Day 183 – Elisha & his Prayer

• Elisha continued to work many miracles in the name of God, and we read about some of them today. Indeed the bible records twice as many miracles performed by Elisha than his predecessor Elijah. Can you think why that might be?
• In the first example in 2 Kings 6, we read about the missing axe head. This would have been a very expensive item at the time, which is why the prophet was so upset about loosing it. What did Elisha miraculously do to help the prophet out?
• In the main passage, we read about the Syrian king again. This time he’s angry because Elisha always seems to know his battle plans (2 Kings 6:11-12), and passes them on to the king of Israel. What does the king of Syria decide to do?
• How does Elisha help his servant to be brave? The servant wasn’t blind, so what did Elisha mean when he asked God to “open his eyes that he might see” (2 Kings 6:17)? What did the servant see on the mountains?
• In the next verse, we read that Elisha prayed for the attacking army to be struck with physical blindness, interestingly mirroring the previous verse. What surprising thing happened to the captured army later?
• The army of horses and chariots of fire were angels. What do you know about angels? I’ve put some very brief notes below, but you may want to search online, or in your study bible, for more information.
• The angels that Elisha’s servant saw were there all the time. He just didn’t see them, like we don’t. Can you imagine angels with us now, even though you can’t see them? How might that challenge your perspectives of life, and give you courage?
• Where else have we read about a fiery chariot? The second reading today links to it.
• Have you ever imagined about what angels are like, or what they do? Do you have an image of angels in your head? Was it an image of children with tinsel on their head in a Nativity play? Or little fat baby angels floating around shooting love arrows in a cheeky way? Does society have an image of what an angel is? How have today’s passages helped change your understanding?
• Do you wish you could see the greater spiritual world around us, like Elisha’s servant did? May I challenge you and suggest that in Jesus we have seen the “invisible made visible” in a greater way than that experienced by the servant? Do you agree?

A few notes about angels: Angels are created beings, just like humans have been created, with intelligence, emotions and their own will. Angels that have turned away from God are called demons. Angels are spiritual beings (i.e. they don’t have physical bodies like we do). They have greater knowledge and understanding, especially of scripture, than we do. They have many roles, including worshipping and serving God, bringing answer to prayer, helping in spiritual battles and so forth. It’s important to remember that angels will never become human, and human beings will never become angels.

With their seemingly greater attributes, you might consider that humans are rather lowly in comparison, but consider this: the bible never refers to angels being made in God’s image. Only humans get that honour. And even more, angels don’t have a redeemer like we do. Angels that choose to sin are cast out – whereas we have a Saviour, through whose actions we can be welcomed back home, even when we sin. Does that help you to consider how amazing you are?