2 Kings 6:8

2 Kings 6:8 says, Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.  The king of Syria decided to go to war against Israel and decided where to set up his camp.  It seems that more and more people have decided to go to war against Christians today, and they have set up their camps all around us.  Still, we should never live in fear of them.  Verse nine adds, And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.  Elisha sent word to the king of Israel not to pass by where the king of Syria had set up camp because he knew he was there.  God is not going to allow us to go into a dangerous situation today unprepared if we are listening to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, though we may still sometimes be led into a dangerous situation.  We should just always be prepared for the outcome no matter what it is because we are forever secure with God.  Verse ten continues, And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.  The king of Israel avoided this place more than once and thereby saved himself by listening to the warning from God though Elisha.  If we are warned by the Holy Spirit today to avoid certain situations, we need to listen and obey the warning.  Verse eleven states, Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?  The king of Syria thought someone must be warning the king of Israel about his plans and basically asked if he were not the one in charge and if people were being unfaithful to him.  Those who plot against God today are often going to be frustrated when their plans fail and are not going to realize that God is the One spoiling their plans.  Verse twelve adds, And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.  One of the king's servants told him that none of his people were betraying him, but that Elisha the prophet knew what he was planning even in the privacy of his bedroom.  There is no place that people can plot against God and His people where He will not know what they are doing.  Verse thirteen continues, And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.  The king sent someone to find out where Elisha was so he could get him, and he was told that Elisha was in Dothan.  He thought he could capture Elisha without him knowing what was happening.  If we are a follower of Christ today, no one should ever be able to catch us spiritually unaware of what is happening in life.  Verse fourteen declares, Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.  The king of Syria then sent horses, chariots, and many men to surround Dothan.  He thought that a large powerful force would ensure victory.  The people of the world today still believe that numbers and force will allow them to be victorious over God and His people.  Verse fifteen adds, And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?  When they saw that the city was surrounded, Elisha's servant asked him what they were going to do in the face of all this force against them.  He was looking at the opposition instead of looking to God by faith, and we can never afford to do that as Christians.  Our focus must always be on God and not the things of this world, no matter how strong they may seem.  Verse sixteen continues, And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.  Elisha told his servant to not be afraid, because those with them were more than enough to keep them safe.  Matthew Henry says that Elisha saw angels all around them, even though we really aren't told this yet.  I believe that Elisha just knew that noting was more powerful than God and that He was with them no matter what.  This should be our attitude today as well.  We need to focus on God and believe that He will bring spiritual victory no matter what the situation may look like as long as we remain faithful to Him.