Elisha - 2 Kings 2-7

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They that be with US be more than they that be with them

This is a famous verse from 2 Kings 6:16. I believe sometimes we take it out of context, especially in democratic countries. In democracies, we are taught to rely on the majority will of the people, that if we just get the majority, we can set things right. While I am a big fan of democratic institutions, this quote has nothing to do about being secure in your belief that you have gained an earthly majority.

Remember the background to this was that the syrians had laid siege in samaria and Elisha's servant was looking out and thinking - how will we ever escape such a force? Elisha told him this phrase and then asked God to open his servants eyes to the heavenly host around them.

This isn't a story of being in the majority. This is a story of being in the minority and understanding that when you are on God's side, you have fellow servants around you that far surpass the strength of any earthly force.

The rest of the chapter and chapter 7 speak to the severity of the famine - it was pretty bad. Then, in one day, God made the syrians camp barren, and all fled, leaving gold and silver and food and drink for the besieged.

There's another part to this however. The important part isn't necessarily deliverance and provision of earthly wants, as wonderful and miraculous as that is. Elisha would have accepted if his lot was to perish or not. It is more important to align your life with the God of heaven and know that His path for you is sure. That is what Elisha did first. Then the way of deliverance is opened. If that is earthly deliverance, then that is a wonderful cause to be happy and grateful. But it if it is a heavenly deliverance with no clear earthly component, it is still worth it's portion. Elisha made sure he was aligned first. Then the second part came.

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