Elisha: A Double Portion

The central and dominant theme in this series is what the Holy Spirit revealed of the life of Elisha and the miracles performed by and connected with him. Far more miracles were performed by him or were granted in answer to his prayers than any other of the Old Testament prophets. In fact the narrative of his history consists of little else than a record of supernatural acts and events.  The facts of Elisha’s life do not have to surprise us, though it is strange that so few Christians seem to grasp their implication and significance. 

How far have we fallen?

The character of Elisha's mission and ministry was in response to Israel's condition at that time. The very fact that these miracles were needed indicates the state into which Israel had fallen. Idolatry had controlled the Israelites for so long that the true and living God was no longer known by the nation. Certainly, there were individuals who believed in the Lord, but the people were worshipers of idols. Therefore by means of drastic interpositions, by awe-inspiring displays of His power, by supernatural manifestations of His justice and mercy alike, God pushed even the most skeptical to recognize His existence and subscribe to His supremacy. 

Prophecy and Miracles 

Consider the reason for and meaning of miracles. Prophecy and miracles share much of the same nature. Prophecy is really an oral miracle and miracles are virtually prophecies (forth-telling of God) in action. God sends His prophets only in a time of marked wanderings—a declension and departure of His people from Himself. Think about it this way, miracles were quite unnecessary while the sufficiency of His Word was practically recognized. Prophecy as much as miracles exist entirely outside the ordinary occurrences or course of things. Neither prophecy nor miracles occur during what we may term normal times. 

    1. Which of the patriarchs, the priests, or the kings performed any miracles? 

    2. How many miracles occurred during the lengthy reign of Saul, David, or Solomon? 

    3. Why, then, were so many wonders done during the ministry of Elijah and still more so during that of Elisha? 

The mission and ministry of Elisha was the same in character as that which God did in Egypt by the hand of Moses. In Egypt, Yahweh was unknown: entirely so by the Egyptians, largely so by the Israelites. Even though the Israelites called out for help—they did not know from where their help would come. The favored descendants of Abraham had sunk as low as they could go and had no idea who God was. Yahweh revealed Himself by miracles—so many remarkable signs and unmistakable interventions and wonders, Yahweh brought them back to that knowledge of Himself which they had lost. Consider this: unless the Hebrews in Egypt had been thoroughly convinced by these displays of divine power that Moses was a prophet sent from God, they never would have submitted to him as their leader. Do you recall how reluctantly they followed his authority? 

More miracles!

So also in the conquest of the Promised Land of Canaan, God continued to miraculously reveal Himself as He released four miracles in favor of His people: one in the water, in the crossing of Jordan; one in the earth, as the walls of Jericho came tumbling down; one in the air, in destroying their enemies by hail and one in the heavens, by slowing the course of the sun and the moon. The nations that had previously inhabited Canaan were furnished with clear proof of Yahweh's supremacy, that the God of Israel possessed universal dominion and that He was no local pagan deity but the Most High God reigning over all nature. 

Do these Old Testament miracles have anything to do with Jesus?

Old Testament miracles should present no difficulty only confirmation for us as Christians. As a matter of fact, the miracles reveal the constant revitalizing Holy Spirit that is and was and remains present from the beginning. Why did Jesus work miracles and didn't His teaching make clearly evident His divine mission? Wasn’t His holy presence enough to reveal His heavenly disposition? Was Jesus' conduct on the cross enough to demonstrate that He was no imposter? 

What is it going to take in order for us to believe?

So many of us require so much more than evidence or proof. We want no shadow of a doubt—no place of confusion. We put Jesus through a gauntlet of tests in order to believe. There is always a long list of reasons for unbelief. The whole world shall have it unmistakably shown before their eyes that Jesus of Nazareth was none other than "God manifest in flesh.” The first century Gentiles were lost in idolatry. Second Temple Judaism was reduced to a lifeless formality and had made void the Word of God by traditions, rules and regulations. When Jesus came onto the world stage, He came to reveal the divine love, heavenly wisdom and awesome power of God as none other had done before or since by a series of miracles which warranted Him saying, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9) His miracles should not surprise or merely entertain us. These actions were part of God’s revelation from the beginning. If it takes a miracle—we know times are desperate.

Desperate times require desperate measures.

Desperate times are another characteristic which links prophecy and miracles. A contemporary prophet named Bob Dylan wrote a song: The Times They are a Changing.* It is the character of the times in which miracles occur that signal their implication and their significance. Both prophecy and miracles are generally termed abnormalities, for neither of them are given in ordinary circumstances. While conditions are relatively decent, God acts according to the ordinary working of the laws of creation and operations of His providence. But when the Enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord lifts up a more apparent and noticeable standard against him, coming out more into the open and obliging men and women to take notice of Him and believe. Lord, help our unbelief!

Note there is this difference between the prophet and the miracle worker. The prophet is the one who declares there is a state of grievous departure from God. The prophet indicates that the knowledge of the true and living God has publicly disappeared and that He is no longer believed in by the masses. The miracle worker reveals sin and departure as drastic diseases and calls for drastic remedies. Miracles are God’s way of re-establishing His authority and His love for all creation. Let the miracles begin!

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said. 2 Kings 2:9-10 NIV

Times They Are A Changing: Bob Dylan * https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=nCRrkYGXD8E&list=RDAMVMnCRrkYGXD8E

Attachments area

Preview YouTube video The Times They Are A-Changin'

Pastor Jen