Do you believe the words of the prophet? Then he said, Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few. When did Jesus do this? Could I not wash in them and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. Two salient facts should inform the reasoning: At the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus was shown to be in league with the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah). When Christ raises Jairus' daughter to life, she is still in the bed where she had died only a few hours earlier. Does the Catholic Church attempt to explain scientifically any miracles associated with Jesus' time on earth? Jesus referred to him and his healing of Naaman the Gentile leper (Lk. 2 Kings 3:1-27 When he dies in 852BC, King Ahab is succeeded by his son Joram, who continues - like his father - to worship Baal. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, Go andwash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, andyou shallbe clean.But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, Indeed, I said to myself, He will surely come outto me,and stand and call on the name of theLordhis God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.Arenot theAbanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? - And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that. Minimising the environmental effects of my dyson brain. Some werent the typical miracle we would see in the New Testament like healings or demons cast out after prayer. Then she called to her husband, and said, Please send me one of the young men and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God and come back. So he said, Why are you going to him today? In this lesson we will consider 7 miracles that Elisha performed and observe what each implies about the power of God. It was the power of God at the time of his immersion in demonstration of his dependence upon God. rev2023.3.3.43278. link to Is There Such A Thing As Too Much Prayer? Changing water into wine at Cana in John 2:1-11 - "the first of the signs" Healing the royal official's son in Capernaum in John 4:46-54. Elisha prayed when they arrived in Samaria, and their eyes were opened. Why didthis madman come to you? And he said to them, You know the man and his babble. And they said, A lie! 3:11 ); but while Elijah was a child of the desert, Elisha lived in cities. Help train Christians to boldly share the good news of Jesus Christ in a way that clearly communicates to this secular age. When Naaman sawhimrunning after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Isall well? And he said, Alliswell. 8:5-13). 9:6). (2 Kings 2:11) Jesus. Then the king of Israel sentsomeoneto the place of which the man of God had told him. Thus, there is nothing unjust or oppressive about this setup. No, it is not water that gives the life any more than it was the water of the Jordan that gave Naaman life. Note how he employs the community in his miracle to help the widow. The God of life and death is the one who gives such life. The similarities are so minor and questionable that I believe the only reasonable conclusion is that the events described for Elisha are neither coincidences nor intended to foreshadow the life of Jesus. The girl is not dead but sleeping." This step is an allusion to a law in Deuteronomy 24:10-11. So whenthe Syrianscame down to him, Elisha prayed to theLord, and said, Strike this people, I pray, with blindness. AndHe struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. When the vessels were full, she said to her son, Bring me another vessel. And he said to her, There is not one vessel more. And the oil stopped. Yeshuah is an author, Powered by Congregate, Fort Logan Church of Christ 1. Elisha instructed a poor widow to borrow as many empty jars as she could. Our faith and fear of the Lord doesnt mean constant ease. A puzzle, except John's power was in bringing people to repentance, which is the primary work of Elijah during the pagan northern tribes: Jn 10:41. . The three Gospel accounts that tell us about the healing of a leper are: Matthew 8:2-4, Mark 1:40-45 and Luke 5:12-16. by Chris Moen. Home | About Us | Sermons | Bible Studies | En Espaol | Members | Contact Us He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD. But now you will strike Syriaonlythree times.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,100],'yeshuahboyton_com-sky-3','ezslot_22',681,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-yeshuahboyton_com-sky-3-0'); Then Elishadied, and they buried him. Some people count them as. When Elisha came into the house, behold the lad was dead and laid on his bed. Why is this sentence from The Great Gatsby grammatical? Their ministries both start at the River Jordan, They both raise a womans adult son from the dead, They both feed large numbers with a small quantity of food, They both turn a small quantity of liquid into an abundance, They both make things that should sink, float. Feeding the 5000 in John 6:5-14. Then she came and told the man of God. Both receive the Spirit on the other side of the Jordan (2 Kings 2:7-15; John 1:28); are surrounded by more disciples than their predecessors; are itinerant miracle workers; give life in a land of death; cleanse . And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, shutthe doorupon him, and went out. They both feed large numbers with a small quantity of food. You are the one who took out the loan. All of what you say is correct, however, please remember that all Jews were familiar with the Pentateuch and the Prophets. Is itwell with your husband? Both utilize the skills of another - Elisha