“And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.”
Eyes to See the Invisible
As the morning sun rose over Dothan, fear rose in Elisha’s servant. Surrounding the city stood a formidable army—horses, chariots, and countless infantry, sent by the king of Syria, intent on capturing the prophet. In desperation, the servant’s fear spilled into words: “Alas, my master! How shall we do?” (2 Kings 6:15).
It’s a familiar cry, isn’t it? “How shall we do?” If you’ve ever faced overwhelming need, you know these words, deep down. When confronted by trials that seem insurmountable, “How shall we do?” becomes the heart’s natural cry. We see no escape. Hemmed in by the enemy, all courage is eclipsed by fear. Yet Elisha’s response is calm, steady, and strangely reassuring: “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them” (2 Kings 6:16).
What does Elisha see that his servant cannot? What is the "eye of faith" that allows him to perceive the invisible hand of God’s sovereign power? Elisha had walked this path before—with his master, Elijah. He had witnessed the unseen. Now, with a simple but profound prayer, “LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see,” the servant’s eyes are opened to another dimension (2 Kings 6:17). Beyond the thin veil that separates the physical from the spiritual, he sees the mountain alive with horses and chariots of fire, a heavenly host testifying to the truth of the prophet’s words.
The Hidden Reality of God’s Presence
This moment uncovers the tension between the seen and the unseen, between the tangible realities of earthly life and the sovereign power of the God of Israel. The servant’s fear, however, was not without basis. The Syrian army truly was massive, strong, and well-trained. His fear was grounded in reality—but only in part. His natural sight was incomplete. The army of heaven had been there all along, but until the Spirit opened his eyes, God’s might remained hidden.
It’s striking how often we, like the servant, live as though the visible world is all there is. We despair when problems rise, when circumstances overwhelm, or when our abilities prove insufficient. Yet the Spirit reminds us here that what is seen is not ultimate. As the Apostle Paul writes, “The things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).
Elisha’s prayer for his servant is a model for our own hearts: “LORD, open my eyes.” Open my eyes to see the reality of Thy presence, Thy protection, and Thy power upon the mountains of my trials. Open my eyes to the truth that the LORD of hosts surrounds His people, that His purposes are unassailable, and that His care is unfailing. “As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about His people from henceforth even for ever” (Psalm 125:2).
From Fear to Faith
Notice that the servant’s circumstances do not change. The Syrian army remains as imposing as ever. The sun still glints off their chariots, the thud of hooves continues to rumble on the valley floor, and the shouts of violence still reach their ears (2 Kings 6:15). But something has changed within him. His heart, once overwhelmed by fear, is now steeled by vision. A tear in the atmospheric veil has been rent, revealing that what he feared most was never ultimate.
And what exactly was revealed to the servant? Not only a mighty army sent from heaven, but the Almighty God who commands it (2 Kings 6:16–17). Such a sight changes everything.
This is the experience every believer must come to know. The call is not to deny the reality of our trials but to see above them. To “look unto the hills, from whence cometh my help” (Psalm 121:1). How many heavenly hosts stand upon the mountains of our trials? Faith in Christ does not make the storm cease; it binds our sight to the One who walks upon it (Matthew 14:25–27).
It is the Spirit’s work to lift our eyes, to draw our trembling chins to the throne of grace where God’s almighty power reigns undisturbed (Hebrews 4:16). In Christ, sight is swallowed up in faith, and the trembling hands learn to rest. They have truly learned that, “they that be with us are more than they that be with them”, because “greater is he that is in me, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
The Greater Vision
The chariots of fire surrounding Elisha mean more than we might think. They are more than flashes of heavenly battle-might. They point to the ultimate reality—the victory of Christ for His people. He is the Captain of our salvation (Hebrews 2:10), the One who has triumphed over the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23:4) and will return the Victorious Warrior (Revelation 19:11–16). His resurrection assures us that no trial, no enemy, no power in heaven or earth can separate us from His love (Romans 8:37–39).
When fear rises within you dear one, remember that the unseen host of heaven is near. And they are but a shadow of the greater. Christ Himself surrounds you, defends you, and fights for you. He is the One who bore the greatest battle on Calvary, where the hosts of hell raged. And there, in His seeming defeat, He triumphed, securing for His people the unassailable promise: “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.”
Living in the Light of the Unseen
To live with open eyes is to see the unseen. But it’s more. It’s to live as though the unseen is more real than the seen. It means having the promises of the Word outweigh the threats of the world. It is to walk in the assurance that our trials are but for a moment, working an eternal weight of glory far beyond belief (2 Corinthians 4:17).
Dear soul, do you see the chariots of fire surrounding you? Or is your vision clouded by your foes? Pray, then, with the earnestness of one who knows the weakness of sight: “Lord, open my eyes.” Believe that, He who is with you is infinitely greater than all that stands against you.
Given the uncertain and unprecedented times we are living in I believe this is one of the most important lessons we as children of God can learn. To see by faith beyond the natural and to see the omnipotence of our God exercised on our behalf will spur us advance when many others will come to a complete stop because of fear and despair. Oh precious Savior work this out in my life for your glory and praise. Thank you son for this inciteful writing. Greater is He who is you than he who is in the world.