The Story Ch15: God's Messengers Pt 2

Cold Open

Hey Dublin Powell youth! Happy independence day weekend to you all, hope everyone had a great and safe time last night enjoying the holiday. I’m so excited to jump back into the Story with you as we pick up where Eli-JAH left off with the story of Eli-SHUH. Today is Sunday, July 5th, let’s get into it!

Intro Videos

Intro

So we are finished chapter 15 this week talking about prophets who were sent to warn the kingdom of Israel, because the people were worshipping other Gods. Reminder that Israel at this point had split into two nations, the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern of Judah. Elijah was a prophet who challenged the “prophets” of Baal to prove their God was more powerful than Yahweh and, well, yeah that went about as well as you’d expect. Elijah had a young disciple named Elisha, who would soon take the mantel and continue to speak for God among God’s people.

Succession

So when the time near for Elijah to be taken by the Lord, and he was sent by the Lord on a final mission, first to Bethel, then Jericho, and to the Jordan River. Somewhat inexplicably, every time Elijah is sent somewhere else he tells Elisha to “stay here”, to which Elisha always replies “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you” and he stays with his master.

2 Kings 2:8–12 NIV

Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground. When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.” As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.

Elijah went out in probably the coolest way imaginable, ascending in a whirlwind with a chariot of fire pulled by horses of fire! Elisha picks up Elijah’s cloak, and returns to the Jordan River, where the prophets of Jericho were waiting.

2 Kings 2:14–15 NIV

He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over. The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.

Elisha’s Ministry

And so Elisha picks up where Elijah left off, performing many miracles that make God’s power and glory clear to the people of Israel. He meets one woman in Shunem who provides him a meal, and suggests to her husband that they provide Elisha a place to stay whenever he was in town. Elisha often performed miracles for people who offered him small kindnesses like this, and he prayed to God that the woman, who had no son, would give birth to one. One year later she gave birth to her son!

Now, imagine her dismay when just a few years later, her child grew ill, and died in her arms.

2 Kings 4:27–28 NIV

When she reached the man of God at the mountain, she took hold of his feet. Gehazi came over to push her away, but the man of God said, “Leave her alone! She is in bitter distress, but the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me why.” “Did I ask you for a son, my lord?” she said. “Didn’t I tell you, ‘Don’t raise my hopes’?”

But what can Elisha, the “man of God” do but go the boy himself, and raise him from the dead!

Another great miracle of Elisha was when a man named Naaman, a leper, sought out Elisha at the urging of an Israelite girl in captivity in Aram. Desperate for a cure, Naaman came to Elisha, and was healed. Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, however, tried to extort a small fee from Naaman in exchange for the healing. God did not like that one bit, and Gehazi was struck himself with leprosy.

You see, to take payment for something that God did is to take credit for that action. There are few sins dealt with more swiftly than a person trying to take credit for the grace of God.

War with Aram

Elisha also took his ministry right to the top, advising the king of Israel. While Israel was at war with Aram, Elisha would warn the king where the Arameans were setting up ambushes to kill the king, so much that the king of Aram suspected his officers of being spies for Israel.

2 Kings 6:12–14 NIV

“None of us, my lord the king,” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.” “Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.” Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.

When they armies of Aram came to him, Elisha’s servant was terrified, but the prophet was calm, and asked God to open the servants eyes to what was really around them.

2 Kings 6:16–23 NIV

“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked. Elisha told them, “This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to Samaria. After they entered the city, Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of these men so they can see.” Then the Lord opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria. When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?” “Do not kill them,” he answered. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master.” So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory.

Death of Elisha

All in all, not a bad career for a prophet, Elisha performed miracles in God’s name, showed the power of the Lord to rulers both of Israel and her enemies, and anointed kings. Before Elisha died, he gave Jehoash the king instructions on how to once again defeat the Arameans, and then he died.

Later Prophets

Elisha was followed by many more prophets, all proclaiming the words of the Lord to Israel and Judah. Amos and Hosea in particular follow Elisha and plead with Israel to truly repent and return to God, less they suffer His judgement! Unfortunately, the people did not listen. Their hearts were hard and they worshipped other gods and ignored call after call to repentance.

God would not allow His unrepentant people to reject Him much longer...

Conclusion

And that is where we will pick it up next week! Lot’s of miracles today, great works done by the prophet Elisha to prove God’s power and glory to the people of Israel. You see, all throughout the story of God, He is building His case so that when His Son comes in humility, in love, in a manger, it will be clear that Jesus is Son of the MOST HIGH God. I think this is really cool because it allows Jesus’ miracles to be ones of compassion and mercy, mostly healing the sick and casting out demons, not conquering armies and moving oceans, because God already proved He could do that!

Hope you enjoyed our study of Elisha today, so much great story in the book of the Kings! Let me pray for us before we go.

Lord, you are almighty and powerful, your heavenly army cannot be defeated. And yet, when you sent your son to live and teach among us you did not send Him as a conqueror, but as a merciful healer, a good teacher, a loving friend. We are so grateful for Jesus Lord, who makes our life with you possible. Guide us this week as we strive daily to live more like him. We pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thanks so much yall, i will talk to you next week, grace and peace.