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