Saturday morning cartoons were a big deal back in the day. Wiley Coyote was constantly trying to satisfy his appetite by consuming a quick bird in the desert known as the Roadrunner. Crafty as he was, Wiley Coyote's plans always backfired. Because of his speed and wit the roadrunner constantly escaped.
That concept is seen in an escape artist named Elisha in the Bible. This guy was fearless. In 2 Kings 6 he has pushed Wiley.......errrrr... the King of Aram to the limit. In desperation the king devised a full proof plan. He sent a large force of soldiers in the night to surround the town of Dothan where the roadru.........errrrr Elisha was staying. This time it looks like there would be no escape.
In the morning Elisha's co-worker was up early. He went outside and quickly saw their situation. He reported "an army of horses and chariots has surrounded the city. Oh my Lord, what shall we do? "
This would be a good time to panic. Completely surrounded. No escape. No way to call for back-up.
The Roadrunner never seemed to panic in the cartoon show. He seemed to know something that was hidden from the viewer's eye. Such was the case with Elisha. Then he revealed the secret....the world hidden from natural eyes: "Those who are with us are more than those against us."
And Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes so he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
No wonder the roadru......errrrrrr....Elisha was so calm!
It is possible that your soul can be calm when everything else in your world has gone haywire. Such confidence and peace come from knowing "the God of angel armies is always by our side." (Those are the lyrics of a song we often sing.)
Horatio Spafford lost his business and home in the great Chicago fire of 1871. He sent his wife and four daughters on a ship back to England while he stayed behind to restart his business. A few days after the ship left port he received a telegram from his wife, "Saved alone. What shall I do?" There had been a shipwreck. All four daughters had perished. Haratio quickly boarded another ship headed toward England. As the ship passed over the same route where his daughters had drowned, he wrote these words:
When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul.
May the Lord give us eyes to see beyond this dimension. May he open our eyes to see that those who are with us are more than those who are against us.
Be a roadrunner.....be fearless......you've got major back-up!
Be strong and courageous, MB