Written By: Bruce Merz

Seeing Through God’s Eyes: Lessons from 2 Kings 6:8-22

The story of 2 Kings 6:8-22 centers on the prophet Elisha and his servant. The King of Aram was at war with Israel, but every time he made plans for an attack, Elisha warned the King of Israel, foiling the Aramean strategy. Understandably, the King of Aram wasn’t thrilled about this, and he sent a large army to capture the one man responsible: Elisha. You could see how desperate the King of Aram was (talk about overkill!) but also how poorly he saw who was really responsible.

Early one morning, Elisha’s servant woke up to find the city surrounded by horses and chariots. His reaction? Pure panic. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” he cried to Elisha, which is a nice way of saying: “We’re doomed!” Elisha’s response was simple and profound: “Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” He then prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” The servant’s eyes were opened, and he saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding the enemy army. Suddenly, the servant understood the source of Elisha’s peace. Elisha then prayed for God to strike the enemy with blindness, and he led them straight to Samaria, Israel’s capital. Rather than killing them, Elisha instructed the King of Israel to feed them and send them home. This tremendous act of mercy turned the hearts of the Arameans and they stopped attacking Israel from that moment on.

Part I: The Importance of Having and Aligning with God’s Perspective

When we’re faced with challenging situations, our perspective determines how we will react. Our natural tendency is to see only what’s right in front of us — the “enemy army” of problems, setbacks, or uncertainties. But God’s perspective goes beyond the surface, revealing a bigger picture and a greater reality.

From a human viewpoint, the choices may seem limited: fight, flee, or freeze. This is where anxiety and fear lead us, and the results can be damaging, even catastrophic. For example, if the servant had been in charge, he probably would have sued for terms of surrender, perhaps leading to a lifetime of captivity; or tried to escape and possibly died in the process. But when we align with God’s perspective on a situation, we are empowered to have a different response.

God’s perspective allows us to see opportunities where others see obstacles. It’s not about denying reality but about seeing things as God sees them. His perspective is perfect, as He sees everything, has unlimited resources, and desires to work things out for good – if we let Him. By focusing on God instead of the “army” in front of us, we’re reminded that God’s forces are greater. And the things that look like threats can actually become opportunities for God’s power to be displayed.

This change in perspective then shapes our response. With His perspective, we’re able to pause, seek God’s wisdom, and act accordingly. It’s the difference between reacting and responding. Elisha’s response to the Aramean army wasn’t to fight or flee — it was to pray, trust, and obey. This approach didn’t just save the day; it brought peace and stability for the future.

The ultimate outcome? The Aramean soldiers weren’t destroyed — they were shown mercy. Out of a seemingly no-win scenario came an incredible win-win! And this reflects God’s heart: “‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.” (Ezekiel 33:!1) It’s a reminder that when we have God’s perspective, our decisions often lead to mercy, restoration, and peace, not just for us, but for those around us as well.

Part II: How Do We Obtain God’s Perspective?

To be fair, it’s a lot easier to have peace when God reveals exactly what He’s doing. Elisha’s servant’s anxiety melted away as soon as he saw the army of God’s chariots of fire. I think most of us would have the same response, regardless of how weak or strong our faith was prior to that point. But what about when things are not so clear? What about when we’re surrounded by difficulties, and we don’t see the “chariots of fire” protecting us? How do we maintain God’s perspective when we haven’t seen the full picture yet?

Here are some ways to gain God’s perspective and act accordingly, to see His goodness displayed in challenging circumstances:

1. Immerse Yourself in God’s Ways
To see life through God’s eyes, we must saturate our minds with His Word. Why? Scripture is a record of God’s dealings with mankind and is filled with the way He views things, what’s true and not true in situations, how to respond well and how not to respond, and especially how God is everlastingly faithful – always. In this way, scripture acts like a lens that corrects our vision. The more we read and meditate on it, the more clearly we see. Deuteronomy 6:6-9 reminds us to “talk about His ways” throughout the day — with our family, in our homes, and in our hearts. This constant exposure reshapes how we think, and we inevitably become transformed by the renewing of our mind. (Romans 12:2)

2. Spend Time With God
Just like spending time with close friends can shape our thoughts and habits, spending time with God transforms how we think. The Bible tells us that “in His presence is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11). He is also the Prince of Peace and the God of hope. The more time we spend with Him, the more our hearts and minds begin to reflect His peace, joy, and hope – regardless of the circumstances.
Let me share a personal example. A few weeks ago, I went to bed feeling deeply discouraged about a situation involving one of our children. The next morning, as I simply spent time with the Lord, worshipping and focusing on Him, my heart was noticeably filled with hope, clarity, and peace. Though the circumstances hadn’t changed, my view of the situation had. I found myself no longer praying in desperation but in confidence. Again, this shift didn’t happen because the situation changed — it’s because I changed. I saw it differently because I was gifted with God’s feelings towards it – one of hope, optimism, joy, and peace. Who we spend time with rubs off on us! How much more true is this when it comes to spending time with God Himself?

3. Listen to God
Elisha’s ability to act with such clarity and confidence was rooted in his ability to listen to God. When the Arameans planned their raids, Elisha received insight from God, which he shared with Israel’s king. When the Aramean army surrounded him, he prayed for his servant’s eyes to be opened. When the soldiers were blinded, Elisha didn’t rely on his own wisdom — he listened to God about what to do next. This habit of listening gave Elisha God’s perspective, allowing him to see things as they truly were. It trains us to see where God is working and what He is really doing. And gets our focus off of what He doesn’t seem to be doing, which leaves us discouraged and takes us away from God, who is our Hope.

4. Do What God Says
Finally, perspective comes through action. When God gives us instructions, following them actually shapes our hearts and minds. Even if God doesn’t reveal His ultimate plan to us in a situation, obedience prepares us to see things as He does. The servant’s view of the Aramean army was one of fear until he followed Elisha’s instructions and witnessed God’s protection with his own eyes. Whenever we see God’s faithfulness in our lives, our eyes are healed just a little bit more to look and prepare for His faithfulness the next time. And that can make all the difference.

The world is full of noise, opinions, and fear-driven narratives. If we’re not careful, we’ll see life the way the world does — filled with reasons to worry, retreat, or compromise. But God’s perspective is always higher and better. He’s not pacing heaven’s floors, wringing His hands. He is in charge and full of hope, joy and peace! And He’s inviting us to draw near and enjoy this heavenly perspective as well. And to witness for ourselves the goodness of God in the land of the living.