Studying the Sermon on the Mount, I have again been challenged by the words of Jesus to try to see and hear like HE calls me to live. I find it very hard at times to see and hear what God wants me to see and hear. I have a tendency to see and hear only those things that I want to see and hear. I was reminded of an awesome Bible story that has meant so much for me in my spiritual growth.

Israel’s enemy, the king of Aram, was raiding places in Samaria. But every time they were going on a raid, God told Elisha the prophet where the Arameans were going to raid. Elisha told the king of Israel, and he would send the army to defeat them. The king of Aram thought there was a traitor in his kingdom, but someone knew about Elisha and said they had to kill Elisha before they could get to the king of Israel. One morning they set out for Dothan to get Elisha. Here is what happened. Check out the story in 2 Kings 6:8-23.

2 Kings 6:14-17 So one night the king of Aram sent a great army with many chariots and horses to surround the city. When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha. “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes; and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.

What a great story!!!! This really happened. Elisha’s servant was very afraid. This young man thought his life was in danger, and they were going to die. From all outward appearances, that was going to happen. The realist would have agreed. He would have come and said, preacher, you know I am a realist, we are going to die today. But Elisha was very mature in his walk with God. His spiritual eyesight and his spiritual hearing was well developed. This man could see where God was all around him. He could hear the slightest whisper of God’s voice. He had honed his spiritual senses so sharp that nothing God was doing around him or saying to him escaped his notice.

Elisha prayed for his fearful servant, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” Do you hear the compassion in Elisha’s prayer? It is as if he was saying “Father, one of your dear children needs a growth spurt in his walk with you, he just doesn’t understand.” Our walk toward Christian maturity will be thwarted unless we intentionally hone our spiritual senses and allow God to sharpen them as well. We won’t grow spiritually unless we can spiritually hear and see.

Jeff