2 Kings 6:8 - Meaning and Application

Here we have Elisha, through his gift of prophecy, serving the king, just as he had earlier helped the sons of the prophets. This gift, like every other gift, was given to help others, and anyone with the ability to do good is responsible to use it for both wise and foolish people.

Notice first how the king of Israel learned, through Elisha, all the plans and movements of his enemy, the king of Syria. Elisha gave him better information than the most careful and loyal spies could have given. If the king of Syria, in a secret war council, decided where to attack Israel’s borders, choosing a place where he expected surprise and weak resistance, the king of Israel would know before the Syrian troops could even carry out their orders. In this way, Elisha often kept him from harm (2 Kings 6:8-10).

This shows that God’s enemies are clever in their plans and relentless in their attacks against him. They may think, “They will not know or see it until we are among them and kill them” (Nehemiah 4:11). But God knows every one of those schemes, even the ones hidden deepest. He knows not only what people do, but also what they mean to do, and he has many ways to frustrate their plans.

It is a great mercy to be warned of danger so we can stay on guard. That is part of the work of God’s prophets, to give warning. If we are warned and still do not protect ourselves, the fault is ours alone, and we will be answerable for it. The king of Israel paid attention when Elisha warned him about danger from the Syrians, but he did not listen when Elisha warned him about danger from his own sins. Most people respond that way. They are willing to avoid death, but not willing to flee from hell.

Notice next how the king of Syria took this. He suspected treachery among his advisers and thought his plans had been leaked (2 Kings 6:11). But one of his servants, who had heard from Naaman and others about Elisha’s amazing works, decided that Elisha must be the one telling the king of Israel everything (2 Kings 6:12). If Elisha could tell Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, what he was thinking, then surely he could know the plans of a Syrian king. In this way, even the Syrians were forced to admit the unlimited knowledge of Israel’s God, just as they had already seen his unlimited power. Nothing done, spoken, or thought by anyone, anywhere, at any time, is beyond God’s knowledge.