He said, “Don’t worry about it—there are more on our side than on their side.”
Here we have Elisha speaking to his servant. The two of them are looking at their city surrounded by horses and chariots, sent by the king of Aram to capture and kill Elisha.
The context is that Elisha has been telling the king of Israel about the king of Aram’s war plans and sabotaging them, so the king of Aram sent his army instead under the cover of night to the place where Elisha lived, and in the morning, when the city was surrounded, and his servant exclaimed “What shall we do?” Elisha gave his almost nonchalant response. Then Elisha prayed to God that his servant's eyes would be opened and he saw, the text says, “A wonder! The whole mountainside full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha!”
This passage is a reminder for me that there are mighty forces ready to come to our aid, even if we can’t see them, even when we feel surrounded.
It gets better. Elisha prays for the king of Aram’s soldiers to become temporarily blind, and he directs them inside the city walls of Samaria. When their sight is restored, they are the ones who are trapped. The king of Israel asks Elisha if he should kill them all? But instead Elisha instructs Israel’s king to prepare a wonderful feast for this foreign army and then send them on their way. After which, they no longer bothered Israel.
Why, I wonder, in the midst of so much tit-for-tat in the Old Testament is there this moment of incredible, extravagant hospitality toward enemies? The mighty forces are there, but not needed. Instead, human connection is a balm that heals hearts and turns adversaries into friends.
The power of human connection has been coming up again and again in my life. In the midst of my fear, I want Divine forces to come down and rescue me and all of humanity. But most of the time God chooses to work instead through us and in spite of us, and the results can still be miraculous. Here are some resources this week if you need to be reminded of how, as members of the body of Christ, we are created for connection with one another.
A Case for the Existence of God by Samuel Hunter
I saw this play in Idaho, where the playwright is from and the play is set. It’s now playing in Salt Lake, and to anyone interested, I promise you will be glad you bought a ticket.
What would love have me do? an interview of Rev. Jacqui Lewis, PhD by Tami Simon
Living from Interconnectedness and Intention, an interview of Lynne McTaggert by Tami Simon
Wishing you deep, powerful, loving human connection today and always.
Hospitality trumps violence (again)!
LOVED the play and look forward to the podcasts.