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. As the Arameans came down against him,The forces of Aram had surrounded Dothan to capture Elisha, whose prophetic insight had repeatedly exposed their military plans to Israel’s king. Coming from Damascus in the north, Aram posed a continual threat to the northern kingdom of Israel. Elisha stood before an armed enemy force, yet the Lord’s heavenly army already surrounded him and his servant. 1Ki 20:1 Ben-hadad king of Aram assembled his entire army.… Elisha prayed to the LORD, Elisha responded to danger by appealing directly to the covenant God of Israel. His prayer followed the Lord’s earlier opening of his servant’s eyes to see the horses and chariots of fire surrounding the city. Confidence in God’s unseen protection enabled Elisha to act without fear. 2Ki 4:33-34 So he went in, closed the door behind the two… “Please strike these people with blindness.” Elisha asked God to disable the Aramean soldiers rather than destroy them. Their blindness prevented them from carrying out their purpose against the prophet and placed them wholly under God’s control. The event displays the Lord’s power over Israel’s enemies and His mercy in restraining judgment. Deu 28:28 The LORD will afflict you with madness, blindness,… So He struck them with blindness, The Lord answered immediately, rendering the invading force unable to recognize Elisha or find its way. Elisha then led them into Samaria, the capital of Israel, where their eyes were opened and they discovered that they stood within Israel’s power. Act 13:11 Now look, the hand of the Lord is against you,… according to the word of Elisha. God confirmed the authority of His prophet by accomplishing what Elisha requested. The deliverance did not end in slaughter: Israel’s king fed the Arameans and released them, and Aramean raiding bands ceased coming into Israel for a time. God’s protection of His servant brought both victory and mercy. 2Ki 13:19 But the man of God was angry with him and said… Persons / Places / Events 1. ElishaA prophet of God, successor to Elijah, known for his miracles and deep relationship with God. In this passage, he demonstrates his reliance on God through prayer. 2. Arameans A group of people from Aram (modern-day Syria), often in conflict with Israel. Here, they are attempting to capture Elisha. 3. Dothan The city where Elisha was staying when the Arameans surrounded it. It is significant as a place of divine intervention. 4. Blindness A miraculous condition inflicted upon the Arameans, symbolizing both physical and spiritual blindness. 5. The LORD The God of Israel, who answers Elisha's prayer and demonstrates His power and protection over His people. Teaching Points Reliance on PrayerElisha's immediate response to danger was prayer, emphasizing the importance of seeking God's intervention in our lives. Divine Protection God's ability to protect His people is evident. Believers can trust in God's power to shield them from harm. Spiritual Blindness The physical blindness of the Arameans serves as a metaphor for spiritual blindness. We must seek spiritual sight through Christ. God's Sovereignty The passage underscores God's control over all situations, encouraging believers to trust in His plans and purposes. Faith in Action Elisha's faith led to miraculous outcomes. Our faith should also lead us to act in accordance with God's will. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Elisha's response to the Aramean threat challenge us to respond to our own challenges today?2. In what ways can we experience and recognize God's protection in our daily lives? 3. How does the concept of spiritual blindness apply to our understanding of faith and salvation? 4. What are some practical ways we can cultivate a prayer life that reflects Elisha's reliance on God? 5. How can we apply the lesson of God's sovereignty in this passage to situations where we feel out of control? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 19The blinding of the men of Sodom parallels the divine intervention to protect God's people. Acts 9 Saul's temporary blindness on the road to Damascus serves as a spiritual awakening, similar to the Arameans' experience. Psalm 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, illustrating divine protection as seen in Elisha's situation. John 9 The healing of the blind man by Jesus highlights the theme of spiritual sight versus blindness.
People Aram, Benhadad, Ben-hadad, Elisha, Shaphat, SyriansPlaces Dothan, Jordan River, Samaria, SyriaTopics Accordance, Aramaeans, Blind, Blindness, Elisha, Eli'sha, Elisha's, Nation, Please, Prayed, Prayer, Prayeth, Request, Saying, Smite, Smiteth, Smote, Strike, Struck, SyriansDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Kings 6:18Library Young Man! a Prayer for YouTHIS YOUNG MAN waited upon a prophet: he could not have had a more instructive occupation; yet his eyes needed to be opened. He was well disposed towards good things, for the tone of his language to his master shows that he was heartily at one with him; but his eyes were not yet half opened. Being in great alarm for his master's safety, he ran to him to warn him: good servants should be their master's best friends. In return, his believing master prays for him. If we desire the good of our servants, … Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891 Of the Practice of Piety in Fasting. Whether a Mann is Bound to Correct his Prelate? The Absolute Godhood of God is Seen in Administration The Christian Convert Warned Of, and Animated against those Discouragements which He must Expect to Meet when Entering on a Religious Course. In the Creation of the World, and all Things in It, the True God Distinguished by Certain Marks from Fictitious Gods. The Helpless State of the Sinner under Condemnation. Prayer May one Lose the Blessing? Meditations for the Morning. Letter xix (A. D. 1127) to Suger, Abbot of S. Denis The Roman Pilgrimage: the Miracles which were Wrought in It. A Cloud of Witnesses. Kings Links 2 Kings 6:18 NIV2 Kings 6:18 NLT 2 Kings 6:18 ESV 2 Kings 6:18 NASB 2 Kings 6:18 KJV 2 Kings 6:18 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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