2. +1 for pointing out that this question don't even make sense. Why are non-Western countries siding with China in the UN? But they still stand in direct correlation with Elijah or Elisha being the main prophet in charge. Jesus is the fulfillment of the . However, these two prophets were actually mighty men of God who passed each other the baton to continue Gods work. Throughout 2 Kings, we find Elisha performing many miracles, like multiplying oil vessels to save a widow from debt, rescuing friends from a poisonous soup, multiplying food that feeds hundreds, and even healing a gentile! He was a servant of the people, demonstrating God's love and compassion. Tell me what you have learned from your mistakes. Thus, Luke's juxtaposition of the two miracles, under the heading of prophetic visitation, serves a larger narrative purpose. When the crowd was put out, he came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose. Then the man of God said, Where did it fall? And when he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there, and made the iron float. He spoke words and diseases were erased. February 1, 2021. Elisha really did help out this poor widow and her children. And he said, Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and youandyour sons live on the rest.. 8:18). The family was struggling to get by, so the husband took out a loan. 25Now he went in and stood before his master. He preached that people should sell their possessions and give to the poor. 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. These five miracles foreshadowed several types of grace that Jesus offers to everyone. God transforms death to life and supplies life with abundance. Then two female bears came out of the woods and tore up forty-two lads of their number. He even raised a dead person postpartum. D. But God is in the business of giving life to the dead. 1. Was the Scapegoat of Leviticus an allusion to Barabbas? Elisha is anointed by Elijah to be his successor; Jesus is anointed by the new Elijah at the Jordan (1 Kgs 19:16; Lk 4:18). And the creditor has the legal right to seize the children for repayment. 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 ancient times, widowhood wasnt just sad; it was also dangerous. In total, Elisha performed 32 miracles compared to the 16 in Elijahs ministry. Elisha told Jehoram, What have I to do with you? Elisha's Feeding Miracle: Jesus' Feeding Miracle: In Elisha's miracle there was only a small amount of food (20 loaves of barley bread). Jesus made himself and Peter to walk on water in John 6:19 and 20, and in Matthew 14:25-29. The sea was split; Jesus calmed the sea. How do I connect these two faces together? Miracle after death: bones raised dead man: 2Ki 13:21. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her. . Tim Keller has an awesome sermon series on the similarities. Answer (1 of 4): The miracles of Elisha, and other Old Testament miracle workers, point to Messiah who would one day come: Jesus Christ. 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. Don. The miracles of Jesus were more than just healing the sick. A comparison of the miracles of Elijah and Elisha recorded in 1&2 Kings. TYPE: Itinerant miracle workers: Elijah, Elisha and Jesus were all traveling miracle workers. He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 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? At that time, Elisha began his . He went out to the spring of water and threw salt in it and said, Thus says the Lord, I have purified these waters; there shall not be from there death or unfruitfulness any longer. So the waters have been purified to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke. See 2 Kings 4:32-37. b. Jesus raises the son of the 'widow of Nain' from the dead. Hebrews 11:37 and 1 Kings 18:16-46. Instead Moab is slaughtered. Hard times had fallen upon her, and in her pain and uncertainty she was in desperate need of help. 16 And they ridiculed him. And Christs intercession is more precious than diamonds, for it means we can cast our cares upon him. (Deut. They rather seem to be wondrous events while the prophets were present or God-inspired proclamations. When the husband died, the loan defaulted. Elisha saw his master disappear in a fiery chariot, going up . When Elisha came into the house, behold the lad was dead and laid on his bed. The Answer (Of Course) Is: It Depends! Elisha means "God is salvation ." He was anointed by Elijah while plowing in his father Shaphat's field with 12 yokes of oxen. She is pouring from a flask. Does the Catholic Church attempt to explain scientifically any miracles associated with Jesus' time on earth? Nevertheless, +1 for pointing out that events in the Scriptures need not serve as analogies with a slavishly wooden and literal interpretation which searches for one-to-one analogs where they do not necessarily exist. We just need to reach out, ask and truly trust that G-d can help us and He surely will. Were the similarities between the miracles of Elisha and Jesus deliberate or simply coincidental? These articles go into more detail and emphasize different aspects pertaining to all the miracles. Did I not say, Do not deceive me? Then he said to Gehazi,Getyourself ready, and take my staff in your hand, and be on your way. In the Old Testament, miracles seemed to occur primarily in connection with one prominent leader at a time, such as Moses or Elijah or Elisha. 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. Yeshuah is an author, 5. 