What can we learn about prayer from Elisha's request in 2 Kings 6:18? Setting the Scene • 2 Kings 6 records the Aramean army surrounding Dothan to seize Elisha. • Verse 18: “As the Arameans came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, ‘Please strike these people with blindness.’ So He struck them with blindness, according to the word of Elisha.” • The event follows Elisha’s earlier prayer that his servant’s eyes be opened (v. 17). Two prayers, one for sight, one for blindness—both instantly answered. Prayer Recognizes God’s Immediate Presence • Elisha prays in the moment of crisis, showing confidence that God is right there and listening (Psalm 34:15). • Hebrews 4:16 affirms this same access: “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence…”. • Prayer is not a last resort but the first reflex of a heart assured of God’s nearness. Bold, Specific Requests Are Honored • Elisha asks for a precise outcome—“blindness”—not a vague blessing. • 1 John 5:14-15 teaches that we may ask “anything according to His will” and know He hears. • Specific prayer clarifies dependence on God rather than human strategy. Prayer in Alignment with God’s Purposes • Elisha’s request serves the larger divine plan to protect Israel and display God’s power without needless bloodshed. • James 4:3 warns that misaligned motives hinder prayer; Elisha’s motives fit God’s covenant purpose, so the answer is immediate. Intercession That Protects and Preserves • The blindness shields Elisha, his servant, and the city from harm. • Intercessory prayer can be a hedge around others (Job 1:10; Psalm 34:7). • Believers today stand in that same gap (Ephesians 6:18). Faith in God’s Sovereignty • Elisha does not bargain; he trusts God’s authority to act decisively. • Psalm 115:3: “Our God is in heaven; He does whatever pleases Him.” • Prayer rests on certainty that God can and will accomplish His will. Prayer as Spiritual Warfare • The request disables an enemy without physical combat, illustrating that “the weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world” (2 Corinthians 10:4). • Prayer engages the battle on a higher plane, inviting God to intervene. Mercy Embedded in Judgment • Though struck with blindness, the Arameans are later led safely and fed (vv. 19-23). • Prayer can seek justice while retaining a heart of mercy (Micah 6:8), reflecting God’s own character. Take-Away Principles • Pray immediately, trusting God’s presence. • Ask specifically and boldly. • Align requests with God’s revealed purposes. • Use prayer to intercede for the safety and welfare of others. • Stand confident in God’s sovereign power. • Remember that prayer is a primary weapon in spiritual conflict. • Seek outcomes that both protect God’s people and display His mercy. |
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