tells his attendant to distribute the bread, and Jesus asked His disciples to organize the crowds and have them sit down (2 Kings 4:42; John 6:10). The stories of Elijah and his successor, Elisha, are of a different literary genre from the historical accounts of the political developments of the 9th century. These articles go into more detail and emphasize different aspects pertaining to all the miracles. A limit involving the quotient of two sums. TYPE: Itinerant miracle workers: Elijah, Elisha and Jesus were all traveling miracle workers. What shall we do? So he answered,Do not fear, forthose whoarewith usaremore than those whoarewith them.And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see. Then theLordopened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. Elisha was the faithful disciple of the prophet Elijah, and his successor. Elisha told Jehoram, What have I to do with you? By using my links, you help support this website. If you stumbled into desperate need, you petitioned the king; the king was the Lords servant to give you relief. He touched the dead to make them alive. It means our Father in heaven is listening to us. The kings of Israel, Judah and Edom have gone up against the king of Moab because he has refused to pay his taxes as a vassal to Israel. Indeed, as the oil paid off the loan and provided for the life of the widows family, so by Christs blood we are forgiven and have lifeeven resurrection life! So it happened just as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying,Two seahs of barley for a shekel, and a seah of fine flour for a shekel, shall besoldtomorrow about this time in the gate of Samaria. Then that officer had answered the man of God, and said, Now look,iftheLordwould make windows in heaven, could such a thing be? And he had said, In fact, you shall seeitwith your eyes, but you shall not eat of it. And so it happened to him, for the people trampled him in the gate, and he died. Don. This is just one of those hard times. 5. And he said, Giveitto the people, that they may eat. But his servant said,What? Elisha said, Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and live on the rest.. The flask of oil, which represented the widows utter poverty, has become the very source of becoming debt-free and living daily life. They never bowed the knee to Baal or visited one of those golden calves. These include: (1) freedom, (2) new life and sometimes fertility, (3) hope, (4) compassion and love, (5) eternal life, (6) restoration, and (7) provision. The stories of Elijah and Elisha are legendary, popular accounts, probably having arisen among the common people. 16 And they ridiculed him. They were taught them from an early age, and they would have been apt to see those similarities. Help me reach the world for the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus heals lepers by a word, not a river. He had given them water in the wilderness in Ex. Not just physical life, but spiritual life. It is mysteriously supplied and beyond that it looks like blood to the Moabites and they think the 3 kings have turned on one another and now they will take the spoils. But the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soulisin deep distress, and theLordhas hiddenitfrom me, and has not told me. So she said, Did I ask a son of my lord? It exposed women to vulnerability, need, and loneliness. Her first two words say it all: your servant, my husband. The widow and Elisha have a pre-existing relationship. 17. And then Elisha responds, and with such words of refreshment! In total, Elisha performed 32 miracles compared to the 16 in Elijahs ministry. On the death of Ahab, King Mesha of Moab refuses to pay his annual tribute to the new king of Israel. Elijah: Scripture Reference(s) Elisha: Scripture . A comparison of the miracles of Elijah and Elisha recorded in 1&2 Kings. about to bury him, and were carrying the corpse to the grave, when an interruption occurred. She collected some 50, 100, or more containers. Have we found a passage that is not Christ centered? She reminds Elisha of his duty and then pulls at his heart strings. When he placed the reference to the ancient stories of Elijah and Elisha at the beginning of Jesus' ministry, it was with a view to his later pairing of the accounts of the centurion's servant and the widow's son. So the king arose in the night and said to his servants, Let me now tell you what the Syrians have done to us. Elisha turned a small amount of oil into an abundance in 2 Kings 4:1-7. Because it gets iffy with Elijahs prophecies. John 1:1 indicates that Jesus is God. And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. "They" is used indefinitely of some unnamed Israelites, like the French on. 6. Thentake the flask of oil, and pouriton his head, and say, Thus says theLord: I have anointed you king over Israel. Then open the door and flee, and do not delay. So the young man, the servant of the prophet, went to Ramoth Gilead. God loaned us life, but we rebelled in depravity and idolatry. Isnot the sound of his masters feet behind him?And while he was still talking with them, there was the messenger, coming down to him; and thenthe kingsaid, Surely this calamityisfrom theLord;why should I wait for theLordany longer?, Then Elisha said, Hear the word of theLord. from your pastor, priest, or other trustworthy counselor, We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup, Acceptable comments policy for Christianity Stack Exchange. People differ on the exact amount. In Jesus times the Jewish people expected the great prophet Elijah to come again and, in Matthews gospel, Jesus