You have probably heard the saying, “You can’t see the forest for the trees.” It’s a familiar phrase, often used to describe someone so entangled in the minutiae of a situation that they miss the broader perspective. Spiritually speaking, this resonates deeply. Life’s financial struggles, health crises, or relational tensions can blind us to the bigger picture of how God is moving in and through our circumstances. We become fixated on the towering “trees” of our problems, unable to glimpse the “forest” of God’s sovereign plan.
I recall a season in my own life when this felt all too real. A few years ago, I faced a cascade of challenges: a job loss, mounting bills, and a family member’s illness. It was as if I were stumbling through a dark forest, each step heavier than the last, with no light to guide me. In those moments, I couldn’t see how God was working. But looking back, I now recognize His hand—provision through unexpected sources, strength I didn’t know I had, and a deeper trust in Him forged through the trial. It wasn’t until later that I realized I needed to pray for open eyes to see what He was doing all along.
The Bible offers a striking example in 2 Kings 6:17, where the prophet Elisha prays for his servant’s eyes to be opened amidst a dire situation. Surrounded by a Syrian army, the servant saw only danger—until God granted him spiritual sight to behold a heavenly host protecting them. This passage teaches us that God is always at work, even when we can’t see it, and that we can ask Him to open our eyes to His presence. In this post, we’ll explore the context of this story, exegete the verse with attention to the original Hebrew, and apply its timeless truths to our lives today.
A Prophet Under Siege
We need to step into its historical setting to grasp the power of 2 Kings 6:17. This event unfolds during Israel’s divided kingdom, after the reigns of David and Solomon. The northern kingdom of Israel was frequently at odds with neighboring powers, including Syria (also called Aram). Elisha, the successor to the prophet Elijah, served as God’s mouthpiece during this turbulent period, often delivering divine insight to Israel’s king.
In 2 Kings 6:8-14, we learn that the king of Syria was waging war against Israel. Frustrated by repeated failures to ambush the Israelites, he discovered that Elisha was supernaturally revealing his plans to Israel’s king. Determined to eliminate this prophetic threat, the Syrian king dispatched a formidable army—complete with horses and chariots—to the city of Dothan, where Elisha was staying. Under the cover of night, they surrounded the city, setting the stage for a dramatic confrontation.
Imagine the scene: Elisha’s servant rises early, steps outside, and is met with a terrifying sight. A vast army encircles Dothan, their weapons glinting in the dawn light. Panicked, he rushes to Elisha, crying, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” (2 Kings 6:15 ESV). His fear is palpable and entirely understandable. The situation is hopeless to him—two men against an overwhelming force.
But Elisha’s response is calm and confident: “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6:16 ESV). To the servant, this must have seemed absurd. He could see the enemy with his eyes, yet Elisha spoke of an unseen advantage. The servant didn’t realize that Elisha’s confidence stemmed from a spiritual reality invisible to the naked eye—a reality soon to be revealed.
Exegesis of 2 Kings 6:17: The Prayer for Open Eyes
Let’s turn to the heart of our passage: “And Elisha prayed, ‘O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.’ So 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 6:17 ESV). This verse is a profound moment of divine revelation, and to unpack its meaning, we’ll examine its key phrases, drawing on the original Hebrew.
"O LORD, Please Open His Eyes"
Elisha’s prayer is simple yet powerful: “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” In Hebrew, the phrase “open his eyes” is פקח את עיניו (peqach et einav). The verb peqach means “to open,” often used in contexts of physical or metaphorical sight (e.g., Genesis 3:7, where Adam and Eve’s eyes are “opened” to their sin). Einav is “his eyes,” referring to the servant. This phrase suggests more than physical vision—it’s a request for perception beyond the ordinary.
Notably, the servant wasn’t blind in a literal sense. He could see the Syrian army clearly, which fueled his fear. What he couldn’t see was the spiritual reality of God’s protection. In Scripture, eyes often symbolize understanding or discernment. For instance, Paul prays in Ephesians 1:18 that “the eyes of your heart may be enlightened” (ESV), linking sight to spiritual insight. Here, Elisha asks God to grant his servant that same enlightenment, to see what faith already knew.
Notice what Elisha doesn’t pray for. He doesn’t ask God to destroy the enemy or alter the circumstances. Instead, he seeks a change in perspective. As Charles Spurgeon once noted, “Elisha did not pray that God would change anything in the situation. His only request was that his servant could see the reality of the situation.” This underscores a key truth: sometimes, what we need most is not a change in our problems, but a revelation of God’s presence within them.
"That He May See"
The purpose of Elisha’s prayer is “that he may see,” rendered in Hebrew as לראות (lir’ot), meaning “to see” or “to perceive.” This verb carries many meanings in the Old Testament, from physical sight to intellectual or spiritual understanding (e.g., Exodus 20:18, where Israel “saw” the thunder and lightning at Sinai). Here, it points to a transformative vision—a shift from seeing only the physical threat to beholding God’s greater reality.
