“It’s Not Always As I See It”

II Kings 6:12-23

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WHO SAW WHAT AT DOTHAN

SYRIA SEES THEIR ENEMY 2Kings 6:12 And one of his servants said, “No, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.”

2Kings 6:13 So he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and take him.” And it was told him, saying, “Behold, he is in Dothan.”14 And he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city.

ARAM (SYRIA)

DOTHANSAMARIA

THE WAY A SERVANT SAW IT2Kings 6:15 Now when the attendant

of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the

city. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”

I SURRENDER.... YOU WIN

THE WAY ELISHA SEES IT

2Kings 6:16 So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

ELISHA ASKS FOR SIGHT 2Kings 6:17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

HOW THE ATTACK - BATTLE IS SEEN

ELISHA LOOKS AT IT WITH PRAYER2Kings 6:18 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, “Strike this people with blindness, I pray”...

AN ARMY WHO NOW SEES NOTHING

..18b...So He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

ELISHA OFFERS TO LEAD THE BLIND ARMY 2Kings 6:19 Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city; follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he brought them to Samaria.

HOW THE ARREST IN SAMARIA IS SEEN

ELISHA PRAYS AGAIN2Kings 6:20 And it came about when they had come into Samaria, that Elisha said, “O LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.

HOW THE KING SEES IT

2Kings 6:21 Then the king of Israel when he saw them, said to Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?”

DON’T KILL THEM2Kings 6:22 And he answered, “You shall not kill them. Would you kill those you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? ...

FEED THEM2 Kings 6:22b...Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” 2Kings 6:23a So he prepared a great feast for them; and when they had eaten and drunk ...

SEND THEM HOME

2 Kings 6:23b....he sent them away, and they went to their master....

HOW THE SYRIAN KING SEES IT NOW

2 Kings 6:23c.....And the marauding bands of Arameans did not come again into the land of Israel.

HOW DO I SEE ALL THIS CONNECTING TO MY

LIFE?

CIRCUMSTANCES ARE NOT ALWAYS AS I SEE

THEM

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as

the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor

let it be fearful. Heb. 13:5...... for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor

will I ever forsake you,”

2Cor. 4:17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

ANOTHER WAY TO SEE MY ENEMY?

Rom. 12:20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.