Life Principle 9
Trusting God means looking beyond what we can see to what God sees. (2 Kings 6:17)
Trusting God means looking beyond what we can see to what God sees. (2 Kings 6:17)
Life’s Questions
You don’t know what tomorrow may bring. This truth may cause you some anxiety, but when your faith is in God, it should bring you hope. God sees tomorrow--all of your tomorrows—and He is able to prepare you for whatever is to come. What is it about the future that causes you to be afraid? Is it a conflict that you dread? Are you doubtful about ever receiving your heart’s desire? Are you caught in a bad situation that you fear will never change?
Your apprehension may come from viewing your circumstances through your own limited perspective. Instead, you should be confident that God is working on your behalf in ways that you cannot see. Life Principle 9 teaches: Trusting God means looking beyond what we can see to what God sees. The circumstances and obstacles that you observe today may be truly overwhelming, but God’s resources are even greater and more powerful than you can imagine. God knows what is ahead and He is ready to deal with it. Therefore, put your faith in Him and obey whatever He says.
What the Bible Says
Read 2 Kings 6:8–23. How did Elisha know where the Syrians were going to ambush the Israelites (2 Kings 6:9-12)?
The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him. (Ps. 25:14)
How did the king of Syria respond when Elisha learned his secret plans (2 Kings 6:12-14)?
How would you have reacted if you were Elisha’s servant (2 Kings 6:15)?
Do you think Elisha was surprised by the Syrian army? Why or why not?
Why do you think Elisha could see the Lord’s forces, but the servant couldn’t (2 Kings 6:16-17)?
The Syrian army started out hunting Elisha and ended up following him to Samaria. Why do you think they agreed to follow him (2 Kings 6:19-20)?
*** We think of Jerusalem as the capitol of Israel, but after Solomon’s reign in 922 B.C., the nation was divided into two kingdoms: Israel and Judah. Jerusalem remained the capitol of Judah, while Samaria became the capitol of Israel. Elisha led the Syrian army 12 miles from Dothan into the heart of Israel.
What It Means
To judge any situation by your limited perspective means that you aren’t getting the whole picture. Elisha understood this, which is why he was so eager to hear whatever God had to say to him. He learned to look beyond what he could see to the Lord’s reality, and God showed Elisha amazing things and did miracles through him.
Life Examples
Read 1 Corinthians 2:9–16. Why does Paul include eyes, ears, and hearts in verse 9? What does this suggest about God’s perspective and your perspective?
According to verse 10, what is the only way that we can know what God is doing in our lives?
*** Elisha’s mentor, Elijah, was taken up to heaven, and Elisha asked him for a double portion of his spirit (see 2 Kings 2:9).
Why does God communicate to us through the Spirit (1 Cor 2:11-13)?
What will worldly people think when they hear God’s plans (1 Cor 2:14)? Why?
Why should God’s plans make sense to you if you’ve accepted Christ as your Savior (1 Cor 2:15-16)?
Living the Principle
How did Elisha know the Syrians’ plans and that the Lord’s army was protecting him? He listened to the Spirit of God. You may think it is difficult to pay attention to God when you face overwhelming troubles, especially those that seem impossible. Like Elisha’s servant, your mind searches for a way to deal with what you’re seeing. In despair you cry out, “What can I do?”
Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. (Jer. 33:3)
The first thing that you must do is close your physical eyes, because they’re not helping. Stop measuring your problems against your own ability to handle them because the enemy will use your worldly senses to magnify what you’re going through. Then you must open your spiritual eyes—the ones that are fixed upon God. Worship Him. Read His Word. Pray. Remember how He has helped others in the past, and thank Him that the mighty wisdom and power that was available to them has been provided to you, as well. God is ready, willing, and able to rescue you from the jaws of defeat, and He will do whatever is necessary to lead you to triumph when you obey Him.
How will you live out Life Principle 9 this week? Discuss how you will focus your mind and heart on God’s truth rather than on what you can see. Then spend time in prayer, asking God to draw you into intimate communion with Himself and to transform your life, so that you can affect the world for the sake of His kingdom.
