When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha. “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire. (2 Kings 6:15-17)
“What will we do now?”
The emotion surges and swells. Fear grows to paralyzing levels. Troops, horses and chariots in formidable proportion. The man of God and his servant were no match.
The morning landscape was littered with trouble, and the servant of Elisha was a firsthand witness to the trouble. They were surrounded.
Elisha embraced the report of his servant without panic.
“Don’t be afraid!”
Elisha knew that God had not abandoned him. The solution was less visible than the problem, but they were not outmanned.
The headlines were bleak that morning, but the victory was secure. Elisha knew what this young man needed to be assured of. “God is for us.” “God is with us.” “Our God is never outflanked or overmatched.”
Elisha saw what less seasoned eyes were unfocused to see. Elisha saw the strength of his God. Elisha saw the unobstructed and unconstrained power of the Almighty.
Indeed, Elisha’s prayer was not for victory but for visibility. “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!”
20/20 vision to the muscle and magnitude of God. Clear line of sight through the eyes of an elder.
On Saturday in Pasadena, California I will join a group of friends in celebration of the 100th birthday of Evon Hedley. I’ve known Evon since I was a child. He’s Godly, he’s good, he’s wise, he’s gentle, he’s confident, he’s bold… and Evon sees with the eyes of Elisha.
When I see the size of the enemy, Evon sees the vast power of God. When I fix my gaze on the enormity of the problems, Evon fixes his focus on Jesus.
Evon’s words illuminate. Evon’s words reveal. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!”
On Saturday I will celebrate the centennial birthday of a friend… but the real celebration is in the revealed power of the God that Evon Hedley loves, serves, worships and exposes.
A morning glimpse of chaos is no reason to panic. God is on our side. I know this because my friend Evon prayed for my eyesight.
20/20 vision to the army of God.
“Don’t be afraid!”
I want eyes like Evon. Eyes with an optic nerve to the heart of God.
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