Calmness in the Face of Danger: Learning from Elisha

Scripture is full of stories of unwavering faith that resonate through the ages, encouraging God’s people to trust Him – even in the face of dire circumstances. Such is the account of Elisha, a devoted prophet of Yahweh who stood firmly where God had placed him.

Chapter 6 of 2 Kings provides the context: A prolonged siege of the city of Samaria by the neighbouring Arameans and their king, Ben-Hadad II, triggered a famine inside the city walls. So desperate was the Samarians’ plight that they had resorted to cannibalism.

Now as Jehoram, the king of Israel was passing by on the wall [of Samaria], a woman cried out to him, saying, “Help, my lord, O king!” . . . . And the king asked her, “What is your trouble?” She answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’ So we boiled my son and ate him. And on the next day I said to her, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him.’ But she has hidden her son.” 6:26 – 29.

Jehoram, livid that the people were acting like animals, blamed Elisha for the famine. He knew Elisha was a powerful prophet who spoke for Yahweh, and could pronounce disaster at the Lord’s command. Enraged, he sent a messenger to arrest Elisha for execution: “Then [Jehoram] said, ‘God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on him today.’” (6:31).

Elisha knew the king’s messenger was coming to arrest him. How would you react if you were in Elisha’s situation? Would you fight? Flee in terror? Cry out to God for protection? Surrender yourself?

What did Elisha do?

So Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. And the king sent a man ahead of him, but before the messenger came to him, [Elisha] said to the elders, “Do you see how this son of a murderer has sent to take away my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold him fast at the door. Is not the sound of his master’s feet behind him?” 6:32 – 33.

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Elisha remained calm and composed. He did not panic. Instead, he continued sitting with the elders and warned them, telling them to shut the door and restrain the messenger to avoid an immediate arrest. He knew God was in control and would protect him while he delivered yet another word from Yahweh:

And while [Elisha] was still speaking with [the elders], the messenger came down to him and said, “This trouble is from the Lord! Why should I wait for the Lord any longer?” But Elisha said, “Hear the word of the Lord: thus says the Lord, Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.” Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned said to the man of God, “If the Lord himself should make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” But [Elisha] said, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.” 6:33 –7:2.

Elisha’s response to danger in 2 Kings 6:31-33 provides a powerful example of calm and unyielding trust in God during challenging times. Rather than fear, retaliation, or despair, we should respond by relying on God for the calmness and trust we need for obedience to Him. He promises to be faithful to deliver the righteous from trouble (Psalm 37:40) and never to forsake His children (Hebrews 13:5). Let us hold onto and claim these promises, even when faced with persecution or hardship.