Podcast 83 Story if Elisha, “Pt 9”

Podcast 83 Story if Elisha, “Pt 9”

The prophet Elijah, who had the courage of a lion, was perhaps more flamboyant and dramatic than his protégé Elisha, but the miracles of Elisha, which often parallelled the miracles of his mentor Elijah, outnumbered the miracles of Elijah. 

Among Elisha’s miracles, which also paralleled some of the miracles of Jesus, are the following.

·      He saw Elijah being taken to heaven in a chariot of fire.

·      The mantle of Elijah fell upon Elisha giving him a double portion.

·      He multiplied the widow’s oil.

·      He raised the Shumammite’s son from the dead.

·      He healed the poison stew

·      He fed 100 men from a few loaves of bread and ears of corn.

But one miracle of Elisha appears to stand out, perhaps because its message is so astonishing. The following line is frequently quoted for that miracle gives courage to the faithful who sometimes seem overwhelmed by the trials of life. 

2 Kings 6:16

And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

A peculiar set of circumstances brings about the miracle. Syria was coming against Israel to battle.  History doesn’t record exact numbers of each army, but the following scripture certainly puts it is perspective.

1 Kings 20:26-27

And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Ben-hadad numbered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel. And the children of Israel were numbered, and were all present, and went against them: and the children of Israel pitched before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country.

The miracle is recorded in some detail in 2 Kings 6.

2 Kings 6: 8-10

Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp. And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down. And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.

A prophet certainly comes in handy during time of war. It really irritated the king of Syria that his subterfuge was discovered. Not understanding prophecy, he thinks he has been betrayed by his own men. 

2 Kings 6:11

Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?

A servant of the King knows about the prophet Elisha.

2 Kings 6:12

And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.

The ignorant king commits the folly of thinking that he can simply kill Elisha. 

2 Kings 6:13-14

And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.

Such a large army to kill one man. The rest of the story is of such a nature that once read it cannot be forgotten. 

2 Kings 6:15-16

And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

And there, of course, we have those strange words. Elisha and his servant are merely two unarmed men, yet a host of the king’s army has come to kill him.