Elijah has finished his ministry and is honored by God who sends a fiery chariot and a whirlwind to bring him home to his eternal reward. Are their stories in you family about the miracle of passing from life through death to eternity? My grandmother often told the story of the angel who came to take her mother home. I have been present when the palpable presence of God was in the room with us as we prayed a loved one through to their new eternal home? What have you been witness to? There is great comfort for me in the knowledge that God does not abandon us at any place in our journey but sends his minions to escort us home.
Elisha will not leave his mentor even as death approaches. What a wonderful picture of friendship and companionship. Would that we would be so loyal and so faithful.
Elisha asks for a double portion of Elijah's spirit. Remember in the Mosaic law that the 1st born son receives a double portion of their father's inheritance. This is what Elisha is asking for......that he would be regarded as Elijah's 1st born son and be allowed to continue his ministry. The confirmation that God had granted his wish was quick in coming when Elisha struck the waters of the Jordan and the waters parted. Elisha joins a growing list of those faithful men of God whom he chose to part the water for: Moses, Joshua, Elijah and now Elisha.
Just a thought on chapter 3 and the invasion of Moab. Note that God would not have blessed this venture except for the presence of Jehosaphat. Joram, son of Ahab was not as evil as his father, but the scripture says that he clung to the sin of Jeroboam......that is he continued to allow the worship of idols. That God would bless the venture should be an encouragement to all those who have relationships with unsaved persons (we should all be engaged in a ministry that calls us into the world of the unsaved, how else can they hear the good news of Jesus Christ), God blessed this action because of the presence of a righteous man, Jehosaphat. Also see the miracle of the desert. Elisha tells them to dig ditches in the desert and God will provide water for their animals. We cannot know for sure what happened but consider this, the desert is surrounded by mountains, God calls rain down in the mountains, it flows into the desert where it would normally be gobbled up by the desert, but by faith these mean have dug ditches in anticipation of God's blessing. Are you preparing for blessings that you have not yet received? How else is faith demonstrated except we walk on and prepare for that which God has promised?
Two miracles to comment on in Chapter 4: the miracle of the olive oil. Creditor's were about to take the widows two sons to sell them to settle the family debt. An awful practice, but the practice of that culture. Elisha tells the widow to borrow jars from her neighbors and God will provide. She sends her sons, the acquire the jars, she begins to pour and the olive oil continues until all the jars were filled and then the flow ceases. There was enough oil to sell and satisfy the debtors. Would the flow of oil continued had the widow obtained more jars? Are our blessings limited by our faith? Worthy of your consideration and prayerful thought. God did provide but was he prepared to do abundantly more had their been more faith?
The story of the barren Shunammite women has some overtones of the story of Abraham and Sarah who were unable to conceive. She shows great kindness to the holy man by giving permanent hospitality in a room and food. He returns her kindness by prophesying a child and indeed a son is born but the son later dies tragically. Elisha comforts the mother and then prostrates himself of the dead boy. God hears his prayer and raises the son from death to life. The 2nd such miracle that we have read about.
I can't leave this passage without pointing out the passage in the 2nd chapter that illustrates how much God loves us bald headed men! You saw what he did to those boys who were teasing Elijah about his lack of hair? Just remember that when you look upon my "God Blessed" head. ( I know that you know that I am kidding)
Hope you are having a God-blessed day. Don't miss this Sunday's sermon. Sara Howard is speaking to us about their miracle that she witnessed in the birth of her 3 year old Grace. You will be blessed!!
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