@rhetorician, aren't this two elements present in every single miracle? There was the one time when he told Peter to grab a shekel out of the mouth of a fish to pay a toll-tax. C. God sustains His people with the water of life and uses water to triumph over their enemies. 2. Who Are the Real Schismatics? Naamans request called on a power greater than the king of Israel. Elisha, also spelled Elisaios, or Eliseus, in the Old Testament, Israelite prophet, the pupil of Elijah, and also his successor (c. 851 bc). The miracles of Jesus were more than just healing the sick. 1. They both raise a woman's adult son from the dead. John the Baptist came in the "power and spirit of Elijah" yet performed no miracle. Thats why I recommend you add this Bible (KJV, paid link) to your study arsenal to deepen your Bible reading insights. The miracles of Elisha and those of Jesus are sufficiently dissimilar that they are not really genuine coincidences. The Lord knows our real needs better than we do, so sometimes He does things for us that we did not expect or addresses needs that we did not know we had. Tell me, what do you have in the house? And she said, Your maidservant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil. Then he said, Go, borrow vessels at large for yourself from all your neighbors, even empty vessels; do not get a few.read more.And you shall go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour out into all these vessels, and you shall set aside what is full. So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons; they were bringing the vessels to her and she poured. Home | About Us | Sermons | Bible Studies | En Espaol | Members | Contact Us And he said, Giveitto the people, that they may eat. But his servant said,What? He fulfilled it in his deatha miraculous source of wealth to pay off the widows debts and to satisfy the law. The prophet Elijah calls the people to make a decision concerning God and challenges the prophets of Baal to a fiery test. Jesus changed water into wine (John 2:1-11). She is worse than dirt poor; she is death poor. Andthe sons of the prophets said to Elisha, See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us. (2 Kings 2:13-15). They rather seem to be wondrous events while the prophets were present or God-inspired proclamations. He unexpectedly died, and the loan fell to his wife and she defaulted. There is no hint that the creditor was corrupt or abusive, but Elisha stepped in to pay off the loan. Elisha was an important prophet that led the prophets of God during the turbulent time of the kings in Israel's history. Miracles performed by Elisha can be found in these passages: 2 Kings 2:14, . Elisha provided the miracle of oil, so that the widow would pay off her loan and not lose her children. All of what you say is correct, however, please remember that all Jews were familiar with the Pentateuch and the Prophets. 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. He had given them water in the wilderness in Ex. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. And the pain of the widow in no way diminishes her eloquence. 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. rev2023.3.3.43278. Moreover, once we see this miracle reach its fulfillment in Christs death for us, we can also detect the privileges we have in Jesus. (2) Another word - terasa - speaks of the effect. These articles go into more detail and emphasize different aspects pertaining to all the miracles. She is the faithful saint who is suffering. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her. If you meet anyone,do not greet him; and if anyone greets you, do not answer him; butlay my staff on the face of the child. And the mother of the child said,AstheLordlives, andasyour soul lives, I will notleave you. So he arose and followed her. He didnt cancel anyones debt. Her first two words say it all: your servant, my husband. The widow and Elisha have a pre-existing relationship. But Jesus, as Gods son, lives fully in relationship with God in a way that no other has or can. He doesnt forgive the debt, but he produces income to pay the loan off. It seems to me that these miracles are too uncommonly alike to be merely coincidental. Elisha had asked to receive a "double share" of Elijah's gifts - and that was granted. At the Jordan River, Elisha received Elijahs mantle and started moving in the power of God right away. Why didthis madman come to you? And he said to them, You know the man and his babble. And they said, A lie! Obviously, Jesus' power came from God. And others. His rights as the creditor had to be upheld. . Elisha was the faithful disciple of the prophet Elijah, and his successor. Now it happened, as they were eating the stew, that they cried out and said, Man of God,there isdeath in the pot! And they could not eatit. For it wasborrowed. So the man of God said, Where did it fall? And he showed him the place. link to Is There Such A Thing As Too Much Prayer? (2 Kings 2:11) Jesus. The rights of the creditor are fully upheld and granted. Now theking of Syria was making war against Israel; and he consulted with his servants, saying, My campwill bein such and such a place. And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there.Then the king of Israel sentsomeoneto the place of which the man of God had told him. As they were burying a man, behold, they saw a marauding band; and they cast the man into the grave of Elisha. The sons of the prophets cooked a stew. 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. He doesnt even turn it into a lesson on sin: Something must be lacking in your faith. One more similarity between Elisha and Jesus would be that people obtained life through their deaths. 