suggests that this has happened in John the Baptist. C. God sustains His people with the water of life and uses water to triumph over their enemies. Andthe sons of the prophets said to Elisha, See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us. Most of the miracles in the Old Testament were repeated by Jesus in some way or another. He unexpectedly died, and the loan fell to his wife and she defaulted. The sea was split; Jesus calmed the sea. Compare this to Matthew 9:23-25, to see that there is very little in common between the two miracles (and only the miracle by Elisha was preceded by prayer): When Jesus arrived at the official's house and saw the flute players and the crowd who were making a commotion, he said, "Go away! 2) Healing of the waters when Elisha cast salt in it so that there was no more death (2 Kings 2:21). And when all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them, all who were able to bear arms and older weregathered; and they stood at the border. Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, Bring me another vessel. And he said to her, There isnot another vessel. So the oil ceased. Instead Moab is slaughtered. Now when you arrive at that place, look there for Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, and go in and make him rise up from amonghis associates, and take him to an inner room. Elisha the prophet continued the efforts of Elijah in restoring proper worship. Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search. At that time, Elisha began his . Because he was miraculously healed from cancer he now shares about healing, deliverance, discipleship, evangelism, and spiritual warfare on this website, on Youtube, on his podcast, and in his newsletter. Disclosure:In order to provide this website free of charge to our wonderful readers,Beautiful Christian Life LLC uses advertisements and affiliate marketing links to generate revenue. Then they rose up early in the morning, and the sun was shining on the water; and the Moabites saw the water on the other sideasred as blood. And as saints, we have the duty to show love and charity to one another, especially when hard times strike. So a seah of fine flour wassoldfor a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel,according to the word of theLord. So it was, when they had come to Samaria, that Elisha said, Lord, open the eyes of thesemen,that they may see. And theLordopened their eyes, and they saw; and therethey were,inside Samaria! For example, in the case of Elisha (2 Kings 4:32-35): 32 And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. It had to be saved for an eternal redemptionto pay off our corruptions, to purchase us for Christ himself, and to pay our way into heaven. Elisha makes her shut the doors to follow this law and to protect her kids: Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. When the husband died, the loan defaulted. Here, though, the widows family feared the Lord. God transforms death to life and supplies life with abundance. Now when the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, Myfather, shall I killthem? And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. When they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, "O Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.". then action taken by Elisha/Jesus to distribute the food, the consumption of the food, and then finally a declaration that there was . How much more then, when he says to you, Wash, and be clean?So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and hisflesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, andhe was clean. He blesses with rain and fruitful seasons (Acts 14:17). The widow lost her money, had her hubby taken, and now will she lose her kids too? And as she poured they brought the vessels to her. Secondly, the widow was granted charity, a charity that all the neighbors helped with. When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the, When they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, O. Remember, this creditor is not some massive Wall Street bank; he is a neighbor, a friend, or a family member. Elisha made an iron axe head float in 2 Kings 6:5-7. Both raise the dead (2 Kgs 4: . We remember that Jesus twice fed multitudes with a few loaves and fish ( Matthew 14:13-21 and 15:32-39 ). What miracles were reported during the transferral of St. Monica's relics to Rome? Certain persons, it does not matter who, were burying a man, i.e. Whatcan Ido for you? One more similarity between Elisha and Jesus would be that people obtained life through their deaths. Then he returned, and walked in the house once back and forth, then went up and stretched himself out on him. This is huge! With this slow dribble, the widow is filling buckets, canning jars, tubs, and gallon jugs. This makes double the amount of wondrous acts than the prophet Elijah did with 16 miracles. Jesus made himself and Peter to walk on water in John 6:19 and 20, and in Matthew 14:25-29. Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever. So he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow. Nevertheless, with the last container up to the brim, the oil stops flowing. Let us begin with the first aspect, namely Jesus's deity. 