Elisha, 3of3

~ A Man of God: Interactions With Saints ~

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”  ~  Like Chapters 4 & 5 there are clear statements that Elisha was a “man of God” (2 Kings 6:6, 9, 10, 15).

Elisha’s Interaction With the Sons of the Prophets  ~  “And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, ‘See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us.  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.  And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees.  But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, ‘Alas, master!  For it was borrowed.’  So the man of God said, ‘Where did it fall?’  And he showed him the place.  So he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float.  Therefore he said, ‘Pick it up for yourself.’  So he reached out his hand and took it” (2 Kings 6:1-7).  In this third successive chapter we see the power of God continuing to be manifested through this “man of God.” 

observations  ~  First, the ax head may be a type (or symbolic) of our testimonies—our cutting edge.  Second, notice that he realized it was lost (6:5).  Third, a key step in recovering is realizing where the sinking occurred and going back to that point for confession and recovery (6:6). 

Finally, recognize that God usually does the unexpected as He rewards the faith of His children.   A couple of examples from just a little earlier in Scripture include God sending ravens to feed the starving prophet Elijah (1 Kings 17:1-7) and the account of the poor widow’s bin of flour and jar of oil holding out (1 Kings 17:8-16).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

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(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Elisha, 2of3

~ A Man of God: Interactions With Sinners ~

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”  ~  Like Chapter 4 there are clear statements that Elisha was a “man of God” (2 Kings 5:8, 14 15, 20).

Elisha Interacts With Naaman  ~  “Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria.  He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper.  And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel.  She waited on Naaman’s wife.  Then she said to her mistress, ‘If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria!  For he would heal him of his leprosy’” (2 Kings 5:1-3).  Leprosy in that day was like a “dead man walking.”  It was symbolic of sin—and there was no cure except directly from God. 

As this historical account of the miracle of healing leprosy continues (5:1-19) we find some very interesting interactions.  First, note the words of witness from the captive young Jewish girl (5:2-3).  Next we find words of cleansing in the letter from the King of Syria to the King of Israel (5:5-6).  Next are words of assurance from Elisha to the King of Israel (5:8).  Then we see more words of assurance to Naaman himself from his servants (5:11-13). 

additional comments  ~  “And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, ‘Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean’” (2 Kings 5:10).  Two quick comments.  First, the Jordan River is a muddy dead river, known as “the river of death,” which ends in the Dead Sea—hardly a place for cleansing from a human perspective.  Second, as is well known, seven in Scripture often represents completeness and perfection. 

applications  ~  First, as we see in verse 11 Naaman was expecting drama, but was given simplicity.  Second, verse 12 confirms what we often have to learn: God’s ways are different than man’s ways!  Third, in contrast to Captain Naaman who was a free man but dead the Israeli captive girl was actually the one who was free!  Fourth, Naaman was able to make a change in thinking based on evidence (verse 15, “now I know”).  Have you, like Naaman, come to know the One and only True God? 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

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

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .