The Big Picture

2 Kings 6:8-23

As I was praying one day I saw as it were a huge billboard. The picture on the billboard was moving like a movie in a theater. The picture was Christians living life. A little ways away from the picture was satan, hurling insults, throwing all he could to distract and discourage the Christians. Although he was straining mightily it was to no avail because GOD held him on a leash. 

Later when I was led to read the story from 2 Kings of Elisha and his servant~ it all came alive in a profound way. When the enemy shows up to capture Elisha, he is not moved. His servant, on the other hand, is very upset! The enemy had came during the night and surrounded the city and Elisha is their target! Elisha spoke to his servant to not be afraid because they had a larger army with them. Then Elisha prayed asking the LORD to open his servants eyes to see. Imagine the servants amazement when he looks around to see the hills full of horses and chariots of fire! Then Elisha prays again and asks the LORD to strike the enemy army with blindness. The LORD answers this prayer and the very man the enemy seeks leads them inside Samaria, where they– the enemy– are surrounded!

In this passage the servants eyes were opened to spiritual reality. He and Elisha were not alone, they had an army of horses and chariots of fire! This is what we need for our battles as well. We must see from GOD’S view! The enemy soldiers eyes were closed to earthly reality. The enemy was so confused they didn’t know the very man they were looking for was leading them into a trap. This is just what we want and need in the enemy camp~ confusion! We must pray we have eyes to see the big picture. When we aren’t focused on the big picture we tend to see only a small portion~ usually what the enemy is doing. This may likely lead to discouragement and cause us to lose heart. Elisha saw the big picture and was not afraid. His servant who focused on the enemy was loosing heart until his eyes were opened to the spiritual realm and he saw the big picture. On the billboard I saw while the enemy was doing all he could he was still restrained~ GOD was in control. If all we focus on are the distractions the enemy throws our way we miss the spiritual reality and the big picture. And we tend to forget GOD is in control. Our troubles seem to be bigger than our GOD. We can’t just see ourselves surrounded by the enemy. Our eyes must be opened to the horses and chariots of fire the LORD has sent to help us!

We must be thankful GOD is in control and holding the enemy back but we must also ask for the strategy to fight. Elisha didn’t have to struggle he just trusted GOD for help and led his own enemy to a place where he was no longer vulnerable but his enemy was! We can have the same results. Elisha didn’t talk over with his servant wondering if the enemy’s eyes were blind~ he believed GOD to be faithful. He knew GOD had already shown up with His army so why wouldn’t He help them? We too must be sure our eyes are open to the spiritual reality. We must ask for and rely on the Spirit’s discernment, wisdom and the Fear of the LORD. We can also walk in victory just as Elisha and his servant did~ but first we need to get the big picture!