2 Kings 4:18-37 - Elisha Raises a boy from the dead

Introduction

Background (Read 2 Kings 4:8-17)

Elisha and the Shunammite Woman (4:8-17)

The woman has a big house so she makes an extra room for Elisha to stop and rest in during his travels (v.8-10)

Elisha blesses the woman by telling her she will have a son soon because of the blessing that she has given to him (v.11-16)

The woman is surprised and is in unbelief that God will give her a child (v.16)

She says “O man of God” - confessing that Elisha is indeed a prophet of God.

The woman then has a son (v.17)

In the context of the ANE, having children was a sign of God’s blessing on ones life.

Reminder of God’s power over everything - Abraham and Sarah

The Story

Point 1: Hard times come and tragedy occurs (v.18-21)

The Shunammite woman’s son dies (v.18-25)

Son has head pain and then sits in the arms of his mother until he dies (v.18-20)

Mother lays him in the room that was made for Elisha (v.21)

The mother immediately leaves to go see Elisha (v.22-25a)

Point 2: “All is Well” - Knowing who to run to in hard times brings peace that surpasses all understanding (v.22-31)

The Shunammite speaks to Elisha and brings him to her home (v.25b-31)

The woman arrives at mount carmel and does not speak to the servant (v.25b-26)

The woman takes hold of Elisha’s feet and begs for his help (v.27-28)

Elisha command Gehazi to take his staff and go to the woman’s house and lay it on the boy (v.29)

The woman demands that Elisha come along to be sure that he looks at her child. Gehazi lays the staff on the child and the child stays dead (v.30-31)

Woman says “All is well” twice

Point 3 : God can do anything (v.32-37)

Elisha brings the boy back to life (v.32-37)

Elisha prays to the Lord (v.32-33)

Elisha lays on the boy - mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, and hands to hands (v.34)

The boy comes back to life (v.35-37)

God can bring anything to life

God breathes life into souls for salvation

Romans 8:10–11 ESV

10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

God breathes life into churches

Laying on the boy? Sneezing 7 times?

Elisha laying on the boy

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 4

Elisha’s actions vividly picture God restoring breath to the child (putting his mouth on his mouth), as well as sight (his eyes) and strength (his hands). As Elisha stretched himself upon him, it portrayed the Spirit of God who, through Elisha, was being imparted to the child to give him life.

The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. XXV The Seven Sneezes (No. 1,461)

The Holy Ghost works by those who feel that they would lay down their own lives for the good of others, and would impart to them not only their goods and their instructions, but themselves also, if by any means they might save some. O for more Elishas, for then we should see more sinners raised from their death in sin.

The sneezing of the boy is evidence that he is alive - just as good works are evidence that a christian is alive in Christ.

Ephesians 2:8–10 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

James 2:26 ESV

26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Elisha is a type of Christ (v.32-37)

Elisha raising this boy from the dead is typological to what Christ will do several times

Raising of Lazarus

His own resurrection

The raising of the widows son (Luke 7)