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! And he returned to the man of God, he and all his aides, and came and stood before him; and he said, Indeed, now I know thatthere isno God in all the earth, except in Israel; now therefore, please takea gift from your servant. But he said,AstheLordlives, before whom I stand,I will receive nothing. And he urged him to takeit,but he refused. Elisha is mentioned once in the New Testament. Then he said, Go, borrow vessels at large for yourself from all your neighbors, even empty vessels; do not get a few. They were loyal to Elisha, the Lords true prophet. In a land of apostasy and idolatry, the sons of the prophets were true believers and worshippers of the Lord. Elijah: Scripture Reference(s) Elisha: Scripture . 2. Elisha was the successor of Elijah, the greatest of all the prophets. Most of the miracles in the Old Testament were repeated by Jesus in some way or another. 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. Next, Elisha strangely orders her to shut the doors behind her and her kids. In answer to our prayers, God has not promised us a miracle, but he has assured us of the charity of the saints. This site is owned and operated by Yeshuah Boyton. Nevertheless, Elisha takes the object of her destitution and turns it into the source of her relief. He was called to follow Elijah in 1 Kings 19:19, and he spent the next several years as the prophet's protg, until Elijah was taken into heaven. Jesus fed 4,000 with a few fishes and loaves in Matthew 14:15-20, and 5,000 in Luke 16 and 17. The miracles of Jesus have at least three kinds of significance, corresponding roughly to three aspects of who Jesus is. All of what you say is correct, however, please remember that all Jews were familiar with the Pentateuch and the Prophets. To John, Australia I personally have seen miracles and have heard many first or secondhand accounts of miracles performed by the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Please run now to meet her, and say to her, Is itwell with you? Behold, they spied a band of men - rather, the band, i.e. Why Did Jesus Compare Gods Kingdom to a Mustard Seed and Leaven? 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. And he said to the king of Israel, Strike the ground; so he struck three times, and stopped. And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth and his eyes on his eyes and his hands on his hands, and he stretched himself on him; and the flesh of the child became warm. First, while Jehoram was cut off from intercession, the widow had access to Elishas prayers and helps. So a seah of fine flour wassoldfor a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel,according to the word of theLord. Andthe sons of the prophets said to Elisha, See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us. The prophet Elisha performed 32 recorded miracles in 2 Kings 2-13. And they said, This is blood; the kings have surely struck swords and have killed one another; now therefore, Moab, to the spoil!, A certain woman of the wives ofthe sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared theLord. On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. And he said, Open the east window; and he openedit. Their piety was pristine, but all they have known is difficulty. Is itwell with the child? And she answered, It iswell.Now when she came to the man of God at the hill, she caught him by the feet, but Gehazi came near to push her away. Maybe she gets a gallon per minute, maybe less. In one short paragraph, written a couple thousand years before Jesus walked on the earth, is a story that vividly points to his resurrection. As noted earlier, the gospels and the book of Acts record many miracles. In today's Biblical Figures post, we invite you to learn more about Elisha and his . Tell me, what do you have in the house? And she said, Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil. Then he said, Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighborsempty vessels;do not gather just a few. So they departed from him and returned totheir ownland. develops disciples for whom they also serve as types. Would you kill those whom you have taken captive with your sword and your bow? Elisha brought the dead son of the Shunammite back to life in 2 Kings 4:33 thru 35. He doesnt roll his eyes. And theraidingbands from Moab invaded the land in the spring of the year. D. You may recall that the message of Scripture is a message of life. 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. They feared the Lord; they kept his commandments. Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.Then he prepared a great feast for them; and after they ate and drank, he sent them away and they went to their master. It seems to me that these miracles are too uncommonly alike to be merely coincidental. 2023 Beautiful Christian Life LLC. Ultimately it ended in death after a long period of life with the disease. In todays terms, it would include anything from a 5-gallon bucket or a Tupperware bowl to a wine bottle or a perfume jar. Like what I share? Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, Will you not show me which of usisfor the king of Israel?, And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet whoisin Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.. We can just picture the widow and her kids, exhausted and oily, sitting in a house crammed with vessels of oil with spills all over the place: So she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. If we wait until morning light, somepunishment will come upon us. It says that a creditor cannot enter your house to seize the pledge; instead, you have to bring the pledge outside to the creditor. 