Then Elisha prayed and said, “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
During my elementary school years. my mom taught in the same building, so I couldn’t get away with much without her knowing. Then later, in Junior High and High School, she was a substitute teacher whom I occasionally had in my classroom. She was no ordinary pushover substitute though. She ruled with an iron fist, and I got away with nothing. I wasn’t a bad kid, but still, you can bet that I behaved differently when my mom was teaching. With her present, I was a wallflower. Later in life, when out on my own, I often wondered how my behavior would have been different if my mom were watching. I doubt that, if my mother were there, I ever would have diverted opioids for my own use. She just would not have tolerated that kind of nonsense.
I probably should have the same view of God. I should be equally, or even more so, frightened of his reaction to my sin. The thing with God, of course, is that he is omnipresent. He’s always there. He’s always watching. I just don’t live as if that were true. Not seeing him, I live as if he weren’t aware of my every move. What if however, I was made aware of his presence? This is what happened in today’s passage.
In the story, Israel and Syria warred against each other while the prophet Elisha was granted supernatural knowledge of the Syrian’s movements. Elisha shared this information with the king of Israel, allowing the Israeli army to avoid Syrian traps. This greatly vexed the Syrian king who, upon learning of Elisha’s ability, set out to capture him. As the Syrian army surrounded the city where Elisha resided, Elisha’s servant quaked in fear. Unafraid, Elisha prayed that the servant’s eyes may be opened to the presence of God. Then, the servant saw that surrounding the Syrian armies was a greater army made up of horses and chariots of fire. God was always with them. The servant just couldn’t see it until that moment.
I should pray for the same thing. I believe that God is always present. I just don’t live as if it were true. I think that if I could truly see God sitting in the car next to me, that I’d use different language when I’m cut off in traffic. The thing is, he’s actually there. I just don’t see it. Daily then, I should pray that I become so aware of God’s presence that it changes how I live. Unlike my mom, God is always there.