Title: Elisha's Miracle (2 Kings 04:1-44)
In this chapter, Elisha's miracle stands out. Now his prophetic authority was recognized even before the king. Thus, Elisha went all over Israel and began to carry out prophetic works.
1. Elisha helping the widow of a poor prophetess student in trouble (1-7)
Knowing the plight of the poor widow's child being sold into slavery, he miraculously keeps the oil bottle flowing, repays the debt and solves all problems.
2. The miracle that took place in the Shunammite woman's home (8-41)
(2 Kings 4:8) “One day Elisha came to Shunem, and a noble woman there persuaded him to eat.
The miracle that occurred in the family of the Shunammite woman who treated God's prophet Elisha with great hospitality is in many ways similar to the story of the woman of Zarephath who treated Elijah. The fact that they lived in the upper room (1 Kings 17:19) and the event of raising a dead son to life (1 Kings 17:19-21) are very similar to the miracles performed by Elijah. This means that Elijah's inspiration came double. Elisha prophesied the conception of a son to the Shunammite woman who had no son, so that she gave birth to a son. When the son died, he performed a miracle by raising the son back to life. Elisha was a prophet endowed with sufficient power from God, and the Shunammite woman also had faith worthy of the miracle. God's miracles happen under these circumstances.1) The Shunammite woman's family had the faith to recognize the servant of the Lord.
2) It was a faith to serve the Lord by compulsion.--Like Lydia, he compelled him to serve the Lord.
3) It was a faith that husband and wife worked together.--In contrast to Nabal, who is a stingy husband (1 Samuel 25), they built a room for the tired servant of the Lord to rest. They even provided a desk and a chair bed so that I could read a book and meditate while resting.
Elisha prayed for raising the dead; 1) He completely entrusted himself to God.
2) I prayed without getting discouraged.--Work did not happen immediately after Elisha prayed. Nevertheless, the child's body was warmed and his life was restored as he continued to pray and pray.
3. The miracle of detoxifying soup (38-41)
4. Miracles performed with barley bread (42-44)
When Elisha went to Gilgal, there was a severe famine in the land and there was nothing to eat. At this time, God performed miracles like the five diseases through Elisha. It was enough to feed 100 people with 20 barley loaves and vegetables. How did this miracle happen1) The first ripe ones were offered.
You should always be a believer who knows how to give the most precious and valuable things to God. Like the Jews who lived in Malachi's time, we must not be rebuked as a thief for not knowing how to give God's things. I must become a believer who knows how to give tithes first in the paycheck and also to give thanks.
2) It was a heart for others.
A man from Baal-Salisha brought barley bread and vegetables to Elisha. Elisha didn't want to eat it and wanted it to be the food of the cadets. The Apostle Paul said, “Look after one another and encourage good deeds.”
3) It was faith in the word of God.
In verse 43, “They will eat and have leftovers,” says the Lord. When the centurion also believed the words of Jesus, Jesus also blessed his faith and healed the servant. Let us also believe that the word of God is the living and active word of God and live with abundance in it at all times.