Life Group Discussion Guide
6.21.20
Elisha: Eyes Opened to Protection
Text: 2 Kings 6:8-23 (NRSV)
8Once when the king of Aram was at war with Israel, he took counsel with his officers. He said, “At such
and such a place shall be my camp.” 9 But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, “Take care not
to pass this place, because the Arameans are going down there.” 10 The king of Israel sent word to the
place of which the man of God spoke. More than once or twice he warned such a place[a]
so that it was
on the alert.
11 The mind of the king of Aram was greatly perturbed because of this; he called his officers and said to
them, “Now tell me who among us sides with the king of Israel?” 12 Then one of his officers said, “No one,
my lord king. It is Elisha, the prophet in Israel, who tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in
your bedchamber.” 13He said, “Go and find where he is; I will send and seize him.” He was told, “He is in
Dothan.” 14 So he sent horses and chariots there and a great army; they came by night and surrounded
the city.
15 When an attendant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, an army with horses
and chariots was all around the city. His servant said, “Alas, master! What shall we do?” 16He replied,
“Do not be afraid, for there are more with us than there are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed: “O Lord,
please open his eyes that he may see.” So, the Lord opened the eyes of the servant, and he saw; the
mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18 When the Arameans[b]
came down against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, and said, “Strike this people, please, with blindness.” So, he struck
them with blindness as Elisha had asked. 19 Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the
city; follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he led them to Samaria.
20 As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open the eyes of these men so that they may
see.” The Lord opened their eyes, and they saw that they were inside Samaria. 21 When the king of Israel
saw them, he said to Elisha, “Father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?” 22He answered, “No! Did you
capture with your sword and your bow those whom you want to kill? Set food and water before them so
that they may eat and drink; and let them go to their master.” 23 So he prepared for them a great feast;
after they ate and drank, he sent them on their way, and they went to their master. And the Arameans
no longer came raiding into the land of Israel.
OPEN
How are you feeling today? Hopeful? Discouraged? Tired? Energized? Angry?
Where have you seen God in the past two weeks?
NEXT
Time for truth telling. Did you remember this story from 2 Kings and the life of Elisha?
What else do you remember about the timeframe of Elijah and Elisha?
What would you say is the take home of this story?
When have you felt God’s protection?
When have you wondered where God was after all?