"The Mountain Was Full of Horses and Chariots of Fire"
When God answers, “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.” The Hebrew description is vivid: ההר מלא סוסים ורכב אש (hahar male susim verechev esh). Har means “mountain,” male means “full,” susim is “horses,” rechev is “chariots,” and esh is “fire.” This paints a picture of a divine army filling the landscape, encircling Elisha with supernatural protection.
In the ancient Near East, horses and chariots were symbols of military might—the tanks of their day. But these are no earthly forces; they are “of fire,” a detail rich with biblical significance. Fire often represents God’s presence and power: the burning bush (Exodus 3:2), the pillar of fire guiding Israel (Exodus 13:21), or the fiery chariot that took Elijah to heaven (2 Kings 2:11). These “horses and chariots of fire” likely depict angelic warriors, a heavenly host dispatched by God. As Matthew Henry wrote, “The divine power was engaged for their protection; and he saw, not with bodily eyes, but by faith, the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.”
This vision confirms Elisha’s earlier words: “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” The Syrian army was real, but God’s forces were greater. Crucially, this heavenly host was present all along—the servant’s inability to see it didn’t make it less real. As F.B. Meyer observed, “If our eyes were opened, we should see the angel-hosts as an encircling fence of fire; but whether we see them or not, they are certainly there.”
Broader Context
The surrounding verses enrich our understanding. In verse 16, Elisha’s assurance precedes his prayer, suggesting he already perceived God’s protection, perhaps by faith or prophetic insight. After the servant’s eyes are opened, Elisha prays again in verse 18, this time for God to blind the Syrian army, leading them into a trap. The contrast is striking: God opens His servant's eyes to see salvation, then closes the eyes of the enemy to bring judgment. This highlights God’s sovereignty over both the seen and unseen realms.
Praying for Open Eyes Today
What does 2 Kings 6:17 mean for us as believers today? In an evangelical context, this passage resonates with our call to live by faith, trust God’s promises, and seek His perspective in a broken world. Let’s explore how we can apply it practically.
Seeing God’s Presence in Our Struggles
Like Elisha’s servant, we often face circumstances that feel overwhelming. The “armies” we encounter might be a diagnosis, a lost job, a fractured relationship, or the weight of daily stress. In those moments, it’s easy to fixate on the visible threats and miss the invisible reality of God’s care. Yet, this story assures us that God is with us, even when we can’t see it. As 1 John 4:4 declares, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (ESV).
We can echo Elisha’s prayer when surrounded: “O LORD, please open my eyes that I may see.” This isn’t a demand for dramatic visions—few of us will see literal chariots of fire—but a plea for spiritual clarity. Sometimes, God answers by showing us His work: a timely encouragement, an unexpected provision, or a peace that defies explanation. Other times, He calls us to trust without seeing, resting in promises like Romans 8:28: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (ESV).
Praying for Others
Elisha didn’t just see for himself; he interceded for his servant. Similarly, we can pray for those around us—friends, family, or fellow believers—who struggle to see God’s hand. When a loved one is blinded by despair or doubt, we can ask God to open their eyes to His truth. This reflects the evangelical emphasis on community and intercession, standing in the gap for others as Elisha did.
Living by Faith
Spiritual sight often intertwines with faith. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (ESV). The servant needed his eyes opened to see the heavenly army, but Elisha already believed it was there. Likewise, we may not always see God’s “chariots of fire,” but we can trust they’re present. Spurgeon put it beautifully: “Faith is never the imagining of unreal things. It is the grip of things which cannot be demonstrated to the senses, but which are real.”
Practical Steps
Here are some ways to apply this lesson:
Pray Intentionally: When you’re overwhelmed, pause and pray, “Lord, open my eyes to see Your presence.” Be specific about your situation, inviting God to shift your perspective.
Anchor in Scripture: Meditate on passages that affirm God’s protection, like Psalm 91:11 (“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways”) or Isaiah 41:10 (“Fear not, for I am with you”).
Seek Community: Share your struggles with a trusted friend or mentor who can pray with you and offer godly insight.
Look for God’s Work: Reflect on past trials—how did God show up? This will build faith to trust Him in the present.
Trusting the Unseen
The story of Elisha and his servant is a call to trust God’s unseen reality. The servant’s fear melted away when he saw the mountain ablaze with God’s army—a reminder that our perception doesn’t define truth. God is always at work, surrounding us with His protection, whether we see it or not.
So, what “armies” are you facing today? What circumstances block your view of God’s goodness? Pray for open eyes—not just to see solutions, but to see Him. As you do, rest in the assurance of 2 Kings 6:16: “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Whether we glimpse the “horses and chariots of fire” or simply trust they’re there, we can stand firm, knowing God is in control, working all things for our good and His glory.
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