Day 11: Eye-opening
There's a great story in the Bible about the prophet Elisha who woke one morning and found himself faced with a platoon of horses and chariots; the enemy had surrounded the city. Elisha's servant, panicking, cried, "Oh, my master, what are we to do?" (2 Kings 6:15) Elisha told the servant, “don't be afraid; those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” I'm sure the servant was more than confused at Elisha's counting; the whole army versus two does not equal victory.
Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so that he may see.”
Elisha interceded on behalf of his friend, and God answered his request.
“Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, ‘Strike this army with blindness.’ So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.” (2 Kings 6:17-18)
One of the most often recounted stories about angels helping believers involves missionary John G. Paton, who ministered in the New Hebrides islands. One evening, John and his wife were surrounded by hostile natives intent on burning the Patons' hut and killing the missionaries. John Paton says he and his wife spent a terror-filled evening desperately praying for God's supernatural deliverance. When daylight came, John says they looked out the window and mysteriously, the hostile natives had disappeared. About a year later, the chief of that tribe was converted to faith in Christ. And John Paton, remembering what had happened that evening, asked the chief why they did not attack them that night. The chief seemed surprised and said it was because of the men surrounding the hut. Perplexed, John said, "There were no men surrounding our hut." The chief insisted, "Oh, yes, there were. We saw hundreds of men in bright, shining garments standing before your hut with swords drawn, ready to protect you. We didn't dare invade." At that moment, John Paton began to understand the delivering power of angels. The chief agreed there was no other possible explanation.
Every day, you and I have things that happen in our lives that can only be explained through the presence of angels. Angels are a real power in our world today. The Bible is clear that we are never to substitute the worship of angels for the worship of Jesus Christ, but understanding the reality and the ministry of angels helps us to more fully appreciate how much God loves us and how He is working in our lives every day.
Lord, thank you that the scriptures are full of supernatural encounters. Thank you for the prayer of Elisha that we can pray as our own, “O LORD, open his eyes so that he may see.” I pray that you give us eyes to see the wonder and mystery of all that you are doing around us. Amen.
Reflect and Respond
Think of an overwhelming situation and ask God to show you how He is working.
Meditate
"I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God's love, and to know Christ's love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:16–19)