Life Lessons to Remember
You don’t know what tomorrow may bring. This truth may cause you some anxiety, but when your faith is in God, it should bring you hope. God sees tomorrow--all of your tomorrows—and He is able to prepare you for whatever is to come. What is it about the future that causes you to be afraid? Is it a conflict that you dread? Are you doubtful about ever receiving your heart’s desire? Are you caught in a bad situation that you fear will never change?
Your apprehension may come from viewing your circumstances through your own limited perspective. Instead, you should be confident that God is working on your behalf in ways that you cannot see. Life Principle 9 teaches: Trusting God means looking beyond what we can see to what God sees. The circumstances and obstacles that you observe today may be truly overwhelming, but God’s resources are even greater and more powerful than you can imagine. God knows what is ahead and He is ready to deal with it. Therefore, put your faith in Him and obey whatever He says.
What the Bible Says
Read 2 Kings 6:8–23. How did Elisha know where the Syrians were going to ambush the Israelites (2 Kings 6:9-12)?
The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him. (Ps. 25:14)
How did the king of Syria respond when Elisha learned his secret plans (2 Kings 6:12-14)?
How would you have reacted if you were Elisha’s servant (2 Kings 6:15)?
Do you think Elisha was surprised by the Syrian army? Why or why not?
Why do you think Elisha could see the Lord’s forces, but the servant couldn’t (2 Kings 6:16-17)?
The Syrian army started out hunting Elisha and ended up following him to Samaria. Why do you think they agreed to follow him (2 Kings 6:19-20)?
*** We think of Jerusalem as the capitol of Israel, but after Solomon’s reign in 922 B.C., the nation was divided into two kingdoms: Israel and Judah. Jerusalem remained the capitol of Judah, while Samaria became the capitol of Israel. Elisha led the Syrian army 12 miles from Dothan into the heart of Israel.
What It Means
To judge any situation by your limited perspective means that you aren’t getting the whole picture. Elisha understood this, which is why he was so eager to hear whatever God had to say to him. He learned to look beyond what he could see to the Lord’s reality, and God showed Elisha amazing things and did miracles through him.
Life Examples
Read 1 Corinthians 2:9–16. Why does Paul include eyes, ears, and hearts in verse 9? What does this suggest about God’s perspective and your perspective?
According to verse 10, what is the only way that we can know what God is doing in our lives?
*** Elisha’s mentor, Elijah, was taken up to heaven, and Elisha asked him for a double portion of his spirit (see 2 Kings 2:9).
Why does God communicate to us through the Spirit (1 Cor 2:11-13)?
What will worldly people think when they hear God’s plans (1 Cor 2:14)? Why?
Why should God’s plans make sense to you if you’ve accepted Christ as your Savior (1 Cor 2:15-16)?
Living the Principle
How did Elisha know the Syrians’ plans and that the Lord’s army was protecting him? He listened to the Spirit of God. You may think it is difficult to pay attention to God when you face overwhelming troubles, especially those that seem impossible. Like Elisha’s servant, your mind searches for a way to deal with what you’re seeing. In despair you cry out, “What can I do?”
Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. (Jer. 33:3)
The first thing that you must do is close your physical eyes, because they’re not helping. Stop measuring your problems against your own ability to handle them because the enemy will use your worldly senses to magnify what you’re going through. Then you must open your spiritual eyes—the ones that are fixed upon God. Worship Him. Read His Word. Pray. Remember how He has helped others in the past, and thank Him that the mighty wisdom and power that was available to them has been provided to you, as well. God is ready, willing, and able to rescue you from the jaws of defeat, and He will do whatever is necessary to lead you to triumph when you obey Him.
How will you live out Life Principle 9 this week? Discuss how you will focus your mind and heart on God’s truth rather than on what you can see. Then spend time in prayer, asking God to draw you into intimate communion with Himself and to transform your life, so that you can affect the world for the sake of His kingdom.
Life Lessons to Remember
- Recall past victories (see Ps. 145:5–7).
- Reject discouraging words (see Ps. 40:14–16).
- Recognize the true nature of the battle (see Ps. 20:6–8).
- Respond to the challenge with a positive confession (see Ps. 118:6–9).
- Rely on the power of God (see Ps. 66:3–5).
- Reckon the victory (see Ps. 98:1).