Lesson 24 - Horses and Chariots of Fire
Read 2 Kings 6:8-23 https://www.bible.com/bible/59/2KI.6.ESV
2 Kings 6:17 – Then Elisha prayed and said – O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see. So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

An enemy king, at war with Israel, told his officers he wanted to set up an ambush. Elisha sent a message to the king of Israel, telling him where the enemy camp was. This kind of thing happened a lot, and the enemy king was furious. He asked his officers, “Who is the spy among us? Which one of you is telling the king of Israel our plans?”

One of his officials replied, “It is not us, it is their prophet Elisha. He even tells the king of Israel things you whisper in your bedroom.” The enemy king then ordered his men to find Elisha so they could capture him.

When Elisha was found, the king sent an impressive army with horses and chariots at night to surround the city. Early the next morning, Elisha’s servant went outside and saw the army surrounding the city. The frightened servant ran to Elisha and asked what they should do.

Elisha answered, “Do not be afraid; there are more on our side than on their side.” Then Elisha asked God to open his servant’s eyes to see. The Lord answered Elisha’s prayer, and the servant saw the whole mountainside surrounding them filled with God’s horses and chariots of fire!

When the enemy army attacked, Elisha prayed, “Lord, strike these soldiers with blindness!” And God did. Elisha then told the blind soldiers they were going the wrong way, and led the men to an Israelite town.


Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, now open the soldiers’ eyes so they can see where they are.” God did, and the army was terrified when they saw they were trapped in an Israelite city.

When the king of Israel saw the enemy army in his town, he asked Elisha if he should kill them all. Elisha replied, “No! You had nothing to do with capturing them, so you should not kill them. Instead, serve them a feast and send them back home.”

The king of Israel did what Elisha advised him to do. The enemy soldiers ate and drank their fill, then returned to their king. This enemy never bothered Israel again.

*What do these verses tell you about how much God cares for you?
Matthew 5:44 – Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
1 John 4:4 – Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
Isaiah 54:17 – No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.