Chariots of Fire
Scripture Reading — 2 Kings 6:8-23
He looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:17
Elisha and his assistant awoke one morning to find themselves surrounded by heavily armed enemies with horses and chariots. The assistant panicked. But Elisha replied, "Don't worry. Our army is bigger and stronger than theirs."
"Our army?" the assistant wondered. "All I see are enemy horses and chariots." But when Elisha prayed, his assistant suddenly saw a vast heavenly army protecting them, with enough firepower to defeat any opponent. In short order, the enemy troops were struck blind, captured, shown kindness, and sent back to their own land.
"If you make the Most High your dwelling ... he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways" (Psalm 91:9, 11). Perhaps you can remember a time when you were rescued from disaster, and nothing but an angel could have done it.
On the other hand, maybe some events have made you doubt that angels really guard God's people. What about times of suffering? What about death? Jesus told a story about a man named Lazarus who suffered poverty and illness. Then Lazarus died. Had God's angels somehow failed this child of God? No, the angels carried the soul of Lazarus straight to heaven (Luke 16:22).
God's chariots of fire surround us in life and in death. Praise the Lord for the ministry of his angels!
Father, we sometimes feel frightened. Open our eyes so that we may see your protecting angels. Thank you that the hosts of heaven are with us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
About the author — David Feddes
Dr. David Feddes is pastor of Family of Faith Church and provost of Christian Leaders Institute, which supports mentor-based ministry training through online courses. David is also adjunct missiologist for Crossroad Bible Institute, which provides biblical distance education to more than 40,000 people in prison. Previously he served as broadcast minister for the Back to God radio program, reaching people in more than fifty countries. David earned his Ph.D. in intercultural studies from Trinity International University, Deerfield, IL. He and his wife, Wendy, have nine children (one in heaven).
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