Those Who Are with Us – August 5, 2024

Read: 2 Kings 6:8-17

When the servant of [Elisha], the man of God, got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked. “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” 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.
2 Kings 6:15-17

Those Who Are with Us

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Isabella carefully tied the blindfold over Chloe’s eyes and then asked, “How many fingers am I holding up?” Chloe giggled, “Eleven! Isabella, you know I can’t see a thing!” Isabella took Chloe by the hand and calmly instructed, “Now, follow my lead.” They slowly walked through a couple of rooms. At every turn, Isabella silently guided Chloe safely through the doorways. Chloe had no idea where she was or that a couple of teammates had gathered around her. Isabella told her blindfolded friend, “Okay, now fall backward, and someone will catch you.”

What do you think Chloe did next? Would she trust her teammates to catch her? She couldn’t see them. She couldn’t prove that someone would catch her. But if she trusted Isabella and her teammates, she would be ready to trust them in the future.

Long before Jesus was born, God did a team-building exercise with the prophet Elisha. The king of Aram was trying to capture Elisha, and one of Elisha’s servants was scared. He could see the big army from Aram. He could hear the big chariot wheels. He could see the powerful muscles of the horses. He could count up the enemy soldiers, and it looked like there were many of them compared to only a few people with him. “Oh no, what shall we do?” he cried. “Don’t be afraid,” Elisha answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Elisha then prayed for his servant, but he didn’t ask God for a faster chariot, a more powerful horse, or a hundred new friends to help them get away. He asked God to take off the “blindfold” so his servant could see. The Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw horses and chariots as far as he could see, and the chariots were made of fire. The whole time, God had been protecting them with angels.

God still protects us with angels but doesn’t always let us see them. He lets us wear a blindfold so we can learn to trust him. But even if you don’t see the angels around you, you can be sure that those who are with us are more than those who are against us.

Closing Prayer:

O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, still be our guard while troubles last and our eternal home. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• Who was scared of the army from Aram?
• What did God let him see so that he wouldn’t be scared?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• Recount a scary time when you have felt like Elisha’s servant felt?
• What are some differences between how God helped Elisha’s servant and how he helps you?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• TRUE or FALSE. Just outside the view of our human eyesight is a world of supernatural forces at war for us.
• The next time you’re alone and afraid, what do you want to remember from today’s devotion that comforts you?