Elisha, 1of3

~ A Man of God: Interactions With God ~

The Book of 2 Kings provides three differing views in three successive chapters regarding Elisha—a “man of God”—and his relationships with others. 

In Chapter 4 we see Elisha’s interaction with the Savior.

In Chapter 5 we see Elisha’s interaction with the sinners.

In Chapter 6 we see Elisha’s interaction with the saints.

Elisha Was A “Man of God”  ~  “Now it happened one day that Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a notable woman, and she persuaded him to eat some food.  So it was, as often as he passed by, he would turn in there to eat some food.  And she said to her husband, ‘Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly’” (2 Kings 4:8-9).  There are also clear statements in this chapter that Elisha was a “man of God” (2 Kings 4:7, 9, 16, 21, 22, 25 [2x], 27 [2x], 40, 42).

Elisha’s Interactions With God On Behalf of a Widow  ~  “A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, ‘Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord’” (2 Kings 4:4a).  In this miracle (4:1-7) of the widow and the oil we see that Elisha was successfully interceding with God on behalf of this widow. 

Elisha’s Interactions With God On Behalf of the Woman from Shunem  ~  “So Elisha said, ‘Call her.’  When he had called her, she stood in the doorway.  Then he said, ‘About this time next year you shall embrace a son.’  And she said, ‘No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!’  But the woman conceived, and bore a son when the appointed time had come, of which Elisha had told her” (2 Kings 4:15-17).  In these miracles (4:8-37) we find Elisha interceding with God on behalf of the Shunammite’s son. 

additional comment  ~  “When Elisha came into the house, there was the child, lying dead on his bed.  He went in therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the Lord.  And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm.  He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes” (2 Kings 4:32-35).  Was this a divine case of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation before it was a known process? 

Elisha’s Interactions With God On Behalf of the Sons of the Prophets  ~  “So Elisha said, ‘Then bring some flour.’  And he put it into the pot, and said, ‘Serve it to the people, that they may eat.’  And there was nothing harmful in the pot” (2 Kings 4:41).  In this miracle (4:38-41) Elisha intercedes with God on behalf of the sons of the prophets 

Elisha’s Interactions With God On Behalf of the Man from Baal Shalisha  ~  “Elisha said again, ‘Give it to the people, that they may eat; for thus says the Lord: “They shall eat and have some left over.”’  So he set it before them; and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the Lord” (2 Kings 4:43b-44).  In this miracle (4:42-44) we find Elisha interceding with God on behalf of the man from Baal Shalisha. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

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