3. And there is enough oil to pay the loan and then to live off of! It is God who justifieswho can condemn? Then check out my Study Bible recommendation to save yourself some more research time in your Bible Studies. B. The Dakes commentaries not only brought a deeper insight and understanding but also real revelation to my quiet time. Before he died, the husband had taken out a loan, probably fairly sizable. . The Old Testament records God worked through Elijah1resurrection of the dead,4 prophecies, and11 wondrous miracles. Loving Jesus with a Living and Undying Love, For Those Who Do, and Do Not, Celebrate Lent, Tradition, the Bible, and Americas Debate over Slavery, From Wretched to Needy: Changing a Classic Hymn, Sneak Peek Interview: Laura Wiflers New Childrens Book. February 1, 2021. a. Elisha raises the son of the 'Shunaammite woman' from the dead. @rhetorician, aren't this two elements present in every single miracle? Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek. But he led them to Samaria. 3. . Jehoram, king of Israel, concludes that the Lord has given them into the hands of Moab. Turning water into wine at a wedding hardly evokes turning oil into an abundance; feeding thousands with loaves and fishes hardly evokes turning poison stew into good stew; curing lepers was a quite common claim or achievement in biblical times; making an iron axe head float in somehow unlike walking on water. The Answer (Of Course) Is: It Depends! So it is not coincidental but rather all in accord with God's plan. Three Harms that Come from Redefining Marriage, The Scandal of the American Evangelical Intellectual, A Simple Way to Help One Million Christians in the Global South Get a Copy of Their Own Bible. (2 Kings 2:13-15). Then the men of the city said to Elisha, Please notice, the situation of this cityispleasant, as my lord sees; but the waterisbad, and the ground barren. And he said, Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it. So they broughtitto him. Today it is treatable. That these miracles were similar would have the effect of showing that Jesus was fully a prophet (in addition to being fully the lawgiver and fully God) in a way that would have made sense to those who already knew the works and role of the prophets from the Ketuv'im. (See Lesson Five: Miracles related to Eyes). For it wasborrowed. So the man of God said, Where did it fall? And he showed him the place. D. You may recall that the message of Scripture is a message of life. Sounds like a WWE match introduction. All 16 Miracles of Elijah in Chronological Order: helpful overview, The Differences & Miracles Of Elijah & Elisha In Chronological Order, Bears from the woods fulfill the curse spoken in the name of the Lord, Resurrection of the Shunammite womans son, Man revives after touching Elijahs dead body, How Many Miracles Did Elisha Perform? Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up the road, some youths came from the city and mocked him, and said to him, Go up, you baldhead! Jesus did multiply wine, but this wasnt a relief for hardshipit was to let the people celebrate and drink more. What miracles were performed during the beatification and canonization processes of Mother Teresa? And it happened, when the king of Israel read the letter, that he tore his clothes and said, AmIGod, to kill and make alive, that this man sends a man to me to heal him of his leprosy? Obviously, Jesus' power came from God. Before we look at all the miracles in order, lets talk about the types of Elishas miracles and compare them to Elijahs.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'yeshuahboyton_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_14',844,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-yeshuahboyton_com-medrectangle-4-0'); The fire prophet vs. the baldie. And when the man touched the bones of Elisha he revived and stood up on his feet. And time is precisely what the widow is going to need as Elisha then tells her to take the flask and start filling up each borrowed container, one at a time. Elisha. So the idea from the word dunamis is that there is supernatural power involved. Elisha, whose name means "God is salvation," was the successor of Elijah in the office of the prophet in Israel ( 1 Kings 19:16, 19-21; 2 Kings 5:8 ). So he entered and shut the door behind them both and prayed to the Lord. Parts the Jordan river (2:13-14) Elisha takes Elijah's mantle, which the latter had just left behind after being taken up into heaven in a chariot of fire, and strikes the river, which parts so that he c. So they departed from him and returned totheir ownland. And Paul says he will ultimately transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself (Phil. In this article, youll get a quick answer to how many miracles Elisha did but also a broad overview of all his miracles in chronological order, including their scripture reference and passage.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,100],'yeshuahboyton_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_4',661,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-yeshuahboyton_com-medrectangle-3-0'); The prophet Elisha performed 32 recorded miracles in 2 Kings 2-13. But Elisha was sitting in his house, andthe elders were sitting with him. Just like in John 6:9, they had relatively few loaves of barley bread to feed many. It is interesting that each of the three resurrection miracles reports the dead person in a different stage of death from the other instances. Thus, Luke's juxtaposition of the two miracles, under the heading of prophetic visitation, serves a larger narrative purpose. 2 Kings 6:20-22 says: 20 And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. He doesnt even turn it into a lesson on sin: Something must be lacking in your faith. She is the faithful saint who is suffering. His first miraculous act was to dry up the river. D. In this miracle God transformed a small amount into an abundance and provided for the widow and her sons. A. Famine had resulted in short food supplies. 