Matthew 26:53: Jesus said, “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels.”
Like Eisha, Jesus is aware that he has an angelic army at his disposal, as he declares in the verse above. Yet, Jesus shows even greater strength and courage. When soldiers arrive to capture him, he allows it, going through with his crucifixion, trusting that God would bring the greatest victory of all, the Resurrection. Will we follow Jesus’ courageous example?
The Christian Fight
Over the last few weeks, partly because of the 80th anniversary of VE day and the 85th anniversary of Dunkirk, we have been looking at a number of Biblical passages to do with fighting or battles. Today is the last in the series.
It helps, I think, at times to see the Christian life as a battle. It reminds us that as Jesus said, that it is not going to be easy. After all, Jesus said, “Take up your cross and follow me.” Paul in his letters to his younger co-worker Timothy three times describes the Christian life as ‘fighting the good fight.’ Peter also, tells us that ‘sinful desires’ war against your soul and warns us that the devil prowls around like a devil seeking someone to devour.
But, if the Christian life is a battle, are there things we can learn from the art of war that will help us in the Christian life? Possibly. Certainly, the Old Testament we are told was written to help us as Christians today and it contains a lot of accounts of war and battles. What might they teach us about living the Christian life today?
The Art of War
Let’s consider one aspect of the art of war to start with. Wars are often won by those who control what is seen and not seen. In fact, this was a major factor in World War II. Britain was both able to see what the Germans were up to and able to make the Germans fail to see what the Allies were up to.
In preparation for a possible war, Britain had a new technology – radar – installed along the south and east coast. This important part of preparation for defence was called, ‘Chain-Home’. It meant they could see the Luftwaffe coming and was a crucial factor in the success of the Battle of Britain.
For D-day a lot of effort went into persuading the Germans that the invasion was going to occur at Calais and not Normandy and later than the planned June 1944 date. This was called, ‘Operation Bodyguard’. Indeed, was so convinced by the deception, that he delayed redeploying troops from Calais to Normandy for nearly seven weeks.
Elisha and the Art of War
In our passage, we also discover that Elisha uses this strategy in the war of his day, which was between the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the kingdom of Aram in the ninth century BC. The Kingdom of Aram was based around Damascus, which is today the capital of Syria.
The passage starts by telling us that the King of Aram was fighting against Israel. This was not a major war of conquest, but probably raids to try and loot parts of Israel. But like the RAF in the Battle of Britain, the Israelites seemed to know when and where they were raiding and so were able to defend against the attacks. Israel seemed to be able to see what was about to happen!
The King of Aram’s initial assumption is that one of his own advisors is leaking the information. But he soon discovers the truth. Elisha, the man of God, was telling the King of Israel where and when Aram was going to raid. Israel’s secret weapon was God’s vision.
So, the King of Aram, sends a large army to Dothan, where Elisha is staying. They try to take the man who sees everything by surprise and travel overnight, so that when Elisha’s servant wakes up in the morning he is shocked to discover a massive Aramean army surrounding the small city they are in!
Elisha, the man of God, who sees is not surprised. Instead, he prays that God will shut the eyes of the Aramean army. This was probably not literal blindness, because the army was able to follow him 11 miles South to Samaria, the capital of Israel. But it does stop them seeing who it is that is talking to them, i.e. Elisha the one they are meant to be after, and it does stop them seeing that they are the ones who are being captured by Elisha as he leads them into the centre of Samaria, the heart of Israelite power. Like the Germans on D-Day, they are utterly blindsided as to what is going on. It is not until Elisha prays that their eyes are open again that they realise what has happened.
Elisha with the power of God, has used the art of war to protect Israel from raids and to capture and army that was sent to capture him!
That in itself is a great story, but what are we as embattled Christians meant to learn? Well to see that, we need to listen carefully to Elisha’s 3 speeches.
- Open your Eyes to the Power of God – vs. 16
The first speech comes in verse 16. Elisha’s servant is terrified to discover the city surrounded by the Arameans. But Elisha says to him:
“Do not be afraid, for there are more with us,
than there are with them.” (2 Kings 6:16)
He then prays that his servants eyes are open and he sees the army of God, chariots and horsemen of fire!
So often as Christians it feels like we are outnumbered, weak and ineffectual. From a worldly perspective in our society it can feel like we are surrounded by an army of forces that are just threatening to wipe us out as a church. It’s not difficult to portray our latest plans and appeal for finances as another example of a church with no hope.
But we need to pray that God will open our eyes to see that despite how things may seem, there are more with us than there are with them!! In fact, in the Old Testament, God is called, ‘the LORD of Hosts’ which means, ‘the LORD of armies’ nearly 250 times!
When Jesus is being arrested and the disciples are desperately and pathetically trying to save him, Jesus says to them:
“Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels.” (Matthew 26:53)
Over and over again, the Bible emphasises that no matter how powerful the forces raised against us seem to be, God is more powerful. No matter how much the devil seems to have the upper hand, God’s victory is never in doubt.
The most important thing for us as Christians is to open our eyes to this truth. It is only when we do that we will keep turning to prayer like Elisha and see God do amazing things. It is with open eyes to the power of God, that we can gain the strength and courage to fight the good fight.
- Closed Eyes are the Judgement of God – vs. 19
The second speech is in verse 19 to the Arameans army that had been sent to capture Elisha. He says to them:
“This is not the way, and this is not the city;
follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.”
(2 Kings 6:19)
Elisha can only get away with this deception that leads the army into a trap, because God has answered his prayers to blind them. Their blindness is judgement for their arrogance in thinking that they can capture the man of God.
Being literally blind does not mean you are being judged by God, but blindness is a common judgement from God in the Bible. On Cyprus, Paul condemns someone who tried to turn the Roman leader against them and the man, Elymas, is struck blind.
Jesus, quoting from Isaiah, says that he speaks in parables so that ‘though seeing, they may not understand.’ Indeed, throughout Jesus ministry there is a growing division between those who are blind to his identity and those who come to see that he is the Messiah. This is perhaps most profoundly true at the resurrection. Jesus does not appear to his enemies, those who had him crucified, but only to his followers. His enemies are left blind to the power of God at work in Jesus. It is part of the judgement for their refusal to believe in him.
This is both a warning and an explanation. It is a warning, that if you hear about Jesus, but dismiss him like the Jewish leaders of the day did, you may lose your chance to see the most amazing truth of God’s salvation. It is also an explanation as to why so many fail to believe – it is part of God’s judgement on them.
And yet, there is always hope. Sometimes feeling the full force of God’s judgement is a journey towards God’s salvation. Paul, when he was called Saul and was persecuting the Christians, was confronted by the resurrected and ascended Jesus and blinded as a result. But he was led in his blindness to Ananias and a chance to see the grace of Christ. Ironically, this happened in Damascus, the capital of Arameans.
And actually, although, the blindness of the Aramean army was a judgement, like Saul, they were led to a place where they were to discover the grace of God.
- Open your Eyes to the Grace of God – vs. 22
Elisha’s third speech is to the King of Israel, when the Arameans are surrounded in the capital of Israel, Samaria. The king is asking whether this is the time to kill the Arameans. But Elisha responds by saying:
“Don’t smite!
Did you capture with the sword and your bow
those you want to kill?
Set food and water before them,
so they can eat and drink
and then go back to their master.” (2 Kings 6:22)
The Arameans had been about capturing Elisha so that they might thwart God and carry out their evil plans. Instead, Elisha captures them and shows them the grace of God. Rather than death or imprisonment, they are given a feast and their freedom to return. They are given far more than they deserve. This is grace.
The result? The heart of the Arameans is transformed by the grace of God shown them through Elisha and the King of Israel and the war is brought to an end.
In the same way, when you truly discover the grace of God, that in Jesus Christ, we are given not the judgement we deserve, but the abundance of God’s blessings and the gift of eternal lives, so our hearts are transformed and we discover peace with God.
But, we also are to show the same grace to others. Paul says in Romans, quoting from Deuteronomy and Proverbs:
“Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:19-21)
This is easier said than done, but a lot easier when our eyes are opened to the grace of God.
The Art of War
So, how do we fight the good fight as Christians today. Part of the art of the Christian battle is understanding the importance of seeing and not seeing:
- Do not be afraid as a Christian, open your eyes to the power of God and pray!
- Remember that Closed eyes are the judgement of God on his enemies
- But, there is hope that enemies can become friends: open your eyes afresh to the grace of God!
St. Luke's Church Ramsgate 