Do You See What’s Really There?

2 Kings 6:8–23

What if the greatest battles you’re facing aren’t the ones you can see?

Most of us picture the obvious struggles—the bills piling up, the bad news from the doctor, the stress at work, the tension in our homes. Maybe the unseen battles of temptation or anxiety that keep us up at night. Those are real. But Scripture reminds us that there’s another dimension to every fight—a spiritual one that we often overlook.

Elisha’s servant in 2 Kings 6 learned this the hard way. When he woke up to find their city surrounded by an enemy army, he panicked. To him, defeat was certain. But the prophet Elisha calmly prayed, “Lord, open his eyes.” And suddenly the servant saw what had been there all along—the hills blazing with horses and chariots of fire. God’s heavenly host had them completely surrounded.

That story pulls back the curtain on reality. The world we see isn’t all that exists. The Bible repeatedly shows that the spiritual realm—God’s unseen world—is not a myth or metaphor. It’s real, active, and intertwined with our lives.

1. Trust God’s Unseen Protection

The king of Aram thought he could ambush Israel, but every plan he made was exposed by God through Elisha. Finally, furious, he sent an army to capture the prophet. When the servant saw the soldiers encircling the city, fear took over. But Elisha saw more—he saw God’s protection already in place.

The hills were filled with angelic warriors—“horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (v. 17)

We may not see those armies, but God’s protection is no less real today. The psalmist wrote, “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him.” (Psalm 34:7) And Jesus reminded Peter that He could call down twelve legions of angels—that’s 72,000 heavenly warriors—if He chose (Matthew 26:53).

Faith is like spiritual radar. You may not see what’s out there, but faith reveals that God is already at work. When you feel surrounded by fear, pray as Elisha did: “Lord, open my eyes.” You may not see flaming chariots—but you will begin to see that God is still on the throne, and He has you surrounded with His care.

2. Believe God’s Power to Overcome

Even with heavenly armies nearby, the Aramean soldiers still advanced. Elisha prayed again—this time that God would strike them with blindness. The enemy stumbled in confusion, unable to recognize where they were, and Elisha led them straight into Samaria—the heart of Israel’s territory.

The hunters became the hunted. The captors became captives. That’s the power of God to overcome.

God still turns the tables today. Think of the cross. What looked like defeat became victory. What looked like Satan’s triumph became his downfall. God specializes in flipping the board when it seems the game is over. The world may see weakness, but God is always at work behind the scenes.

So wherever you feel trapped or outnumbered—trust that God is not cornered. He is never outmaneuvered. One prayer, one move from His hand, can change everything.

3. Reflect God’s Mercy in Victory

When the blinded army realized they were surrounded inside Samaria, Israel’s king wanted revenge. “Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?” he asked. But Elisha said no: “Set food and water before them… then let them go.” (v. 22)

Mercy triumphed over vengeance. The soldiers were fed and released—and Scripture says, “the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory.” (v. 23) Mercy ended the cycle of violence that force never could.

That’s God’s heart. Proverbs 25:21–22 tells us, “If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat… the LORD will reward you.” Paul echoed that in Romans 12:21: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Mercy isn’t natural—it’s supernatural. It’s the Spirit of Christ forming His character in us. We show mercy because we’ve been shown mercy. “While we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son.” (Romans 5:10)

Seeing What’s Really There

Elisha’s story points forward to the cross. To human eyes, Jesus was surrounded and defeated. But unseen to the crowd, God’s plan was unfolding. What looked like loss was actually victory. The resurrection revealed what was really there all along: God’s power to protect, to overcome, and to show mercy to His enemies—including us.

So today, ask God to open your eyes:

• To trust His unseen protection when fear surrounds you.

• To believe His power to overcome when you feel outmatched.

• To reflect His mercy when you hold the upper hand.

When we walk by faith, not sight, we begin to see what’s really there: the armies of the living God, surrounding His people and securing victory through Jesus Christ.

This post is based on a sermon preached on September 28, 2025, by Dr. Bart Denny at Pathway – A Wesleyan Church in Saranac, Michigan. The full sermon is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFHDhiEUJ08