In 2 Kings 6: 17-20, Elisha did a marvelous thing in the life of his servant- he showed him the numbers. The war was on. A great army surrounded them and because of the numbers, the heart of the servant sank within him. In anxiety and fear he cried out for direction from the prophet. In the sight of the great army, fitted with impressive artillery and a will to destroy, the prophet reassured him not to fear. Why? Those who are with us are more than those who are with them. When the servant saw the numbers, he was no longer afraid.

Numbers present similar challenges for us but like the servant, God’s reassuring word should remove our fear and grow our trust. From Old to New Testament God has reassured us that he is with us, over us and for us always. Many of us will remember Moses and the many miraculous things he did, especially parting the Red Sea (Exodus 14:7-21).Samson’s victory over the massive army with 300 men (Judges 7:7), David’s victory over the Philistines with a sling and a stone 1 Samuel 17:50, and the courage of the three Hebrews boys in Daniel 3, are other examples of great victories for God’s cause won with small numbers of people.

Despite the great armies of willfully ignorant, irreligious and those incorrectly taught, we are capable of educating them, bringing them closer to God, and even converting them to Christianity. Whether we work alone, in groups or as a congregation, we can achieve God’s purpose. We can do so because like Elisha’s servant those that are with us are more than those who are with them. The assurance is as long as we go as God sends us he is with us always, even to the end. So where two or three are gathered for His purpose He is there two.

We have all the numbers we need because we have Jesus, commander of heaven and earth.