Two points have really been standing out to me while reading about Elisha: Strong faith in God, and the power of prayer (which I find are connected most times).
For example, chapter 4:32-34 says:
When Elisha arrived, the child was indeed dead, lying there on the prophet's bed. He went in alone and shut the door behind him and prayed to the LORD. Then he lay down on the child's body, placing his mouth on the child's mouth, his eyes on the child's eyes, and his hands on the child's hands. And as he stretched out on him, the child's body began to grow warm again!
Both points are clearly represented here. Elisha showed great faith in God by believing that He could raise this child from the dead through prayer.
In verses 42-44 we are reminded that God keeps His promises:
One day a man from Baal-shalishah brought the man of God a sack of fresh grain and twenty loaves of barley bread made from the first grain of his harvest. Elisha said, "Give it to the people so they can eat."
"What?" his servant exclaimed. "Feed a hundred people with only this?"
But Elisha repeated, "Give it to the people so they can eat, for this is what the LORD says: Everyone will eat, and there will even be some left over!" And when they gave it to the people, there was plenty for all and some left over, just as the LORD had promised.
Also (in chapter 5 verses 2-3), a reminder that no matter how important or unimportant we are, we are all still a part of God's plan:
At this time Aramean raiders had invaded the land of Isreal, and amoung their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman's wife as a maid. One day the girl said to her mistress, "I wish my master would go see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy."
And lastly, in chapter 6 verses 16-17, we are reminded that we never have to be afraid because God is always with us:
"Don't be afraid!" Elisha told him. "For there are more on our side than on theirs!" Then Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes and let him see!" The LORD opened the young man's eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.
That last verse connects to Romans 8:31, which reads:
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 2 Kings 8:1-17, 2 Chronicles 21:18-20, 2 Kings 8:25-29, 2 Chronicles 22:1-7, 2 Kings 9
1 comment:
Love the reminder that there are more on our side than on theirs. Sometimes, especially after tragedies like those that occurred in Orlando this past weekend, it seems like evil is winning. But we know the end of the story, and we know that God wins. Good will prevail over evil in the end. And in the meantime, God is with us and gives us comfort and peace in the midst of difficult circumstances.
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