When Elisha and his servant awoke in the morning, their city was surrounded by horses and chariots sent by the King of Syria to take Elisha captive. The servant was afraid.
“What should we do?” the servant asked Elisha.
Elisha told the servant, “Do not to be afraid because those with us are more than those who are with them.”
Then Elisha prayed, “Lord, open his eyes that he may see.”
Then the servant could see that the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kings 6:15-17).
What exactly are these chariots of fire? What is their purpose?
What the Chariots of Fire Are
The bottom line is we don’t know for sure what or who the chariots of fire are, but in studying this passage and reading a variety of commentaries on this passage, there seems to be two main thoughts.
First of all, the horses and chariots of fire could be driven by angels.
Angels perform many different roles in Scripture. Some give messages. Others pour out judgment at the right time. Others protect. There was an angel and a flaming sword that protected the Garden of Eden from Adam and Eve reentering. We know that angels perform a protecting role around God’s people. Psalm 34:7 says, “The angel of the Lord encamps around them that fear Him and delivers them.”
In Psalm 91:11, Moses says, “He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.”
Other commentators suggested that the horses and the chariots of fire could be the visual representation of God’s presence. This idea is similar to the Shekinah glory of the Lord that rested on the Ark of the Covenant although in this instance His presence is in horse and chariot form.
If this is so, I love the picture of God showing himself in a similar shape, but in a more powerful form than what the enemy brought out to fight. It’s like He is saying “oh, you brought horses and chariots to take my prophet? Well, I’ll see your horses and chariots and raise you by sending out more of them…and they are formed out of fire.”
We do see other places in Scripture where God uses the picture of fire to present Himself like the burning bush talking to Moses and the tongues of fire on the heads of Jesus’ followers when the Holy Spirit comes on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2.
The Purpose of the Chariots of Fire
The main purpose of these chariots of fire becoming visible is to assuage the fear of the servant. Elisha noticed that his servant was afraid and that is why he prayed that God would open his eyes so he would see.
No matter what the chariots of fire were, whether they were angels or God’s presence or something else, they showed that God is more than the servant’s fear.
If you are going through time of fear, or if you have a friend who is fearful, pray that the Lord would open your eyes to see that He is more.
Do you have any other suggestions about what the chariots of fire could be? How does God show you comfort in times of fear? Let me know in the comments below.
This blog post is part of the Pray like the Prophets blog series.
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Lord, no matter where we are, you oh LORD are there. You are our comfort in times of fear. Your always with us in prayer and never are you not with us. Amen
Thank you for sharing your prayer!
Ppl like you how encourage me. Knowing that my God is almighty and in control. He /Jesus says low I’ll be with you.
yes! Amen! I am thankful for Jesus’ promise of HIs presence.
The Lord is Almighty, Omnipresent and Oniportant.
Clearly Chariots and horses of fire are awesome potency. GOD WITH US is awesome and potent ! We should then take heart and be people of truth and courage in the wicked and darkened world. Stars dont shine bellow the horizon, they shine above the horizon. We mush exercise the faith to rise above.
Great application! I’m so thankful for God’s presence with us.
God is faithful and can never lie so He has to honour His word which says “I will never leave you nor forsake you, I will be with you in trouble I will deliver you and honour you …., So His word which is quick or alive and active, sharper than double edge sword….. has to be fulfilled in that present moment there was trouble in His servant’s life, so I also believe it is the WORD OF GOD, which came as the chariots of fire and horses to fulfil that which God has SPOKEN. As children of God we should always remind ourselves through scriptures that God is with us at all times and no matter what we face in life He will honour His word which says He will never leave us and will also deliver us out of trouble. The WORD OF GOD is YE AND AMEN.
The chariots of fire are an indication that he is always willing and ready to fight on our behalf and that we are forever surrounded by his grace.
What a beautiful picture of God’s grace! He is with us always, even to the end of the age!
Thank you everyone, all comments are very encouraging to me.
Chariots of fire as in Ezekiel are an exact depiction of what we call today UFOs Or USOs or new terminology UAPs
I think they are more like the descriptions of God in his throne and his throne on the move like in Revelation 4-5 and Isaiah 6. That makes more sense in the Biblical context.