Paul's Prayer

II Kings 6:8-23 we are told of a King that was so angry with Elisha that he sent an entire army to capture him. When the army came to the place where Elisha was, they surrounded the entire city. The next morning when Elisha’s servant got up and saw the army, he said to Elisha, “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” Elisha answered the servant and said, “Don’t worry. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

Elisha must have seen the bewildered look on his Gehazi’s face because the very next verse says, “And Elisha prayed, ‘O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (v. 17)

I wonder if the Apostle Paul had this story in mind as he wrote to the Ephesians, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe…” (Ephesians 1:18-19)

Apparently Paul saw that the Ephesians were blind to something in their spiritual lives and like Elisha, the Apostle knew that he did not have the ability to “open the eyes” of the Ephesians. So he turned to the One who could and said, “I pray…”

These men of God teach us a valuable lesson. We cannot open the eyes of the physically or spiritually blind. Attempting to do so is an exercise in futility and along with it comes frustration and exasperation. Moreover, if we assume this responsibility, we are telling God that we can do His job. I have discovered that it’s never a good idea to have God stand in the unemployment line.