As believers, we often behave just like Elisha’s servant: we see the danger around us, despair, and have only one anxious question: “What shall we do?” (2 Kings 6:15). The army (of worries) seemed so insurmountably large to the servant that he did not even reckon with the possibility of the Lord’s intervening. He felt like he was at a dead end with no way out. We often feel the same way.
Unfortunately, we just as often allow the danger in front of us to block our view to the Lord. It was the same with Peter, who saw the wind and was instantly afraid. That is why the Lord calls out to us: “Be not dismayed” (Isaiah 41:10). „Keep your eyes firmly fixed on me!”
What motivates the servant not to be afraid? It is the statement that there is more on his side than on the side of the enemy. In other words, God, who is with us, is greater than the enemy!
“Satan may tempt you, fears may rise in you, doubts may weigh you down, and discouragement may depress your spirits – but Jesus is greater than all.” (Oswald J. Smith)
Two lessons for us:
- We need—just like the servant—opened eyes for the Lord on our side. And if we don’t have them, we need—again, like the servant—prayer for opened eyes. The eyes of our hearts should always have the Lord before us. Unfortunately, we often don’t see Him and do not expect the Lord’s presence at all. When the servant’s eyes were opened, he could see that there was already a way out of the situation. We can pray as Elisha did: “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see!” (2 Kings 6:17).
Incidentally, at the same time as the problem arises, the solution is also already prepared. Paul explains to us: “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). This means that with the temptation, the exit is also ready. God may not have shown it yet, but it is already there. Our Lord does not have to look for a solution in view of the problem—no difficulty without a way out!
- We need an awareness of the greatness of God. Whatever obstacles we encounter on our way, the Lord is always greater. Three beautiful examples:
- David confidently says: “For by You I can run against a troop, by my God I can leap over a wall” (Psalm 18:29).
- The author of the letter to the Hebrews writes: “So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:6)
- The Lord Himself confirms this impressively: “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand” (John 10:29).
We can illustrate this idea using the example of David and Goliath. For little David (perhaps no more than 6 feet tall), Goliath was truly a giant: between 10 and 12 feet. But because David had his eyes fixed on the infinitely great God, the giant’s 10 feet seemed puny to him. It always depends on the proportion: No matter how big a problem may be – it is tiny compared to our Lord.
What is decisive? Whether we look at the problem or to the Lord. Georg Müller encourages us to do the latter: “My eye is not on the thickness of the fog, but on the living God who controls all the circumstances of my life!”
“Let us rather look in faith to the Lord Jesus, who is seated at the right hand of God, than to the mountain of difficulties before our eyes.” (Robert Cleaver Chapman)
The Lord Jesus tells you today: “Don’t be afraid! I am on your side – and I am bigger than any problem you face!”
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