If you wear corrective lenses as I do, you may be familiar with the term myopia. Myopia is an eye disorder where light focuses in front of, instead of on, the retina. Put simply, your eyes have improper focus. Because the eye is incapable of bringing the light into sharp focus, distant objects will appear blurred and fuzzy. If I am without my glasses, I cannot focus clearly, regardless of how much I squint, blink, or strain my eyes. Physical myopia is easily diagnosed and that focus problem can be compensated by means of glasses, contacts, or LASIK surgery. Spiritual myopia is a bit more serious and can be difficult to treat.
The prophet Elisha’s servant/assistant suffered from spiritual vision problems. He and Elisha were in the town of Dothan, located north of Samaria, when they awoke to find the city surrounded by a vast Syrian army. Syria had been engaging in guerrilla warfare against Israel, and Elisha, through God’s revelation and protection, had been able to keep the king of Israel, Jehoram, one step ahead of Syria. Elisha would constantly apprise Jehoram of the enemy’s location and secret attack plans, and the king of Syria was furious; he was on a rampage! The city of Dothan would fall! “When the servant of the man of God (Elisha’s servant) was risen early, and gone forth,” he saw a “great host compassed the city both with horses and chariots,” and he was paralyzed with fear. His faith was shaken as he cries out, “Alas, my master! how shall we do?” He was suffering myopia.
Elisha intercedes for his shaken servant, “LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes,” Lord, sharpen his focus, take his eyes off the problem and help him to see Your provision. Help him to see that ‘they that be with us are more than they that be with them.’ God gracious provided spiritual glasses and the servant was able to see clearly that “the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” The man who was focused on the horde of Syrians now saw an army of angels.
I often view the problems, obstacles, trials, and difficulties of my life clearly, but have difficulty focusing on the power and provision of my awesome God. Peter warns us that sometimes we “cannot see afar off,” the Greek word myopia, meaning to shut the eyes. Sometimes I need my focus readjusted, realizing that “greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world.” If you are overwhelmed today, put on your spiritual glasses and see Him at work all around you.
II Kings 6:16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
Lord, sharpen my spiritual focus, that I might see You at work in my life.