3. And Elisha returned toGilgal, andthere wasafamine in the land. info@fortloganchurchofchrist.com If he finds them outside, he can legally confiscate the children. Elisha did a bit . Not only did he havemore miracles, but Elisha also seemed to have a stronger prophetic anointing. Jesus had once made a comparison between his miracles and those of Elisha: > There were a. This means that if he defaulted on the loan the creditor had the legal right, by contract, to seize his kids, and they would become the creditors debt-slaves until they pay off the loan. Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases on Amazon.com. NowNaaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, wasa great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him theLordhad given victory to Syria. As you go through this study, see how John intentionally structures the first half of his book around the "re-visited" miracles of Elisha. Everyday Miracles offers twenty daily devotional readings, journaling questions and daily prayers. Elijah the prophet served God between 860BC-852BC and did 16 miracles, half the number Elisha did which was 32 miracles.. Please, let us go to the Jordan, and let every man take a beam from there, and let us make there a place where we may dwell. So he answered, Go. Then one said,Please consent to go with your servants. And he answered, I will go.So he went with them. She prayed for bread, but all she got was a rock. His mother was confident in Gods power and so sought out Elisha. Look, theymay either becomelike all the multitude of Israel that are left in it; or indeed,I say,theymay becomelike all the multitude of Israel left from those who are consumed; so let us send them and see.Therefore they took two chariots with horses; and the king sent them in the direction of the Syrian army, saying, Go and see.And they went after them to the Jordan; and indeed all the roadwasfull of garments and weapons which the Syrians had thrown away in their haste. . And this financial arrangement was fully legal under Mosaic Law, and it was common. It is God who picks us up out of the water and saves us. There is no condemnation for us in Christ. Does a barbarian benefit from the fast movement ability while wearing medium armor? His rights as the creditor had to be upheld. They consist of 3 healings, 2 raisings of the dead, 3 judgments, 12 wondrous miracles, and 12 prophecies. Jesus feeds five thousand men. They consist of 3 healings, 2 raisings of the dead, 3 judgments, 12 wondrous miracles, and 12 prophecies. All Rights Reserved. But Jesus, as Gods son, lives fully in relationship with God in a way that no other has or can. This is the painful mystery of the suffering of the obedient. If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not answer. C. Only by the power of the God who gives life could Naaman be healed. Why do small African island nations perform better than African continental nations, considering democracy and human development? (A Helpful Guide), link to All 29 Miracles in The Book Of Acts in Chronological Order, How-Tos on Spiritual Warfare and Deliverance Ministry, Basic Questions On: Healing, Deliverance, Miracles, Faith, Prayer, & Spiritual Warfare Answered. The obvious things to me when comparing the events the OP listed and the events in the life of our Savior are at least two: 1) they involved miracles performed in the power of the same God (except that Jesus' miracles were performed by God the Son in person and not through an intermediary); and 2) they involved a prophetic element, in that both the prophets and Jesus "proved" the genuineness of their prophetic gifting by God by doing humanly impossible things, such as performing miracles and predicting the future. 4:27). He was of a gentle and affectionate disposition and without that fiery zeal by which his master had been distinguished. Now there were four leprous menat the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, Why are we sitting here until we die? If the widow and her husband served Elisha with fealty, then as a master, Elisha is obligated to care and provide for his servants. The three kings have journeyed through the wilderness of Edom to make their attack. The armies of the three kings had witnessed the miracles Elisha had worked to prepare their way to victory, but in the end they lacked the faith and trust to complete the victory. And this verse about Elisha's bones gives us an example of this. He preached that people should sell their possessions and give to the poor. 1. They both raise a woman's adult son from the dead. When the Israelites throw a corpse into Elisha's tomb, the man springs to his feet after touching Elisha's bones (2 Kings 13:21). Rather, he saved this miracle for the last. The miracles that happened involved men who were extraordinary messengers from God - Moses and Joshua, Elijah and Elisha, Jesus and the apostles. Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die. Elijah's prayers changed the whole atmosphere - and he was just as human as we are. The person is a sinner; they deserve wrath, but the Lord graciously saves them. So it was, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to his servant Gehazi, Look, the Shunammite woman! (All miracles in order), 16 Miracles of Elijah in Chronological Order: helpful overview. The neighbors charity to lend out their containers is essential to how she will find relief. 304 Lee Drive Her husband had no eyes for idols, but his heart was wholly devoted in reverence to the Lord alone. YeshuahBoyton.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.