The Jedi Mind Trick

"His servant said, 'Alas, master! What shall we do?' Elisha replied, 'Do not be afraid, for there are more with us than there are with them.'"

(2 Kings 6:15b-16)

There are so many quotes from the STAR WARS franchise that have now become part of our popular culture (and vernacular)... possibly none more than the scene from Episode IV (the original "Star Wars" film) at Mos Eisley Spaceport... when Obi Wan Kenobi is bringing Luke Skywalker and his two droids, C3PO and R2D2, to look for a pilot and a ship (which would eventually lead them to Han Solo!). Anyway, the Storm Troopers stop their land speeder outside the town as part of a roadblock (they're looking for two "escaped" droids!). Obi Wan performs the first-ever-onscreen Jedi Mind Trick, by waving his hand in front of the Trooper, saying, 'These aren't the droids you're looking for...' Subsequently, the group is allowed to pass without incident.

I JUST FOUND THAT SCENE IN THE BIBLE!!!

Okay, so there's not actually Star Wars characters in the Holy Scriptures... nor are there any droids or Storm Troopers... but it's the same basic plot line! And it's found in the book of 2 Kings.

The king of Aram planned to ambush the king of Israel (multiple times). But every time he'd designate the ambush location and tell his commander, God would inform the prophet Elisha, who'd in turn tell the king of Israel, who'd then avoid that location altogether. And it was starting to drive the king of Aram crazy! He thought there was a 'mole' in his inner circle. But one of his officers informed him that it was actually Elisha the prophet in Israel, "who tells the King of Israel the words you speak in your bedchamber." So the king of Aram decides to "take out" Elisha. He dispatches the army and they surround the city where Elisha is living. They mean to take him by force.

Elisha's servant panics when he sees the army amassed outside their city. But Elisha calms him by saying, "Do not be afraid, for there are more with us than there are with them." Elisha then prays that his servant can see the spiritual resources they actually have (which turns out to be an entire mountainside of angels on horseback and in chariots of fire!). Elisha asks God to blind the Arameans, then he goes outside the city and tells them, "This is not the way, and this is not the city; follow me, and I will bring you to the man you seek!" THE JEDI MIND TRICK AT WORK!

Elisha led them to Samaria, surrounded by the armies of Israel. But instead of killed them (like the king of Israel suggests), Elisha instructs them to feed the Arameans (after God un-blinds them, of course), and simply let them go. The king of Aram never attacks Israel again. (What a great story, right?!)

I love the thought that "there are more with us than with them." We have spiritual resources that we cannot see. But God is working for good in the world and for us. Trust that. DO NOT BE AFRAID! Amen, and amen!