By Andrew Williams
As the Aramean army advanced toward him, Elisha prayed, “O Lord, please make them blind.” So the Lord struck them with blindness as Elisha had asked. Then Elisha went out and told them, “You have come the wrong way! This isn’t the right city! Follow me, and I will take you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to the city of Samaria. As soon as they had entered Samaria, Elisha prayed, “O Lord, now open their eyes and let them see.” So the Lord opened their eyes, and they discovered that they were in the middle of Samaria.
2 Kings 6:18-20 NLT
Good morning fellow disciples.
The background to this story is that the King of Aram was trying unsuccessfully to invade Israel. Each time he would make plans, Elisha the prophet would go to the king of Israel and tell the King of Israel exactly what was being planned, and those plans would be thwarted.
In anger, the King of Aram sent his soldiers to find Elisha to kill him. When they found Elisha, he prayed to God to make them blind. He then led them to the king of Samaria, and then prayed for them to receive sight.
Intercede: to intervene between parties with a view to reconciling differences; to mediate; to plead on someone else’s behalf; or to intervene on behalf of another.
Even though it was Elisha himself who prayed for them to become blind, he then interceded on their behalf with God for them to receive their sight once more.
Elisha then went on to intercede on their behalf with the king of Israel. He persuaded the king not to kill them. Afterwards, there was peace between Aram and Israel.
So the king made a great feast for them and then sent them home to their master. After that, the Aramean raiders stayed away from the land of Israel. 2 Kings 6:23 NLT
In 2 Kings 6, We also note that Elisha servant was also blind. His blindness, however, was a spiritual blindness. Elisha also interceded on his behalf. 2 Kings 6:23 NLT states:
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.
Elisha’s intercession for the blind:
1. Healed the physically blind,
2. Stopped a war and brought peace, and
3. Opened the eyes of the spiritually blind.
Who do you know that is blind?
Won’t you intercede on their behalf today? Your prayer could change multiple lives and situations.
Prayer: Father God, open blind eyes, I pray! Amen.