Invisible Chariots
August 29, 2022 by Michelle Lim
Filed under Daily Devotions
By Michelle Lim –
As a teenager I spent a lot of time at my grandmother’s house looking at pictures and talking about days gone by.
One day we were looking at pictures and discovered a photo of my dad that I will always remember. My grandmother loved pictures of Jesus and she had this wooden carving of Jesus with his hands stretched out mounted on her wall. In the photo it looked like Jesus was laying his hands on my dad as if he were protecting him.
That picture is still a favorite in my family today. It reminded each of us that God is with us and protects us even when we can’t see it.
This picture reminds me of a story in 2 Kings when Elisha’s life is threatened by the Syrians. They were coming to kill Elisha because his wisdom to the King of Israel thwarted the plans of the Syrians.
During the night the king of Syria sent forth spies to look for Elisha. When they found him they surrounded the city. When Elisha and his servants woke in the morning the chariots and horseman surrounded the city.
Elisha’s servant saw the chariots and the force of the Syrians and did what any of us might have done. He panicked. He came to Elisha and asked what they were going to do.
In that moment the servant couldn’t see the hand of God in their situation, but God was right there all along. Elisha asked God to open the servant’s eyes and let him see because those that were on their side were much greater than the Syrians who opposed them. When God opened the eyes of the servant, God’s chariots and army stood with them. They won a great victory that day.
Just like the picture of my dad with Jesus’ hand on his shoulder, Elisha and his servants had God’s hand on them even when they couldn’t see Him. God’s hand rests on our lives too, even when we can’t see it.
“‘Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ 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” (2 Kings 6:16-17 NIV).
Michelle Lim is a pastor's daughter and mom of four with a heart for teaching. She is a Romantic Suspense writer with three complete manuscripts that have earned contest recognition, as well as the nonfiction author of "Idea Sparking: Brainstorming Conflict In Your Novel" which releases in September. Michelle is the Brainstorm/Huddle Coach at My Book Therapy and serves as Vice President of MN N.I.C.E., a local chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers.