NEWS & THOUGHTS ARCHIVE

The Man of God

Evangelist Dr. Bob Sanders
March 1, 2007

> PRINT FRIENDLY VERSION

“And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down. And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.” II Kings 6:9-10 

The entire event is recorded in II Kings 6:8-23. Composed of sixteen verses we have a segment from the life of a man known as Elisha. There are two things that must be considered by way of introduction. There is the setting that must be noted. Elisha finds himself living in the midst of a war. The King of Syria is making war against the King of Israel (see vs. 8). Evil has launched an attack on the good. May I remind you that there is a war going on. It does not get much press now days, by the enemy of man’s souls continues to launch an offensive. 

There is a statement that must be noted. Three times in sixteen verses, Elisha is referred to as “the man of God” (vs.9, 10, and 15). Elisha is not just any man; he is the chosen of God, the servant of Eloheem, the Supreme God. Within the context of the story, there are numerous soldiers, numerous servants, and two kings. But, there is only one man of God!

What an undeserved blessing to be called “the man of God.” With that great blessing comes great responsibility. Within the text there are three areas of responsibility given to the man of God. When the man of God is doing his duty:

(I)  The Saints Are Safe – verse 8-10

Elisha continually exposed the subtle traps of the enemy. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (I Peter 5:8). While Elisha cannot keep the king from going, he can and must warn him. The man of God is commanded to “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet” (Isaiah 58:1). When writing to young Timothy, the Apostle Paul commanded him to “preach the word” (II Timothy 4:2). That responsibility was not contingent on the people’s willingness to listen! Elisha’s first responsibility was to his people! As men of God our first responsibility is to the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. When commissioning Simon Peter in John 21, Jesus said, “feed my sheep. In Acts 20, Paul is making a final charge to the elders of Ephesus before his death. Paul said, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock” (vs. 28-29). Concerning his own faithfulness to the flock, Paul said, “Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God” (vs. 26-27). When the man of God is faithful to his duties, the saints are safe.

(II)  The Servants Are Seeing – verse 15-17

The war soon found its way to Dothan, the city in which Elisha lived. In fact, the enemy had turned their attention to the man of God and laid siege on the city. Elisha’s servant rises from a night of rest to find the city surrounded by men of war, horses, and chariots. His response to this physical sight was, “Alas, my master! how shall we do?” (vs.15). Elisha’s response was “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them” (vs.16). It was not the enemy that the servant needed to see, but Eloheem, the Supreme God of Israel. Elisha prayed and the servant’s eyes were opened, “And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha” (vs.17). Elisha enlightened his servant to the presence of God. God had not abandoned His people, but was there standing between Elisha and the enemy. When the servant saw the mountain filled with horses and chariots of fire, he perceived the power of God. Writing to the believers at Rome, Paul said, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). The servant witnessed the provision of God. God had not only manifested Himself, but He was all that His people needed. When the servant’s eyes were opened and he looked beyond the physical to the spiritual, his heart was comforted. When the man of God is doing his duty, the people of God are looking beyond the temporal to the Eternal God of Glory.

(III)  The Sinners Are Spared – verse 18-23

This massive army of Syria is a perfect type of the natural man. They were smitten with blindness and they are helpless before heaven’s host. Elisha’s response to their aggression was to lead them, “This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you” (vs.19). Elisha led them to Samaria where they were surrounded by the King of Israel and his entire host. When their eyes were opened, they found themselves helpless before the king. When the man of God is doing his duty, he will lead the lost that have been blinded by sin into the presence of the King of Kings. There their eyes will be opened to their eternal fate.  

Elisha not only lead the enemy, but he loved them, “And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master” (vs.23). It was only after their eyes were opened to their certain doom that the army of Syria could appreciate the mercy of the king. When the man of God is doing his duty, the sinner will not only see the might of God, but he will be exposed to the mercies of God. Jude said, “And of some have compassion, making a difference” (vs.22).  

When the man of God is faithful in discharging his duties, the saints are safe, the servants are seeing, and the sinners are spared. The most important man in the war was the man of God. In Ezekiel 22:30, God said, “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.” When speaking to Isaiah, God said, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” (Isaiah 6:8). By God’s grace I want to be God’s man!