The God of Deliverances.

THE king of Syria devised a plot by which he hoped to capture the armies of Israel, the particulars of which were to be kept secret (read 2 Kings 6. 8-23). Only a few of the King's immediate confidants knew anything of the project.  The secret, however, leaked out and the whole plan failed.  The Syrian king was angry, and he naturally concluded, there was a traitor in his camp.  He called together his servants and demanded who the traitor was.  One of the number, probably Naaman, who some time previously had not only been cleansed of his leprosy, but converted to God, assured the king that his servants were all loyal to him, but that in Israel, there was a man of God named Elisha, who feared God, and was a Revealer of Secrets.  ''The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him" (Psa. 25. 14).
It was suggested that Elisha may have informed the king of Israel of the plot. The king of Syria determined to put an end to the interference of Elisha. Learning from a spy that the prophet lived in Dothan, he mobilised a great army of horses and chariots to capture Elisha.  The absurdity of it!  A Syrian host to capture one man, and of course they failed in the attempt!  When men fight against God, there can only be one issue to such a battle.
The Syrian army arrived at Dothan under cover of night.  The following morning, Elisha's servant was terror-stricken as he looked out and saw the mountains covered with horses and chariots, and he exclaimed, "Alas, my master! how shall we do?"  As much as to say, "We are hemmed in on every side and there is no way out."  That was quite true, but there was a "way up," and Elisha had no fear of the hosts of the enemy.
The children of God have many a time been hemmed in, but when the "way up" to God has been kept clear, God has always, in answer to His people's cry, delivered them out of all their distresses.  Our safety lies in allowing no unconfessed sin to block the way to God.
Elisha endeavoured to calm the fears of the young man by telling him that there were more on their side than with the enemy, but the young man could not see the army Elisha referred to.  He required 
Spiritual Vision.
He could only see the enemy, he could not see God's army.  The carnal mind cannot discern spiritual things.  This truth, the Lord taught Nicodemus.  The Jewish ruler was doubtless a good man, possessing education and religion.  He was also a seeker after light, but he could not understand the Lord when He spoke to him of spiritual things.  The Lord replied that unless "a man is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God."  The reason is obvious, the Kingdom of God is spiritual, and it takes spiritual men to see and understand spiritual things.  There are leading men to-day in Christendom, who possess many estimable qualities, but who deny the integrity of Holy Writ, the essential Deity of our Lord, and the necessity of the atonement; and the only charitable conclusion one can come to, is that they need their spiritual eyes opened.  In other words, they require to be "born again" John 3. 7).
In answer to Elisha's prayer, the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he beheld the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire (v. 17), thus ensuring
Divine Protection
to God's servant.  God is not only the Saviour, but the Protector of His people, and if we had the necessary spiritual eyesight, we would probably see that every one of God's children is Divinely guarded.  We may rest assured that—
"Not a shaft can hit
Until a God of love sees fit."
and this fact should cause us to trust Him implicitly and absolutely.
Elisha again prayed to God, not that eyes might be opened, but that they might be closed, that his enemies might be struck with blindness, and God's
Gracious intervention
in answer to Elisha's prayer, robbed the enemy of all power to do harm.  God can and does make our enemies harmless.  He did so in the case of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the fiery furnace.  instead of hurting the three young men, the fire only loosed their bonds, and better still, they had the company in the furnace of One like unto the Son of God.  Again, Daniel in the den of lions was Divinely protected.  The lions were there, but they were quite harmless.
The God of Elisha and of Daniel is alive to-day, and, in answer to His people's cries, can rob their enemies of all power of doing harm. Our enemies are many and mighty, but prayer is the power that overwhelms and overcomes every one of them.  In temptation's dark hour, a "Lord help me," sent to the Throne in faith, will bring down the grace needed for the moment.
Elisha then said to the Syrians, "Follow me," and he led them to Samaria. Having reached the capital of Israel, God, in answer to Elisha's prayer, opened their eyes and they stood humbled, conquered, and captured.
At this point a beautiful illustration of
Heavenly Compassion
shines out.  The king of Israel, who might be said to represent the law, asks if he will smite the enemy.  They had come out to smite the Israelites, and they certainly deserved to be smitten.  "Shall I smite them; shall I pay them back in their own coin?"   "Yes," said Elisha (type of the Lord Jesus), "you may slay them, but let it be by kindness.  Let bread and water be put before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master" (v. 22), and the Word of God declares that "the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel" (v. 23). The victory was thorough and complete, and all accomplished through the lovingkindness of God's servant.
The most effective weapon to-day against the enmity of man is the lovingkindness of God.  "Scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.  But God commendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners (or enemies), Christ died for us" (Rom. 5. 7, 8).
While the Cross of Christ is the fullest expression of the hatred of man to God, it is the greatest possible manifestation of the love of God to man; and by it, the enmity of man to God has been completely slain.  As the result of God's love in the death of His Son, there are multitudes in Heaven and on earth to-day who, in their heart of hearts, crown Him Lord of all. 
JOHN GRAY, Glasgow.
“The Witness” 1925