How does 2 Kings 6:18 connect with other instances of divine intervention in Scripture? The Moment at Dothan 2 Kings 6:18: “As the Arameans came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, ‘Please strike these people with blindness.’ So He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.” Prayer Invokes Power • Elisha’s first action is prayer, not panic. • Scripture repeatedly shows that God responds to the prayers of His servants (Exodus 17:11-13; Acts 12:5-10). • The immediacy—“according to the word of Elisha”—underscores both God’s sovereignty and His willingness to honor faith. Blindness as a Divine Strategy The Lord uses literal blindness here, echoing other moments when sight is removed or restored to protect His purposes: • Genesis 19:11 — The men of Sodom are struck blind, halting their assault on Lot. • Acts 13:8-11 — Elymas the sorcerer is blinded, silencing opposition to the gospel. • In each case, blindness disarms enemies without conventional warfare. Old Testament Parallels of Protective Intervention • Exodus 14:21-25 — Waters divide, wheels come off chariots; God hinders Egypt so Israel walks free. • Joshua 6:20 — Jericho’s walls collapse at a shout, demonstrating victory by divine command. • Judges 7:19-22 — Gideon’s 300 trigger panic; the Midianites turn swords on each other. • 2 Kings 19:35 — One angel strikes 185,000 Assyrians, sparing Jerusalem. Common thread: human impossibility met by God’s decisive, often surprising, action. New Testament Echoes • Luke 4:28-30 — Hostile crowd intends to throw Jesus off a cliff, yet He walks through untouched. • Acts 9:3-9 — Saul is blinded, redirected from persecution to apostleship. • Acts 16:25-26 — An earthquake opens prison doors for Paul and Silas, but no lives are lost. These accounts affirm that the God who intervened for Elisha still protects and redirects in Christ’s church. Motifs that Tie the Events Together 1. God protects His covenant people when they cannot protect themselves. 2. He often chooses means that highlight His glory rather than human strength. 3. Prayer and obedience position believers to witness supernatural aid. 4. Divine intervention advances redemptive history, keeping promises alive (Genesis 12:3; 2 Samuel 7:16). Living Out the Pattern Today • Expect God’s nearness in crises; His character has not changed (Hebrews 13:8). • Pray first, trusting Scripture’s record of His swift help (Psalm 46:1). • Rest in the assurance that unseen armies still stand guard around those who fear Him (2 Kings 6:17; Psalm 34:7). |
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