172 - So much more with His Spirit

The Miracle at the Grave of Elisha by Jan Nagel 1602

Chareen's Thoughts

• Jehoash visited Elisha on his death bed.  Elisha tells him to shoot the arrow of deliverance.  
• Elisha died and was buried. Once a man was thrown into Elisha's tomb and when he touched Elisha's bones the man revived and stood up.
• But he did not slay their children; he did as it is written in the Law, in the Book of Moses, where the Lord commanded, The fathers shall not die for the children, or the children die for the fathers; but every man shall die for his own sin. 2 Chronicles 25:4
• More good and bad kings for Israel and Judah. History repeating itself. Jehoahaz, Hazael, Amaziah, Uzziah(Azariah), Jeroboam,

Amazing to think that the power of God was so strong upon Elisha that even after his death people were raised from the death.  How much more do we have being anointed with the Holy Spirit?  And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you. Romans 8:11

Blessings
Chareen

168 - Prophesy always fulfilled

The Death of Jezebel

Chareen's Thoughts

• Elisha instructs one of the sons of the prophets to find Jehu who is a descendant of Jehoshaphat and anoint him King of Israel in private.
• Jehu then slayed Joram. When Joram saw Jehu, he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, How can peace exist as long as the fornications of your mother Jezebel and her witch crafts are so many? 2 Kings 9:22 And when Jehu was executing judgment upon the house of Ahab, he met the princes of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah’s slain brothers, who attended Ahaziah, and he slew them. 2 Chronicles22:8
•  Jezebel is thrown from a window and dies.  The Lords word is fulfilled concerning her death and body.

 Today's reading showed me the Lord always fulfills His word and He is always searching the land for someone who loves Him.

Blessings
Chareen

167 - Those with us are more than those with Them.

Kingdoms of Israel and Judah

Chareen's Thoughts

• Today's reading starts with the siege of Samaria. 
• [Elisha] answered, Fear not; for those with us are more than those with them. Then Elisha prayed, Lord, I pray You, open his eyes that he may see. And the Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. 2 Kings 6:16-17
• Samaria continued to be under siege.  The famin became so severe that families were eating their own children!
• Elisha sends word that the Lord will end the siege but because of the Captain of the Gaurds unbelief he wont eat of the abundance.
• The siege ended.
• Kings come and kings go.  We read of more kings dying and new kings who are evil and so the same old things repeat themselves. Ben-hadad dies, Ahaziah is evil and Hazel murders to take the throne.

  

[Elisha] answered, Fear not; for those with us are more than those with them ... 2 Kings 6:16-17 

I often forget that He is for me it's time to stop looking at my circumstances and trust Him

Blessings
Chareen

166 - Elisha's miracles

Elisha Refusing Gifts from Naaman.

Kathleen's thoughts

2 Kings 4: 38-44 Elisha's other miracles...A man from Baal-shalishah came to the man of God with a sack full of 20 loves of barley bread from the first bread of harvest. Elisah tells his attendant For this is what the Lord says' They will eat and they will have some left over. It reminds me of Jesus feeding the multitude and there too was left over.


Obadiah 1: 15-21 Condemnation of nations and future kingdom.

2 Kings 8: 20-22 2 Chronicles 21; 8-10 Revolt of Edom and Libnah.

2 chronicles 21: 12-20 2 Kings 8: 23-24 Elijah's prophecy and Jehoram's death... Jehoram was 32 years old when he became king; he reigned for 8 years in Jerusalem He died to no one's regret and was buried in the city of David but not in the tombs of the kings.

2 Kings 5:1- 27 Healing of Naaman. Naaman a commander of the army for the king of Aram. He was a great man in his masters sight and highly regarded and because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He had a skin disease the servant of his wife told her about Elisha and to send him there for healing. This Naaman did but when he arrived he was told by a messenger to go and wash himself in the river Jordon 7 times and your flesh will be restored and become clean. Naaman became angry and could see no sense in doing this as he could just as well washed himself in the rivers near him instead of just coming down to the Jordon. But his servants told him that if the prophet had told him to do some great thing would he have done it? So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times and was healed. So Naaman and his whole company went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, I know there's no God in the whole world except in Israel Therefore please accept a gift from your servant. But Elisha refused the gift.
He left but Gehazi' the attendant of Elisha thought has let this Aramean Naaman off lightly by not accepting the gift so he decided to go after Naaman but lied to Naaman by saying It's all right My master has sent me to say, I have just now discovered that two young from the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim Please give them 75 pounds of silver and two changes of clothes but Naaman insisted Please accept 150 pounds and Gehazi too this but on his return Elisha said to Gehazi "wasn't my spirit there when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? so Naaman skin disease fell on Gehazi and so he went out from Elisha's presence diseased white as snow.

