Miracles, Mercy, and Majesty: Lessons from Elisha’s Journey

Be God's Glory
Apr 6
10 min read

Welcome to Day 95 of The Glory Team Bible Reading plan and we are beginning the book of 2 Kings. In 2 Kings 4-6, these chapters reveal the incredible power of God working through the prophet Elisha. From multiplying oil for a widow to resurrecting a child, healing a foreign commander, and exposing enemy plans, each story magnifies God’s compassion, sovereignty, and provision. Elisha’s ministry demonstrates that no situation is too small or too great for God's intervention—whether it’s a borrowed axe head or an entire army. These narratives highlight God's heart for both the humble and the powerful, His miraculous provision, and His ability to bring hope where there seems to be none.

2 Kings 4: This chapter showcases a series of miracles performed by Elisha, revealing God's compassion and power. It begins with Elisha multiplying oil for a widow so she can pay her debts and save her sons from slavery. He then blesses a barren woman in Shunem with a child, only for the child to later die—and then miraculously be raised from the dead through Elisha’s prayers. Later, Elisha purifies a poisoned stew and multiplies bread to feed a hundred men, with leftovers remaining. Each account emphasizes God’s intimate care for individuals and His provision in times of desperate need.

2 Kings 5: This chapter centers on Naaman, a powerful Syrian commander afflicted with leprosy. A young Israelite servant girl tells him of Elisha, and Naaman seeks healing. Despite initially rejecting Elisha’s simple command to wash in the Jordan River, Naaman eventually obeys and is healed. Grateful, he declares his faith in Israel’s God. Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, later lies to gain a reward from Naaman and is struck with leprosy as a result. The chapter teaches lessons on humility, obedience, and integrity.

2 Kings 6: Elisha continues to display God’s power in diverse situations. He recovers a lost axe head by making it float, showing God’s care even in small matters. When the king of Aram attacks Israel, Elisha reveals their plans to the king of Israel, frustrating the enemy. Elisha then prays, and his servant sees angelic armies surrounding them. Later, Elisha leads the blinded enemy army into Samaria, showing mercy instead of vengeance. The chapter ends with a severe famine and a king questioning God’s goodness. These stories highlight God’s protection, the power of prayer, and His mercy even in times of judgment.

Origin & Meaning of the Name:

The name 2 Kings continues from 1 Kings, as both books were originally one single work in the Hebrew Bible. The title "Kings" comes from the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) translation of the Hebrew word Melekhim, meaning “Kings.” It records the reigns of various monarchs in Israel and Judah, detailing their faithfulness or rebellion against God.

Purpose of the Book:

The purpose of 2 Kings is to document the spiritual and political decline of Israel and Judah, ultimately leading to their exiles. It highlights the consequences of disobedience to God’s covenant, contrasting faithful and unfaithful kings. The book serves as a historical and theological lesson that obedience to God brings blessings, while disobedience leads to judgment.

Authorship & Sources Supporting the Author:

The authorship of 2 Kings is traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, though this is not explicitly stated in the text. Several pieces of evidence support this claim:

Internal Biblical Evidence:
- 2 Kings 24–25 closely parallels Jeremiah 39 and 52, describing the fall of Jerusalem.
- Jeremiah was a prophet during the final days of Judah and personally witnessed the Babylonian exile (Jeremiah 1:1-3).
External References & Historical Sources:
- The Talmud (Baba Bathra 15a) credits Jeremiah as the author of 1 & 2 Kings.
- 2 Kings frequently refers to historical records such as:
  - The Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah (2 Kings 8:23, 12:19, etc.)
  - The Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel (2 Kings 1:18, 10:34, etc.)

While some scholars suggest a later anonymous compiler from the exilic period, the traditional view holds that Jeremiah, or a disciple influenced by him, compiled the book using these historical records under divine inspiration.

Key People:

Elijah – A prophet of God who ascends to heaven without dying (2 Kings 2).
Elisha – Successor of Elijah, performing many miracles (2 Kings 2-13).
Jehu – A king of Israel who eradicates Ahab’s family and Baal worship (2 Kings 9-10).
Hezekiah – A righteous king of Judah known for his reforms and miraculous healing (2 Kings 18-20).
Manasseh – A wicked king of Judah who later repents (2 Kings 21).
Josiah – A godly king who restores worship and finds the Book of the Law (2 Kings 22-23).
Nebuchadnezzar – King of Babylon who conquers Judah and exiles its people (2 Kings 24-25).
Zedekiah – The last king of Judah before the Babylonian captivity (2 Kings 24-25).

