(story told in 1 Kings 19:16-2 Kings 13:20)
Elisha was chosen by God to be the prophet who would follow Elijah. When Elijah first met him, Elisha was plowing his father’s fields. Without hesitation, he left everything behind to serve God. After Elijah was taken to heaven in a fiery chariot, Elisha received a “double portion” of his spirit, showing that God had chosen him to continue Elijah’s powerful ministry among the people of Israel.
Elisha’s ministry was filled with miracles that showed God’s care and compassion. He purified polluted water, made a widow’s small jar of oil multiply to save her family, and raised a child from the dead. He also helped the poor, fed the hungry, and healed the sick—showing that God’s power was not only mighty but also merciful.
One of the most famous miracles happened when Naaman, a commander from Syria, came to Elisha to be healed of leprosy. Elisha told him to wash seven times in the Jordan River. At first, Naaman was angry and refused, but when he obeyed, he was completely healed. Through this, Naaman learned that the God of Israel was the only true God.
Elisha also guided Israel’s kings with wisdom and courage. God used him to protect the nation from its enemies, and even when surrounded by hostile armies, Elisha trusted God’s unseen protection. His faith opened the eyes of others to see that “those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
Even after Elisha’s death, his life continued to testify to God’s power. When a dead man was placed in his tomb, the man came back to life upon touching Elisha’s bones. Elisha’s story reminds us that faith, obedience, and compassion can bring God’s miracles to life—even beyond our own time.