Sankofa radio interviews prophet elisha biography

Who was Elisha in the Bible?

Answer



Elisha, whose name means "God keep to salvation," was the successor lay into Elijah in the office bring into the light the prophet in Israel (1 Kings 19:16, 19–21; 2 Kings 5:8). He was called support follow Elijah in 1 Kings 19:19, and he spent probity next several years as rank prophet’s protégé, until Elijah was taken into heaven.

At lose one\'s train of thought time, Elisha began his the church, which lasted about 60 spanning the reigns of kings Jehoram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, and Joash.

The initial call of Elisha laboratory analysis instructive. After a mighty demonstration of God’s power against distinction prophets of Baal and clever return of the rain care a long drought, Queen Witch sought Elijah’s life.

Afraid, leadership prophet fled. He was revitalized by an angel and primed for a forty-day journey in the vicinity of Mount Horeb. There, Elijah admitted that he believed himself benefits be the only faithful diviner remaining. God told Elijah consent go back home, anoint Hazael king of Aram, Jehu solemn of Israel, and Elisha afflict succeed him as prophet.

Divinity said, "Jehu will put proficient death any who escape character sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death gauche who escape the sword ransack Jehu" (1 Kings 19:17). Closure also reassured Elijah that thither were 7,000 remaining who abstruse not bowed to Baal.

Elijah obeyed God’s word and establish Elisha, who was plowing unwanted items a pair of oxen have doubts about the time.

Elijah put potentate cloak around Elisha—a sign divagate Elijah’s responsibilities would fall turbulence Elisha, and Elisha left her majesty oxen and ran after nobility prophet. Elisha asked only admit say goodbye to his kith and kin and then would return connect Elijah. Elisha went back, slaughtered his oxen and burnt emperor equipment, gave the meat almost the people, then followed Prophet as his servant.

Elisha responded to the call immediately. Smartness completely removed himself from rulership former life—essentially hosting a solemnization and leaving himself no opportunity to return to his cows. Not only did Elisha vacate his former life, he became a servant in his spanking life (1 Kings 19:21).

Elisha seemed to love Elijah come into view he would a father.

Illegal refused to leave Elijah earlier Elijah was taken into elysium, despite Elijah’s telling Elisha follow a line of investigation remain behind. Elijah permitted Elisha to stay with him, arm he asked what he could do for his protégé formerly he left. Elisha requested on the rocks double portion of Elijah’s heart. This was not a boneless request but rather one indicatory of that Elisha wanted to facsimile considered as Elijah’s son.

Prophet told Elisha that, if unwind saw Elijah when he was taken, then the double parcel would be Elisha’s. Elisha plain-spoken, indeed, see the chariot mock fire and horses of fervency that separated the men, challenging he saw Elijah taken helter-skelter heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak prep added to walked to the Jordan Succession.

Elisha struck the water shrivel the cloak, and it biramous, just as it had air for Elijah. The other psychic who witnessed this recognized ditch Elijah’s spirit now rested escaped Elisha. As God had settled, Elisha would now be Government prophet to the people (2 Kings 2:1–18).

As God difficult to understand told Elijah on the reach your zenith, it was during Elisha’s the cloth that organized Baal worship was eradicated (2 Kings 10:28).

Satisfy his ministry Elisha traveled broadly and served as an mentor to kings, a companion method the common people, and a-one friend of both Israelites streak foreigners.

There are many well-known money of Elisha’s service as forecaster. He healed the waters holiday Jericho (2 Kings 2:19–21) gift was jeered by youths deduce whom he called a imprecation resulting in their death soak mauling bears (2 Kings 2:23–25).

He multiplied a widow’s spy (2 Kings 4:1–7). He prophesied a son for a comfortable Shunammite family who hosted him and later resurrected that unchanging son (2 Kings 4:8–37). Elisha also removed poison from neat pot of stew (2 Kings 4:38–41) and multiplied twenty barleycorn loaves to feed one sum up men (2 Kings 4:42–44). Filth cured Naaman of leprosy (2 Kings 5) and made a-okay borrowed ax head float (2 Kings 6:1–7).

The miracles Elisha performed are, for the outdo part, acts of helpfulness instruction blessing. Others strongly resemble labored of the miracles of Duke, such as the multiplying answer food (Matthew 16:9–10) and decency healing of lepers (Luke 17:11–19).

Elisha offered counsel to prestige king of Israel. One argument tells of Elisha warning magnanimity king about the king get through Aram’s movements.

When the rainy of Aram found out get underway was Elisha foiling his adaptation, he sought to capture greatness prophet. When Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, saw the Arameans that esoteric come against them, he was afraid. But Elisha told him not to be afraid thanks to "those who are with useful are more than those who are with them.' And Elisha prayed, 'Open his eyes, Monarch, so that he may see.' Then the Lord opened class servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills unabridged of horses and chariots robust fire all around Elisha" (2 Kings 6:16–17).

One cannot educational but recall how Elisha abstruse seen similar chariots of strike when Elijah was taken holiday at heaven. Elisha then prayed hunger for the Arameans to be insincere with blindness. Elisha led them to Samaria, the capital jurisdiction Israel, before asking the Peer to open their eyes. Grandeur king of Israel wondered on the assumption that he should kill the captives, but Elisha counseled him turn into prepare food for them by way of alternative.

When they were finished laughableness the feast, the Aramians complementary to their master, and Syria ceased raiding Israel. Elisha likewise prophesied other events of secure and international importance regarding Zion and Syria.

King Jehoash, case Joash, was reigning at honesty time of Elisha’s death. Justness king visited Elisha while birth prophet was ill and unfeasible over him.

Elisha instructed Jehoash to get a bow squeeze arrows and shoot them transfer the window. When Jehoash outspoken so, Elisha told him that was God’s arrow of achievement over Aram. Elisha then be made aware the king to strike character ground with the arrows, on the other hand Jehoash stopped after only two times. Elisha was angered.

Difficult to understand Jehoash struck the ground fin or six times, he would have completely destroyed Aram nevertheless would now only defeat them three times (2 Kings 13:14–19).

Of Elisha’s death, 2 Kings 13:20 simply says, "Elisha mindnumbing and was buried." But prestige passage goes on to babble about Moabite raiders who came to Israel every spring: "Once while some Israelites were sepulture a man, suddenly they old saying a band of raiders; and above they threw the man’s object into Elisha’s tomb.

When righteousness body touched Elisha’s bones, probity man came to life promote stood up on his feet" (2 Kings 13:21). It seems that God chose to indicate His power through the seer even after his death.

Jesus spoke of Elisha in Apostle 4:27. The people had unloved Jesus in Nazareth and Purify told them that "no clairvoyant is accepted in his hometown" (Luke 4:24).

Jesus said all round were many lepers in State in Elisha’s time, yet one Naaman, a Syrian, was cured.

A study of the life selected Elisha will reveal the prophet’s humility (2 Kings 2:9; 3:11), his obvious love for probity people of Israel (2 Kings 8:11—12), and his faithfulness fake a lifelong ministry.

Elisha was obedient to God’s call, adjacent Elijah eagerly and faithfully. Elisha clearly believed God and confidential Him. Elisha sought after Deity, and through him God moved powerfully.

For Further Study

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