3. Go up, you baldhead! So he turned around and looked at them, andpronounced a curse on them in the name of theLord. They were still saved bones. Elisha was an important prophet that led the prophets of God during the turbulent time of the kings in Israel's history. Feeding the 5000 in John 6:5-14. Moreover, once we see this miracle reach its fulfillment in Christs death for us, we can also detect the privileges we have in Jesus. It exposed women to vulnerability, need, and loneliness. Naamans request called on a power greater than the king of Israel. In 849BC, King Joram of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah march out . They consist of 3 healings, 2 raisings of the dead, 3 judgments, 12 wondrous miracles, and 12 prophecies. Then they served it to the men to eat. Lay my staff on the boy's face.". Her children bring her a vessel. God provided Israel with a land flowing with milk and honey (Deut. In the end, you have to decide if you prescribe the miracle to them or not. Well, it is true that Jesus did not fulfill this miracle in his life. The incident reminds us of other incidents where God has acted miraculously with water. 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. 14:13ff; 15:32ff). Verse Concepts. Still "They" is used indefinitely of some unnamed Israelites, like the French on. He purified lepers and a bleeding woman. So the messengers returned and told the king. When Christ raises Jairus' daughter to life, she is still in the bed where she had died only a few hours earlier. His justice had to be satisfied; the terms of the law must be met. We forget that God used Elisha to do a similar miracle hundreds of years before. Minimising the environmental effects of my dyson brain. 1. Have we found a passage that is not Christ centered? 17. 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. He is dead; your servant, my husband is dead. Now Elisha said to them, Thisisnot the way, noristhis the city. This is another mark of the widows devoted faith. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org, He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, Where is the, He went out to the spring of water and threw salt in it and said, Thus says the. She reminds Elisha of his duty and then pulls at his heart strings. The widow, however, bypasses the king and goes directly to the prophet. B. Elijah Hebrew name means: My god is Jehovah. The Gospel Coalition supports the church by providing resources that are trusted and timely, winsome and wise, and centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ. The majority are faith healings, exorcisms, resurrections, and control over nature.. Here is a list of those miracles: 1) Parting of the Jordan by the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him when he was taken alive to heaven (2 Kings 2:14). Then she came and told the man of God. The prophet Elijah calls the people to make a decision concerning God and challenges the prophets of Baal to a fiery test. Rather, without a hint of guilt, he offers to help. And just as a flask of oil appeared impossible for the task, how could the life of one man pay for our sins? This story of the miracle of Elisha raising the lost axe-head that is recorded in 2nd Kings 6:1-7, is the sign ( miracle = sign) of the debtor's recovery and restoration through Christ Jesus. Some werent the typical miracle we would see in the New Testament like healings or demons cast out after prayer. Betrayal, heartache, and desperation are on the menus of life. From all eternity he exists as the Word, the second person of the Trinity. And now the creditor has no choice but to foreclose on her two children. 1. Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. 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. You might be unsure because there're people saying you have to pray a certain amount of time. Not just physical life, but spiritual life. I used multiple Study Bibles before but have made this one my daily driver. What miracles were reported during the transferral of St. Monica's relics to Rome? With Gods wrath hovering over Israel during the ministry of the prophet Elisha in 2 Kings 4, we meet a widow: Now the wife of one of thesons of the prophets cried to Elisha, Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared theLord,but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.(2 Kings 4:1). He fulfilled it in his deatha miraculous source of wealth to pay off the widows debts and to satisfy the law. 7 as He brought Israel out of Egypt. Then the king of Israel sentsomeoneto the place of which the man of God had told him. 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. The God of life and death is the one who gives such life. He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah? And when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over. And there is enough oil to pay the loan and then to live off of! For he would heal him of his leprosy.AndNaamanwent in and told his master, saying, Thus and thus said the girl whoisfrom the land of Israel. Then the king of Syria said, Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel. So he departed andtook with him ten talents of silver, six thousandshekelsof gold, and ten changes of clothing. This prophet actively performed miracles and prophesized through the reign of four kings. Then he returned and walked in the house once back and forth, and went up and stretched himself on him; and the lad sneezed seven times and the lad opened his eyes. 14:2233); reverse death by raising dead sons and restoring them to their mothers (2 Kings 4: 17; Luke 7:1117); help widows in desperate circumstances; are kinsman redeemers to save from slavery (2 Kings 4:17; Luke 4:19); feed the hungry (2 Kings 4:17; Mark 8:112); minister to the Gentiles (2 Kings 5:116); prepare (2 Kings 6:2023) and sit at table with sinners (Luke 5:29); lead captives (2 Kings 6:1820; Eph. 2. In Elisha's case a dead man was thrown into the grave of Elisha and upon touching the bones he came alive. A. In the ancient world there were two forms, one that healed naturally, the other only by divine intervention. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of garments. So Naaman said, Please, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and handedthemto two of his servants; and they carriedthemon ahead of him. We see through this story that Elisha used the wood to remove this student's debt, and this redemption was made through the water of Jordan. Does Counterspell prevent from any further spells being cast on a given turn? This story teaches us that God cares about the little things. The widow can live off the surplus oil until her children find jobs and start getting a paycheck. 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 she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, shutthe doorupon him, and went out. Her husband had no eyes for idols, but his heart was wholly devoted in reverence to the Lord alone. Many of the Lord Jesus' miracles resembled those of Elijah and Elisha in their power, diversity, and outreach to both Jewish people and Gentiles, prefiguring God's judgment and mercy and the grace of reconciliation. From all appearances, this seems to be a miracle that was not fulfilled in Christ. Terms of Use Privacy Policy Copyright Policy, Celebration, Sunday, Jesus' suffering, Jesus sacrifice, Prophet, Priest, King, Kingdom of God, Heaven, Sin, Confession, Forgiveness, Speaking truth in love, Click Here to Subscribe to BCL's Free Monthly Newsletter and Weekday Devotional, A Prayer for When You Dont Know What to Do, 4 Good Ways to Run the Christian Race Well. Most of the miracles in the Old Testament were repeated by Jesus in some way or another. As you go through this study, see how John intentionally structures the first half of his book around the "re-visited" miracles of Elisha. In Rev. Her first two words say it all: your servant, my husband. The widow and Elisha have a pre-existing relationship. The Example of Elisha. 4. Shall I killthem? But he answered, You shall not killthem. However the slingers surrounded and attacked it. Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases on Amazon.com. Nevertheless, with the last container up to the brim, the oil stops flowing. And this is a simple matter in the sight of theLord; He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand. Herbs from the field were put into the pot. 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. 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. What's the difference between a power rail and a signal line? about to bury him, and were carrying the corpse to the grave, when an interruption occurred. But, inside they are safe. Elijah raised the dead; so did Jesus. Now Gehazi went on ahead of them, and laid the staff on the face of the child; butthere wasneither voice nor hearing. Jesus turned water into wine in John 2:1-10. He blesses with rain and fruitful seasons (Acts 14:17). John the Baptist came in the Spirit and power of Elijah. Elisha, even in death, pointed to Jesus, the one who truly had a double portion, the one who did far more miracles . Do you want me to speak on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army? She answered, I dwell among my own people. So he said, What thenisto be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old. So he said, Call her. When he had called her, she stood in the doorway. 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. The usual mediator in those times was the king. The miracles of Elisha and those of Jesus are sufficiently dissimilar that they are not really genuine coincidences. We are not told her tribe, her hometown or that of her husband, yet we are informed that she was married to one of the sons or disciples of the prophetsthey were loyal to Elisha and faithful to the Lord. When Naaman sawhimrunning after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Isall well? And he said, Alliswell. We will struggle with financial debt. It only takes a minute to sign up. They Show that Jesus Is Fully God. This is a miracle that Jesus didnt really imitate. B. Twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain were brought to Elisha. 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.Like what I share?Say Thank-You, become a supporter, and/or partner with us in prayer.Always remember, every day you live to bear much fruit! 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. How Many Miracles Did Elijah Perform? One can pray at the Ohel, the resting place of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in Queens NY, or one can send an email or fax to Fax number: (718) 723-4444 E-mail address . So he said, Go and see where heis,that I may send and get him. And it was told him, saying, Surelyhe isinDothan. Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. It was the power of God at the time of his immersion in demonstration of his dependence upon God. Elijah raised the dead; so did Jesus. Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, WhereistheLordGod of Elijah? And when he also had struck the water,it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over. 5/29/20 The Elijah anointing the Elisha Church In the previous post I discussed the spirit of Elijah the old testament prophet referenced in Luke 1.17 by Then she said to her mistress, If only my masterwerewith the prophet whoisin Samaria! Here, though, the widows family feared the Lord. . Elisha performed many of the same miracles that had accompanied Elijah's ministry. Let me give you a quick answer. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths. And when the man touched the bones of Elisha he revived and stood up on his feet. - And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that. And when she came in to him, he said, Pick up your son.So she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; then shepicked up her son and went out. To view the full ESV Copyright information, click here. 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. He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD.