https://odb.org/2026/01/15/kindness-unseen
2 Kings 6:13–17 (NIV): 13 “Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.” 14 Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city. 15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.
16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
17 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that 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.
The Bible tells of a spiritual reality around us that the eye can’t see, where God reigns supreme. When Elisha was surrounded by a “strong force” of enemy soldiers and chariots, his servant was frightened and asked, “What shall we do?” Elisha told him that “those who are with us are more than those who are with them,” and “prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’ ” Suddenly the servant “saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:14-17).
The horses and chariots of fire indicate angelic beings there for Elisha’s protection. This is one of many places where Scripture underscores the comforting truth that in a world where danger lurks and spiritual warfare rages, God still watches over us. (James Banks, Our Daily Bread, 15th January 2026)
As much as 2 Kings 6 tells us a spiritual reality of spiritual forces in the heavenlies ready to step into the natural world to wage war on earth, Ephesians 6:12 remains our principal guiding principle. During ancient times, God may intervene from the spiritual realm into the natural world as we have read accounts of wars being won by the Israelites when they were clearly outnumbered. In fact, there are even present-day witness accounts of angelic beings helping Israeli forces when in war.
The transition from the Old Testament to the New Testament with the first coming of Jesus Christ (also known as the Second Adam) as the Messiah somewhat changed the focus from the natural to the spiritual world. It is a move from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant where the law is now written in our hearts. It is now the era of grace where Jesus have fulfilled the requirements of the law and defeated sin and the sting of sin which is death. We as believers in Christ are no longer afraid of death as we know an eternal world awaits us after death.
In Ephesians 6:12, Paul speaks of our battles are not against flesh and blood but against principalities of the air, the forces of the dark world – 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
In Revelation 12:7-9, a time will come when the Archangel Michael will wage war against the dragon (Satan) and defeat them in the heavenlies.
There is a spiritual battle being waged in the spiritual realm between angelic and demonic forces for the souls of mankind. That’s the real battle and it is believed that these wars in the heavenlies (but not visible to our human eyes) have bearing on the affairs of humankind on earth. Thus our responsibility as believers is to pray and intercede for these angelic forces to push back the power and influence of the dark forces over the visible world. We pray for the spirit of salvation to engulf the world that more may see the truth and embrace Christ and experience the peace that surpasses all understanding. We pray that more will walk in the narrow path that leads to eternal life!
Ronnie's Thoughts 