The Story of Naaman’s Healing (2 Kings 5)
Naaman was a commander of the army of the king of Aram, a great man and highly regarded, but he had leprosy. A young girl from Israel, who was taken captive, served Naaman’s wife. She told her mistress about the prophet Elisha in Samaria who could heal Naaman.
Naaman went to the king of Aram, who sent him with a letter to the king of Israel. The king of Israel was distressed, thinking it was a trick to start a conflict. But Elisha heard about it and sent a message to the king, asking for Naaman to be sent to him.
When Naaman arrived at Elisha’s house, Elisha sent a messenger to tell him to wash in the Jordan River seven times to be healed. Naaman was initially angry, expecting a grand gesture, but his servants convinced him to follow Elisha’s simple instructions. Naaman dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, and his flesh was restored, becoming clean like that of a young boy.
Naaman returned to Elisha, grateful and acknowledging the God of Israel as the only true God. He offered gifts to Elisha, but Elisha refused. However, Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, secretly took gifts from Naaman. When Elisha found out, Gehazi was struck with leprosy as a punishment for his greed.
The Story of Elisha and the Widow’s Oil (2 Kings 4:1-7)
A widow of a prophet came to Elisha in distress. Her husband had died, and she was left with debts she couldn’t pay. The creditor was coming to take her two sons as slaves. Elisha asked her what she had in her house, and she replied that she had nothing except a small jar of olive oil.
Elisha instructed her to go and borrow empty jars from all her neighbors. He told her to go inside her house with her sons and shut the door. Then, she was to pour oil into all the jars, setting each one aside when it was full.
The widow did as Elisha instructed. She filled all the jars with oil, and when she asked her son for another jar, he told her there were no more. At that moment, the oil stopped flowing. She went back to Elisha, who told her to sell the oil, pay her debts, and live on what was left.
The Story of Elisha and the Shunammite Woman (2 Kings 4:8-37)
Elisha often traveled through the town of Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived. She invited him to eat at her home, and whenever he passed by, he would stop there to eat. Recognizing Elisha as a holy man of God, she and her husband built a small room on their roof for him to stay in whenever he visited.
One day, Elisha wanted to repay her kindness. He asked his servant Gehazi what could be done for her. Gehazi mentioned that she had no son, and her husband was old. Elisha called her and told her that by this time next year, she would hold a son in her arms. The woman was skeptical but, as Elisha had said, she gave birth to a son the following year.
Years later, the child grew ill while out in the field with his father. He was carried to his mother, and sadly, he died on her lap. The woman laid him on Elisha’s bed and set out to find the prophet. When she reached Elisha, she fell at his feet, expressing her grief. Elisha sent Gehazi ahead with his staff to lay on the boy’s face, but there was no response.
Elisha arrived at the house, went into the room, and shut the door. He prayed to the Lord and then lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. The boy’s body grew warm, but he did not wake. Elisha got up, walked around, and then stretched himself out on the boy again. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes. Elisha called the woman and told her to take her son. She fell at his feet in gratitude and then took her son and went out.
The Story of the Floating Ax Head (2 Kings 6:1-7)
One day, the company of prophets said to Elisha, “Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to meet.” Elisha agreed, and they went to the Jordan River to cut down trees.
As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water. “Oh no, my lord!” he cried out. “It was borrowed!” The man was distressed because iron was valuable and the ax head was borrowed, making it a significant loss.
Elisha asked, “Where did it fall?” When the man showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, making the iron float. “Lift it out,” he said. The man reached out his hand and took it.
This miracle demonstrates God’s concern for even the small, everyday problems we face. It shows that nothing is too trivial for God’s attention and that He is always ready to help those who call on Him in faith.
The Story of Elisha and the Syrian Army (2 Kings 6:8-23)
The king of Aram was at war with Israel. He would plan his attacks, but Elisha, the prophet, would warn the king of Israel about the Aramean plans. This happened several times, frustrating the king of Aram. He suspected a traitor among his officers, but they told him it was Elisha who was revealing his plans.
The king of Aram decided to capture Elisha. He sent horses, chariots, and a strong force to the city of Dothan, where Elisha was staying. They surrounded the city at night. When Elisha’s servant got up early the next morning and saw the army, he was terrified. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” he asked.
Elisha replied, “Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” The Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord to strike the army with blindness. The Lord did so, and Elisha told them, “This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” He led them to Samaria.
When they entered the city, Elisha prayed, “Lord, open the eyes of these men so they can see.” The Lord opened their eyes, and they saw they were inside Samaria. The king of Israel asked Elisha if he should kill them, but Elisha told him to set food and water before them so they could eat and drink and then go back to their master. The king prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away. The bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory.
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