Title: Elisha's Miracles/2 Kings 6-8
Content Elisha's Miracles (2 Kings 6-8)
This section deals with the miracles and work of Elisha. Some of the miracles were performed personally for God's people, and some were performed officially for the nation. In any case, we see that we have never been put in a position of embarrassment in knowing this will of God and exercising His power.
1. Bring back the axe (6:1-7)
It's nice to see one of the schools of the prophets growing and needing more space. These men were, in a sense, domestic missionaries, who had been trained by Elisha and preached to the people. Evangelism schools that train our future ministers are important and worthy of the support of God's people. Note that Elisha was never too busy or arrogant to participate in construction activities. Of course, his presence with him must have been an encouragement to the youngsters. The cadets were poor and at least one had to borrow tools. When the ax fell into the water, the cadets were afraid, but Elisha retrieved the ax back. Borrowing is not a sin. Borrowed items must be taken care of and returned. God is, of course, concerned with the personal needs of his people, and he cares about the little things that burden our hearts.
2. Capture of the Syrian invaders (6:8-23)
The king of Syria was sending an army to plunder Israel (5:2). However, God was revealing to Elisha all the movements of the enemy. Psalm 25:14 says, “The intimacy of the Lord is with those who fear him.” Although Elisha did not respect the wicked king Jehoram (3:13-14), he had a heart for the people of Israel and wanted to protect them. The king was wise enough to listen to the people of God, and God protected Israel. When the words "Elisha's hidden spy" were heard, the king of Syria sent a group of soldiers to arrest him. Elisha's servant (probably the one who replaced Gehazi) saw the army coming to his city and thought the end had come. But God opened the servant's eyes to see the angelic army ready to rescue Elisha. Verse 16 is true to Christians today as it is to the Jews of that day. “If God is for us, who will be against us?”
Elisha opened the eyes of his servants to see, but performed a double miracle of blinding the invaders. So it was very easy for Samaria to capture the army. Just imagine how surprised the Syrians were when their eyes were opened to find that they were in an enemy city! Elisha forbade the king of Israel to kill the soldiers. Since God had taken them captive, only God was to be glorified. Elisha defeated them by mercy (Romans 12:20-21 / Prov. 25:21-22 / Matt 5:43-45). From this time on, Syria did not send covert “commands” to invade the cities of Israel. If they obey God's Word, God's people will never have to fear their enemies (see Psalm 46).
3. Seeking a city (6: 24- 7: 20)
How much time passed between verses 23 and 24 of chapter 6 is unknown. However, Ben Haddit decided to invade Israel, and they mobilized not a small group, but an entire army. The capital was besieged, food was almost depleted, and the worst food was being sold at a formidable price. The “dung of pigeons” in v. 25 appears to be the cheapest kind of grain. But it seems that the hungry people ate what even the animals did not eat. Moreover, some of the people even devoured each other. The wicked King Jehoram's blaming Elisha for this famine is a repetition of the words of his father Ahab (6:31; 1 Kings 18:17). He is his son to his father! The king's messenger (Elisha knew him) received a strange prophecy from a man of God. The next day Samaria will be saved and there will be plenty of food to eat. In 7:1, Elisha prophesied that he would be able to buy six times the amount of food at 1/15 of the regular price. When one of the king's chieftains expressed unbelief, Elisha swore that he would be brought to justice (7:17-20).
What weapon did God use to destroy the Syrian soldiers who dug and encamped? It was a loud noise and four lepers. Thinking that a group of mercenaries were coming to them, the Syrians fled, leaving behind their possessions and food in the camp. The four lepers thought rationally that it would be better to eat (or die quickly) as a sinner than to starve to death in freedom. Verse 9 was certainly the gospel, and the text of the great missionary work! Indeed, Christians today should memorize this verse. When the prisoners in Samaria heard the good news, they ran and trampled the unbelieving leader under their feet. He heard the good news and saw the prophecy confirmed, but died before he could enjoy it. It is a terrifying warning against sinners who procrastinate in accepting Christ.
4. Protecting the Shunammite woman (8:1-6)
If we read verse 1, it is written, “Elisha had spoken...”. That is, the man of God warned her about a famine that followed seven years ago (cf. 4:38).
The famine described in chapter 7 was not a regional famine limited to the city of Samaria. The fact that Gehazi is speaking to the king suggests that this event took place before Naaman's healing (chapter 5). The woman obeyed Elisha to obtain her property and to obtain temporary help from the Philistines. However, when she returned to Israel, she learned that someone had confiscated her property. Imagine how surprised Gehazi was speaking to the king at the moment when she would have come to appeal her case! God had ordained that his son would be raised from the dead several years ago, and also the miracle that would bring her lost land back (4:18-37). We cannot comprehend all the trials we are going through now. But all these trials work together for good (Romans 8:28). How wonderful it is that believers have an inheritance that will not be taken away (1 Peter 1:4 / Ephesians 1:11, 14, 18).
5. Judgment of the king (8:7-29)
God had commanded the prophet Elijah to anoint King Hashiel (1 Kings 19:15). Elijah anointed Elisha to be his successor, who remained to see Hashiel ascend to the throne. God's Word is fulfilling despite the failures of believers and the plans of unbelievers.
Ben-hadad was an enemy of Israel, but when the crisis came, he turned to the man of God for help. How similar to the people of the world! He sent Elisha an elaborately crafted and expensive gift. There is no record of him receiving the gift. If it had been received, it must have been written for the prophetic school. Notice the response that Elisha attributed to Hazael. “Go and tell him, ‘The king will surely recover.’ But the Lord has made known to me that he will surely die.” The second mention was fulfilled by killing the king (v. 15).
The remainder of this chapter deals with the issues of Israel and Judah at that time. Joram and Jehoshaphat appear to have been regents to each other during Jehoshaphat's last reign. How sad it is to see the kings of these nations follow the bad example of Jeroboam and Ahab.
During this period marked by political decline and the sins of the people, God used Elisha and the devoted disciples of the prophets to call out believers from among the people. Not the entire nation would be saved. Even today, the whole world is not being saved. God calls people to his name. Our responsibility as believers is to be true to God's Word and to lead others to Christ.