bible study miracles of elijah and elisha

#Bible study miracles of elijah and elisha series#

Elisha’s unforeseen guidance is described in 1 Kings 19:19–21. How Did Elisha Become A Prophet?Įlisha’s first invitation to do ministry work demonstrates how God invites His chosen ones to serve even in ordinary situations. The Bible mentions the two prophets, Elijah and Elisha, regularly visiting religious study establishments in Israel, which a group of men known as “the sons of the prophets” also frequented. Elisha’s apprenticeship under Elijah would progressively equip him for a spiritual mission he would eventually take up on his own. The young, humble man would initially demonstrate his faithfulness in small acts, like the simple task of putting water on Elijah’s hands (2 Kings 3:11). Elisha may have perceived Elijah’s symbolic gesture of placing his mantle (a clothing similar to a cloak) over his shoulders as being chosen to fulfill the duties of a prophet.Įlisha began his religious career as a learner and personal companion to Elijah. God simply commanded Elijah to start looking for his destined successor, and Elijah found Elisha farming in the field on the land belonging to his father. He destroyed his plow and utilized the fire to roast his cattle, abandoning his previous existence.

Elijah draped his shawl around him, and Elisha requested that he say farewell to his parents before accompanying him on his long journey. Then Elijah visited Elisha, who was working in the field. God showed up to Elijah and informed him that Elisha was destined to become his successor as prophet. Because of Elisha’s accomplished missions and spiritual life, he became one of today’s Biblical characters who inspire others towards good work.Įlisha makes his first appearance in 1 Kings 19. Despite his numerous miraculous feats, he stayed modest and committed to God, declining monetary gain while serving the Lord. He was called to follow Elijah in 1 Kings 19:19. We must pay heed to the Word of God, or we will likewise be condemned.Elisha was a miracle worker and prophet of God during a turbulent period in Israel’s history. Individuals who mock divine revelation are liable to divine judgment, but those who remain indifferent to it will not escape the Lord’s wrath either. In this we see that treating the Word of God inappropriately is no insignificant matter. These were not “innocent” children acting immaturely but responsible individuals knowingly mocking a prophet and thus the words of God.

Also, Bethel was a center of Israel’s idolatry (1 Kings 12:25–33) and thus a center of opposition to God’s prophets. Importantly, Elisha did not just happen to run into these boys they came out of the city of Bethel intentionally to curse him. Some “small boys”-probably between the ages of ten and twelve-from Bethel jeered at the prophet, calling him a “baldhead,” and Elisha called down judgment on them (2 Kings 2:23–25). The third event in today’s passage demonstrates Elisha’s authority as God’s spokesman. One scholar says the salt probably indicated a decisive break from the city’s past, for salt was often used to set sacrifices apart to the Lord, to break them from their past uses (Lev. Throwing salt into the water, Elisha gave a word that the Lord had healed the water (vv. Life was taken unlawfully to construct Jericho again, so the Lord cursed Jericho with continuing loss of life (2 Kings 2:19). Since its rebuilding, Jericho had suffered from a bad water supply that made the land “unfruitful.” More specifically, the sense is that the water caused miscarriages. Elisha was at Jericho, a city under God’s curse that was rebuilt by a man who offered up his son as a sacrifice (v. In the second event, Elisha performed a miracle that demonstrated his prophetic vocation. Thus, Elisha was revealed as a prophet to be trusted. He was right to tell them not to search for Elijah, for he knew they would not find his predecessor (2 Kings 2:15–18). When they came back without Elijah, Elisha’s knowledge of the situation was confirmed. They prevailed on Elisha to let them send a search party, though Elisha said they should not go. “Sons of the prophets” at Jericho wanted to search for Elijah, believing that perhaps God had simply moved him to another mountain. The first event confirmed Elisha’s knowledge.

#Bible study miracles of elijah and elisha series#

Today’s passage reveals that he did so in a series of events that confirmed him as the inheritor of Elijah’s prophetic mantle. After Elijah’s ascension to heaven, Elisha began his ministry.