2 Kings 6.8-23 contains a string of miraculous events ending with grace for many.

In verses 8-14, the King of Syria kept trying to ambush Israelite groups but was thwarted when the prophet Elisha would send warnings to stay away from the ambush areas.  The King was “greatly troubled” especially when told that Elisha knew his private instructions! So he sent a great army to capture the prophet who was disrupting his schemes.

The army shows up and surrounds Dothan, the city where Elisha and his servant were living. The servant is terrified, but Elisha knew things and calmly says, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  And he prays that the servant’s eyes would be opened. BEHOLD! The army of the LORD – horses and chariots of fire – was on the mountains all around.  Indeed, the forces of God in the spiritual realm are more than we can imagine.

Just as he prayed sight for his servant, Elisha prays blindness upon the Syrian army.  It was like a Jedi mind trick when Elisha tells the commander, “this is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me.” The army is led to the Israelite city of Samaria where their eyes are opened when they have been surrounded by their enemies.  The King of Israel wants to kill them all, but Elisha convinces him to feed them well and send them on their way.  Many were spared that day by the Lord’s power – Elisha and his servant, the city of Dothan, the Syrian army – and many were spared in succeeding years as the Syrians stopped their raiding.