2 Kings 6: 1-7 The recovery of the Axe.

I just love the miracles here in the Old Testament and it remind's us so of the New Testament in the life of Jesus' ministry. 


Blessings 
Kathleen.

166 - Obedience an act of humility

Elisha Multiplies the Bread

Chareen's Thoughts

• Elisha preformed a few miracles among the people.  Reading them made me think of Jesus and his miracles.  One of them is when 20 loaves of bread are multiplied to feed a 100 men.
• Elisha prophesied that Jehoram would die and all his things and wives would be taken as a consequence of his sin.Thirty-two years old was Jehoram when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being wanted. Yet they buried him in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.2 Chronicles 21:20  
• Naaman was a commander in the army of Aram and highly respected. Today we read about his journey to healing from a skin disease.  It was a simple instruction yet for Naaman a difficult action.   Once Naaman humbled himself he was healed.
• Elisha refused Naaman's thank gift but Gehazi his servant thought to himself I will go and get something.  So he went after Naaman and asked for the gift. As a consequence he was cursed with Naaman's disease.
• The sons of the prophets went out to the river to chop down trees and one looses an ax head in the river.  Elisha threw a stick on the water and the iron ax head floated.

Our healing (emotional, physical, spiritual) is dependent on the simplest acts of obedience and yet we don't do it because of our pride. Let us learn from the life of Naaman and his healing.

Blessings
Chareen

165 - A son restored.

Elisha raising the Shunammites Son

Chareen's Thoughts

• Moab went to war with Israel and the King of Moab offered his son as a sacrifice on the wall of his city during the war.  
• A widow approaches Elisha because her husband has died and she has no income to pay back her creditors.  Elisha instructs her to borrow containers and pour oil into them all. Once they were all full the supply stopped.  He instructed her to sell the oil and pay her creditors.
• The was a woman in Shunem who persuaded Elisha to stop and eat at her home.  From then on whenever he went by he would stop to eat.  She spoke to her husband to add onto their home to accomodate Elisha and his servant.  One day Elisha wanted to repay her kindness but she said there was nothing she needed.  His servant noticed she had no children.  Elisha prophesied a blessing upon her womb of a son within the year.  It came to be.
• The child grew and one day became ill and died. She then went to look for Elisha.  Elisha sent his servant ahead of him to check on the boy. Upon hearing the boy was dead Elisha went in and prayed.  The Lord restored the Shunammites son to her.
• Elisha then advised her to take her family and live in a foreign land because the LORD had announced a seven year famine.  They did as Elisha told them.
• Jehoshaphat died and was buried in the city of David.  His son Jehoram became king. Sadly he killed all his brothers to establish himself.
• He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab, for [Athaliah] the daughter of Ahab was his wife. He did evil in the sight of the Lord. 2 Kings 8:18
• The Lord did not destroy him because of the covenant He had with David.  Jehoram led Judah astray and built high places.
• Edom is judged and condemned.

Blessings
Chareen

164- Elisha's ministry begins.

Kathleen's thoughts

2 kings 1: 3-15 Elijah the Tishbite calls down fire 2 times and the third captain of 50 with his 50 men fell on his knees in front of Elijah and begged him, "Man of God, please let my life and the lives of these 50 servants of yours be precious in your sight. And the angel of the Lord said that he must not be afraid of them and he went down with him to the king.

2 Kings 1: 16-18 Ahaziah's death according to the word of the Lord that Elijah had spoken.

Elisha's ministry 868-808bc.

2 Kings 3: 1-3 Joram son of Ahab became king over Israel He too did what was evil in the Lord's sight.

2 Kings 2: 1-8
Elijah divides the Jordon...The time has come for Elijah to go home.
Elijah and Elisha were traveling  from Gilgal and Elijah said to Elisha "Stay her, the Lord is sending me on to Bethel. But Elisha said "As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you" This happened twice more the places were Jericho and then Jordon and each time Elisha was told to stay, he would not.The prophets also told Elisha "Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?"
Fifty men from the sons of the prophets came and stood facing them from a distance while the two of them stood by the Jordan.

