And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:15-17 (NKJV)
Notice Elisha’s prayer: “…open his eyes so he may see.” He wasn’t literally blind because he saw the Syrians. He was simply unable to perceive spiritual reality. He could see the danger, but not the deliverance!
Jesus quoted from Jeremiah to chide his disciples for their lack of spiritual awareness:
“You have eyes but you do not see.” Jeremiah 5:21 (NIV)
The Four-Eyes Fish, a minnow-like fish, makes its home in Central and South America. The unusual feature about this fish is its large, bulging eyes. It has eyes raised above the top of its head and divided in two different parts, bifocals, so that it can see below and above the water surface at the same time. This is the kind of discerning vision we should have as Christians. We need to have our eyes fixed on the needs of those around us and be aware of the snares of the enemy; but at the same time, we should be tuned in above to the power that’s available for us, to the protection that surrounds us, to the provision that’s there for us. As a follower of Jesus Christ, we are under constant raid by the enemy, but don’t forget we are also under the constant radar of God.
Paul says:
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. Ephesians 1:18-19 (NASB)
Have you discovered your spiritual eyes? Are you seeing your circumstances through the eyes of faith? Are you saying, “Alas what shall we do?” or are you declaring, “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them”?