Israel seemed to know his military plans. On multiple occasions, the king of Israel knew the Aramean king’s plans, and could adjust for them. When the king of Aram said that he must have a spy, he was told – correctly – that it wasn’t subterfuge. Instead, the prophet Elisha was telling the king of Israel about his plans, even when the king of Aram tried to keep them a secret.
In verses 13-14, as you might imagine, the king wanted to eliminate the “mole” that was leaking his military plans, so he sent a military force to capture Elisha. The amount of firepower that he sent seems like a lot to take just one man, but it seems that the king wasn’t taking any chances, and he had the city surrounded.
When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.
2 Kings 6:15 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/2ki.6.15.NIV
Imagine getting up in the morning and looking out the window to find yourself surrounded by an army of soldiers and tanks. Elisha’s servant had that sort of experience, and he reacted as we would expect: he panicked! I like how the NASB translates some of his words: “This is hopeless, my master!”
Even the greatest human force is nothing compared to God’s power, though, and Elijah comforted his servant with a reminder about what was actually going on.
“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
2 Kings 6:16-17 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/2ki.6.16-17.NIV
Even when we have faith, and we want to believe and trust God, sometimes a little bit of evidence helps make that a lot easier. Elisha asked God to show his servant how the battle was actually lopsided in their favor, rather than the two of them being outnumbered by the Aramean force.
Then (see verses 18-20), when the Arameans approached Elisha’s location, he asked God to make them blind, and God answered that prayer favorably. Elisha told the blinded troops that they were in the wrong place, but he would take them where they needed to be. (By the way, I’m not sure if being blind here was not being able to see at all, or perhaps just not recognizing what they were seeing.)
Then, Elisha took them to the city of Samaria (the capital of the very nation of Israel that they were at war with), where God – at Elisha’s request – allowed them to see again.
In verse 21, when presented with this “gift” of enemy soldiers, the king of Israel might seem almost too eager to kill his enemies. However (per Long, p.336, citing others), a former king of Israel named Ahab had been previously rebuked for not killing a king of Aram (see 1 Kings 20:35-43), so the current king of Israel might have wanted to avoid that same mistake.
Note that the Arameans were originally planning to take Elisha by force, but God’s army didn’t need to kill any of them to be victorious over them. When they realized that they had been led to Samaria, even though they were a sizable force to take one prophet, they were now in enemy territory and I suspect that they were substantially outnumbered!
Instead of letting the king of Israel kill these Aramean soldiers, though, Elisha told the king to do the opposite (despite the fact that they were sent to capture Elisha in the first place). Instead of killing them, they were fed (and fed well, it seems), then sent back home. (See verses 22-23.)
And, when the soldiers returned to Aram, it sounds like this demonstration of God’s power was enough to convince the king of Aram to call off further raids into Israel. If this was how the God of Israel responded to a squad sent to take just one person, Aram was not likely going to prevail against the country of Israel as a whole, at least not while God was on their side.
So, why did God work here? While this miracle definitely shows God’s power, I think that it also shows His nature. Mercy was shown even to the Arameans who were at war with His people. And, God didn’t just save Elisha from the king of Aram; God turned this Aramean mission (to capture just one man) into some level of peace between Aram and the nation of Israel.
In your life, how do you treat those who God has given you victory over? When you “win” (whatever that might look like), do you gloat and brag about it to those who “lost”? Or, do you show them mercy – like the mercy that God has shown you – and treat them with consideration and respect?
From Sunday School lesson prepared for June 8, 2025
References:
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – 1 & 2 Kings, by Jesse C. Long, Jr. © 2002 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 