…Elisha had replied, “You will see it happen, but you won’t get to eat any of the food.” And that is just what happened to him—he died, trampled to death by the people at the city gate.
The word of the Lord always comes to pass (Isaiah 55:10-11). Or was this Elisha “simply” seeing into the future?
Now Elisha had told the woman who lived in Shunem, whose son he had brought back to life, that the Lord was sending a famine on the land, which would last for seven years, and that she should leave with her family and go and live somewhere else.
As in Joseph’s time (Genesis 41:27). A prophet is sent to one and not the other (Luke 4:25-27). One will be taken and the other not (Matthew 24:40-41)
At the end of the seven years she returned to Israel and went to the king to ask that her house and her land be restored to her. She found the king talking with Gehazi, Elisha’s servant; the king wanted to know about Elisha’s miracles.
Numerous, I imagine (John 21:25). What deeds will one say about me?
While Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had brought a dead person back to life, the woman made her appeal to the king. Gehazi said to him, “Your Majesty, here is the woman and here is her son whom Elisha brought back to life!”
Perfect timing. You do all things at the right time, Lord. May I not be impatient.
In answer to the king’s question, she confirmed Gehazi’s story, and so the king called an official and told him to give back to her everything that was hers, including the value of all the crops that her fields had produced during the seven years she had been away.
The land and its value relative to what it produces (Leviticus 27:14-18). What am I producing, Jesus (John 15:5)?
…Hazael loaded forty camels with all kinds of the finest products of Damascus and went to Elisha. When Hazael met him, he said, “Your servant King Benhadad has sent me to ask you whether or not he will recover from his sickness.”
Humility before celestial authority (1 Samuel 16:4; Matthew 8:8). May I be forever humble, Lord.