Elijah took his mantle rolled it up, and struck the waters, which parted to the right and the left. Then the two of them crossed over on dry ground. Elijah asked Elisha what I can do for  you before I am taken from you? So Elisha answered, Please let me be a double portion of your spirit on me. It will be granted to you if you see me going up into the heavens. They continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire with horses of fire suddenly appeared and separated the two of them. The Elijah went up into the heaven in the whirlwind. As Elisha watched, he kept crying out "My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel"

2 Kings 2: 13-18 Elisha gains the mantle that had fallen off Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the mantle and struck the Jordon after saying Where is the Lord God of Elijah? The waters parted and he walked over to the other side.

2 Kings 2: 19-22 The miracle of fresh water
2 Kings 2: 23-25 Children destroyed
2 Kings 3: 6-9 Jehoshaphat joins Joram
2 Kings 3: 10-20 Elisha's promise... Elisha As the Lord of Hosts lives, I stand before Him. If I did not have respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah I  would not look at you; I wouldn't take notice of you but bring me a musician. The musician played and the Lord's hand came on Elisha. Then he said "For the Lord says, You will not see wind or rain, but the wadi will be filled with water, and you will drink 0 you and your cattle and your animals. This is easy in the Lord's sight He will also hand Moab over to you. You must ruin every good piece of land with stones.
About the time for the grain offering the next morning. water suddenly came from the direction of Edom and filled the land.

I enjoyed today's reading with all the miracles that happened. Healing the water supplying the water protecting them and sending fire. 
I think it must have been the most breath taking sight to see Elijah being taken up into the heavens in the chariot. That sound of the wind and the whirlpool. I love the way everything is recorded to perfection and that God wants us to know he is a God of order and he loves us and wants the best for us.

BL\lessings
Kathleen.

164 - A Double Portion

Elijah carried away into heaven

Chareen's Thoughts

• Today's readings mark the beginning of 2 Kings.
• Elijah calls down holy fire which consumes two army officers and their platoon's of 50 men each. When the third man approaches him humbly the Lord releases him to go to the king with his message.  The king dies according to the word of the Lord.
• From here Elisha demonstrates his commitment.  He stays with Elijah and goes with him asking for a blessing as Elijah is taken to heaven.
• And when they had gone over, Elijah said to Elisha, Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you. And Elisha said, I pray you, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me. 2 Kings 2:9
• The Lord granted Elisha his request and Elijah's mantle was passed on to him.
• King Joram and King Jehoshaphat join forces against Moab.  Jehoshaphat then enquires of the Lord through Elisha. The Lord instructs the kings on what to do.

 How much more of a blessing do we live under being the children of God ?

Blessings
Chareen

160 - Elisha called

Elijah Window

Chareen's Thoughts

1 Kings 18,

• Talk about the lack of responsibility. First thing Ahab says when he speaks to Elijah is: Are you he who troubles Israel?
• Elijah then challenges Ahab to a duel on Mount Carmel. He challenged the 450 prophets of Baal to pray and get Baal to burn their sacrifice.  He then has his alter and sacrifice drenched in water before he prays to the LORD who consumes his sacrifice.
• Through this action the people know and acknowledge that the Lord is Yahweh, He is God!
• Elijah commands that the prophets of Baal are to be destroyed.
• It's at this point that Elijah prays and asks for rain.
• When Ahab tells Jezebel who becomes angry with Elijah and threatens to come after him at this point Elijah runs away and the angels feed him.
• Elijah walked for 40 days and nights and arrives at a cave in Horeb on the Mountain of God.  Here the Lord asks him what are you doing here ?  It is here the Lord tells him what to do next.
• Only 7 000 remain who had not bowed to Baal.
• Elijah finds Elisha.  After saying goodbye Elisha joins Elijah and serves him.
• The Lord handed Ben-hadad over to Ahab so that Israel would know the LORD.  

 Elijah finds Elisha.  After saying goodbye Elisha joins Elijah and serves him. I enjoy reading about the way that Elisha goes back says goodbye and as a sign of his commitment he slaughters his oxen and uses the wood from his plough to sacrifice them.  I love the picture of how it symbolises how things are being left in the past and he is moving forward into a new future wholeheartedly.
I am amazed as I read how the Lord hands over Ben-hadad to show Himself strong to Ahab even after all of Ahab's unfaithfulness.

Blessings
Chareen