Hall of Faith: Elisha, the Miracle Worker

Elisha was mentored by Elijah and with his mentor when he was taken to heaven. Elisha

Elisha learned from Elijah

actually asked to receive a “double portion” of Elijah’s spirit.

Elisha was a prophet, who received the power of Elijah, and was able to perform miracles. This is why he belongs in the Hall of Faith.

Elisha means my God is salvation.

God tells Elijah in 1 Kings 19:16 that “Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place.”

We first meet Elisha in 1 Kings 19:19 when he is called to follow Elijah. “So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him.”

Elijah anoints Elisha as his predecessor

He followed Elijah and sered as his protege for the next seven or eight years.

Elisha accompanies Elijah on his journey, before he is taken up to heaven.

“And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so…And Elisha saw it…He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him.” {2 Kings2:9-13}

Elisha is best known for his miracles.

Elisha went into the waters

“And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the Lord, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.” {2 Kings 2:21-22}

Elisha became friends with a widow woman. He filled her jars with oil,so that she could sell them and not go hungry. {2 Kings 4:1-7}

Elisha became friends with a childless couple, who provided him with a room. He called on the Lord and she conceived. But then the son dies. The woman goes to Elisha, who returns to the house and raises the son of the Shunammite woman, {2 Kings 4:8-37}, much the way his mentor, Elijah, raised a boy from the dead.

Elisha raised the boy from the dead

He then multiplied the 20 barley loaves to feed 100 men. {2 Kings 4:42-44}

Naaman was a leper, with sores covering his body and his skin falling off. Elisha healed Naaman by telling him to was “seven times in the Jordan River.” At first, Naaman was angry that Elisha did not come to heal him, but he did as his servants urged and washed in the Jordan River. {2 Kings 5:1-14}

Elisha performed many other acts such as unmasking the treachery of Hazael {2 Kings 8}, saving King Jehoram from multiple ambushes, the miracle of Dothan {2 Kings 9}, and prophesying of coming events.

Elisha healed Naaman from his leprocy

When Elisha died and was buried, he still continued to perform miracles.

“And Elisha died, and they buried him…And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha; and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.” {2 Kings 13:20-21}

So, what can we learn from Elisha?

1. He learned from Elijah

Elisha prayed for the soldiers eyes to be opened

1. He was humble

2. He was wise when he asked Elijah for his power

3. He was a miracle worker

4. He believed in the power of God

Elijah revived the dead and performed miracles that foreshadowed those to come from Christ. Even in death, the power of Elijah and God were so strong in Elisha that he raised a man from the dead. All of this reveals why he belongs in the Hall of Faith.

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