7 as He brought Israel out of Egypt. D. But God is in the business of giving life to the dead. The Miracles of Jesus with their Scripture Text. (30) But the child's mother said, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.". The widow has the benefit of prophetic mediation and aid, which was denied Jehoram in the previous chapter. When he looked behind him and saw them, he cursed them in the name of the Lord. This only adds to the uniqueness of this miracle, since typically prophetic help forgives sin, erases debt, and corrects abusive oppression. The king asked, Am I God, to kill and make alive?. He doesnt brush her off as unimportant. Besides healing the sick Jesus Christ did many more miracles, like turning huge amounts of water into wine of the highest quality, walking over rough water during a storm, raising several people from the dead (some had been dead for several days), multiplying a small amount of food . Yet another count is that Elijah did 14 miracles, and Elisha did 28, as listed here. I wonder why so many likes. (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. And as saints, we have the duty to show love and charity to one another, especially when hard times strike. Jesus turned water into wine in John 2:1-10. Get the latest bible studies delivered right to your app or device. 3. And this financial arrangement was fully legal under Mosaic Law, and it was common. 3. 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? When Elisha came into the house, behold the lad was dead and laid on 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. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. Elisha, even in death, pointed to Jesus, the one who truly had a double portion, the one who did far more miracles . And now the creditor has no choice but to foreclose on her two children. With this slow dribble, the widow is filling buckets, canning jars, tubs, and gallon jugs. 1. Elijah had multiplied flour and oil to save a widow and her son from starvation. 3. Then check out my Study Bible recommendation to save yourself some more research time in your Bible Studies. He was also a mighty man of valor,buta leper. But as one was cutting down a tree, the ironax headfell into the water; and he cried out and said, Alas, master! The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? Elisha's work serves as a model in teaching righteousness and faith. He instigated and directed Jehu's revolt against the house of Omri, which was marked by a bloodbath at Jezreel in which King Ahab of Israel and his family were slaughtered. But the people trampled him in the gate, and he died, justas the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him. 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. Why do small African island nations perform better than African continental nations, considering democracy and human development? Though he performed many miracles, he remained humble and faithful to God, denying monetary gain as he served the Lord. Elisha means "God is salvation ." He was anointed by Elijah while plowing in his father Shaphat's field with 12 yokes of oxen. They feared the Lord; they kept his commandments. Then she said to her mistress, If only my masterwerewith the prophet whoisin Samaria! Miracles of Jesus ; Filed Under: Charts OT, Kings Tagged With: Elijah, Elisha, miracles. The Example of Elisha. His mother was confident in Gods power and so sought out Elisha. Elisha's Feeding Miracle: Jesus' Feeding Miracle: In Elisha's miracle there was only a small amount of food (20 loaves of barley bread). 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. B. Twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain were brought to Elisha. It was poisonous, but Elisha put meal into the pot and there was then no harm in it. They were still Elisha's bones. Also you shall attack every fortified city and every choice city, and shall cut down every good tree, and stop up every spring of water, and ruin every good piece of land with stones. Now it happened in the morning, whenthe grain offering was offered, that suddenly water came by way of Edom, and the land was filled with water. We forget that God used Elisha to do a similar miracle hundreds of years before. Finally, the widow states her problem: The creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves (2 Kings 4:1). Picture Credit: Dake's Annotated Reference Bible Copyright 2013 The stories of Elijah and Elisha are legendary, popular accounts, probably having arisen among the common people. The historical accounts are based on the viewpoints and biases of the monarchy, nobility, and military leaders. And his servant said to him, Alas, my master! Jesus wanted the people to associate him with the prophets and even likened his death and resurrection to Jonas three days in the belly of the fish. 2 Kings 4:35. Jesus is baptised by John at the River Jordan and starts his ministry. 5 The similarities of the accounts of Elisha's and Jesus' miraculous feedings of multitudes are often noted (2 Kings 4:42-44; Mark 6:30-44), as is Elisha's healing of the Gentile Syrian commander and Jesus' encounter with the Roman centurion (2 Kings 5; Matt. If we say, We will enter the city, the famineisin the city, and we shall die there. 4:27). Their ministries both start at the River Jordan. 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. So I will make the house of Ahab like the house ofJeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house ofBaasha the son of Ahijah. How do Cessationists distinguish between miracles and spiritual gifts? And Elisha provides oil to satisfy the law and to give them a daily income. And the Lord opened . John the Baptist came in the Spirit and power of Elijah. 3. The Father is just. 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. Thus, there is nothing unjust or oppressive about this setup. C. When Elisha announced the coming birth she could hardly believe it. 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? And he said, Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons can live on the rest.. He dipped himself in the Jordan River seven times and came up cleansed, but not just cleansed his flesh was like that of a little child. Thus he warned him, and he was watchful there, not just once or twice. If you think about it, this has to be the slowest miracle ever! Rather, he saved this miracle for the last. It also ignites Elishas duty. It is interesting that each of the three resurrection miracles reports the dead person in a different stage of death from the other instances. He touched the dead to make them alive. 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? Therefore he went back to meet him, and told him, saying, The child hasnot awakened. When Elisha came into the house, there was the child, lying dead on his bed. -Commands two female bears to eat 42 children (2 Kings 2:24). 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; andhe stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm.