Originally posted: 3/07/2020
Expand: “to increase in extent, size, volume, scope, etc.; to spread out or stretch out, unfold; to express in fuller form or greater detail; develop.”
Field of Vision: “the entire area that a person is able to see when their eyes are fixed in one position.”
There are several allusions to sight in this account recorded for us in 2 Kings. And throughout this chapter, we are introduced to a full gamut of intrigue: a lost axe head, battles of war, a murderous plot, horrific cannibalism, and the ultimate and unfathomable laying of all blame on God.
And as we press in, as we look closely, our understanding is expanded as He discloses Himself behind the scenes. And while some do in fact miss Him, in their sin and rebellion, He is there. He is there, ever illuminating each and every circumstance to grant a broader range of sight, to enlarge our insight, and unfold His truth as He Expands Our Field of Vision.
Consider Him Who Expands Our Field of Vision
- He Expands Our Field of Vision that we may see His Compassion through His provision for our security.
- But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Alas, my master! For it was borrowed,” (6:5).
- (While a lost axe head may seem inconsequential to us, the fact that it was borrowed meant it must be returned. The reaction of such great alarm and stress over its disappearance suggests its value. And with no means to replace a valuable tool, the common practice of slavery to repay a debt could be the outcome.)
- But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Alas, my master! For it was borrowed,” (6:5).
- He Expands Our Field of Vision that we may see His Omniscience through His timely alerts.
- Now the heart of the king of Aram was enraged over this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you tell me which of us is for the king of Israel?” 12 One of his servants said, “No, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom,” (6:11-12).
- He Expands Our Field of Vision that we may see His Omnipotence through His miraculous company.
- Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha, (6:15-17).
- He Expands Our Field of Vision that we may see His Strategy through His divine direction.
- When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Strike this people with blindness, I pray.” So He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. 19 Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city; follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he brought them to Samaria. 20 When they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So the Lord opened their eyes and they saw; and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria, (6:18-20).
- He Expands Our Field of Vision that we may see His Sovereign Rule through His generous mercy.
- Then the king of Israel when he saw them, said to Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?” 22 He answered, “You shall not kill them. Would you kill those you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master,” (6:21-22).
- He Expands Our Field of Vision that we may see His Faithfulness to His Word through His sworn chastisement.
- There was a great famine in Samaria; and behold, they besieged it, until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a fourth of a kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver. 26 As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall a woman cried out to him, saying, “Help, my lord, O king!” 27 He said, “If the Lord does not help you, from where shall I help you? From the threshing floor, or from the wine press?” (6:25-27).
- “So all these curses shall come on you and pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you would not obey the Lord your God by keeping His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you. 46 They shall become a sign and a wonder on you and your descendants forever…53 Then you shall eat the offspring of your own body, the flesh of your sons and of your daughters whom the Lord your God has given you, during the siege and the distress by which your enemy will oppress you,” (Deuteronomy 28:45-46, 53).
- There was a great famine in Samaria; and behold, they besieged it, until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a fourth of a kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver. 26 As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall a woman cried out to him, saying, “Help, my lord, O king!” 27 He said, “If the Lord does not help you, from where shall I help you? From the threshing floor, or from the wine press?” (6:25-27).
- He Expands Our Field of Vision that we may see His Supremacy unconstrained and unrestricted by the schemes and opinions of man.
- But he man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Be careful passing by this place, for the Arameans are going down there.” 10 Consequently, the king of Israel sent word to the place the man of God had told him about. The man of God repeatedly warned the king, so the king would be on his guard, (6:9-10 HCSB).
- When the king heard the woman’s words, he tore his robes… 31 He said, “May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders today!”… 33 …The king said, “This disaster is from the LORD. Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?” (6:30-31, 33 NIV).
How do we respond to Him Who Expands Our Field of Vision?
Field of Vision: “the entire area that a person is able to see when their eyes are fixed in one position.”
It is as we fix are eyes on One, that He Expands Our Field of Vision.
- Today let us ask Him to keep our eyes fixed on Him that we may have our eyes opened to see the spiritual reality beyond what plays out before our natural eyes.
- He brought me forth also into a broad place;
He rescued me, because He delighted in me, (Psalm 18:19).
- He brought me forth also into a broad place;
- Let us seek Him in His Word that He would open our eyes and Expand Our Field of Vision.
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- Open my eyes, that I may behold
Wonderful things from Your law, (Psalm 119:18).
- Open my eyes, that I may behold
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- As He Expands Our Field of Vision, let us find our strength in what we see.
- Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal, (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
- As He Expands Our Field of Vision, let us obey what we see.
- For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does, (James 1:23-25).
- As He Expands Our Field of Vision, let us pray for others to see the depth of His Compassion, Omniscience, Omnipotence, Strategy, Sovereign Rule, Faithfulness and Supremacy.
- For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God, (Ephesians 3:14-19).
- And let us also pray that He would use us to boldly share His gospel message, that others would also receive sight, and have their eyes opened by faith to miraculously see Him Who Expands Our Field of Vision.
- For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17).