“And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha” (II Kings 6:16,17).

The Syrians had surrounded the city of Dothan, and Elisha’s servant was afraid. But Elisha knew something which his servant did not.

There exists “an innumerable company of angels” (Hebrews 12:22), whose very purpose is to serve as “ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation” (Hebrews 1:14). These are all mighty angels, “that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word” (Psalm 103:20). “The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear Him” (Psalm 34:7).

But that is not all. The angels are also said to be “a flame of fire” (Hebrews 1:7), and each of the cherubim to wield a “flaming sword” (Genesis 3:24). They apparently can assume not only the appearance of men when necessary, but also of “horses and chariots of fire,” when this is needed. This fiery host was well able to defeat the Syrian army, and Elisha’s servant was no longer afraid. Elisha, himself, had seen horses of fire, and a chariot of fire at least once before, when Elijah had been carried to heaven (II Kings 2:11).

Even though Satan is now “the god of this world” (II Corinthians 4:4), there is no need to fear, for “greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (I John 4:4). “To you who are troubled . . . the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (II Thessalonians 1:7,8). HMM