Conclusion

The book of 2 Kings concludes with the tragic fall of both Israel and Judah due to their persistent disobedience to God’s covenant, culminating in the Babylonian exile. Despite the judgment, a glimmer of hope remains as King Jehoiachin of Judah is shown mercy in Babylon (2 Kings 25:27-30), hinting at God’s ongoing plan for restoration. This ending reinforces the book’s central theme: faithfulness to God brings blessings, while rebellion leads to downfall, yet His mercy endures beyond judgment.

What is God's Name in these Chapters?

In this portion of our journey we want to dive deep into the character of God described in His name. By identifying who God is, we can further relate to Him personally and build a stronger relationship and connection with Our Father.

Names are important. They give significance to places, people, and things. We identify with so much based off what it's name is. This is considerably notable when it comes to the names of God.

"Jehovah" is considered a Latinized version of the Hebrew name "Yahweh" (represented by the consonants YHWH) where the vowels of the Hebrew word "Adonai" (meaning "my Lord") were added to the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) when pronounced by Jewish readers who avoided saying the sacred name directly; essentially, Christian scholars combined the consonants of YHWH with the vowels of Adonai to create the pronunciation "Jehovah" in the Latin alphabet.

Looking for the Names of God from the previous chapters? Due to the overwhelming amount of names we had to dedicate a special place for them for the sake of space. Click the link to see them:

REVIEW GOD'S NAMES FROM PREVIOUS CHAPTERS

In 2 Kings 4, God’s character is revealed as compassionate, attentive, and powerfully present in both personal and communal crises. He provides for a widow’s debt, restores life to a grieving mother, and cares for His prophets during famine. God does not ignore the needs of the lowly or the cries of the faithful. He is close to the brokenhearted and acts through His servant Elisha with mercy and power.

The Hebrew names of God that reflect His nature in this chapter include Jehovah Jireh (“The Lord Will Provide”), as seen in the miracle of the multiplying oil and the feeding of the hundred men. Also, El Roi (“The God Who Sees”) is reflected in how God saw the grief of the Shunammite woman and responded with resurrection power. The lesson God teaches in this chapter is that He is intimately involved in every detail of our lives—providing, healing, and restoring when we trust Him fully.

In 2 Kings 5, God’s character in this chapter is one of mercy, healing, and inclusion. He extends His grace beyond the boundaries of Israel to Naaman, a foreign military commander, showing that His love and power are not limited by nationality, status, or past mistakes. God honors humility and obedience over pride and position, and His healing comes in ways that often challenge our expectations.

The name Jehovah Rapha (“The Lord Who Heals”) is displayed clearly in Naaman’s physical and spiritual healing. Additionally, El Elyon (“The Most High God”) is recognized by Naaman after his healing, when he declares that there is no God but the God of Israel. The lesson from this chapter is that God’s grace is available to all who humble themselves before Him, and that healing—both inside and out—begins with faith and surrender.

In 2 Kings 6, God shows Himself as a protector, provider, and revealer of truth. He is present in both small matters, like recovering a borrowed axe head, and in large-scale events, like protecting Israel from enemy attacks. God answers prayer, opens spiritual eyes, and gives victory through mercy rather than violence. His power is both miraculous and deeply personal.

Here, God is revealed as Jehovah Sabaoth (“The Lord of Hosts”), the commander of angelic armies, who surrounds Elisha and his servant with chariots of fire. He is also El Shaddai (“God Almighty”), who controls nature, nations, and unseen realms. The lesson from this chapter is that when we feel surrounded by enemies or impossible situations, we must remember God’s unseen protection is greater than what we see—and His ways often work through peace, not destruction.

Christ in Every Book of the Bible

Christ is the theme throughout the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals His Son, Jesus Christ.

Christ is the Seed of the woman Genesis 3:14 , He is the Passover Lamb Exodus 12:3, The Atoning Sacrifice Leviticus 17:11, The Smitten Rock Numbers 20:8, 11, The Faithful Prophet Deuteronomy 18:18, Christ is the Captain of the Lord's Host Joshua 5:15, The Divine Deliverer Judges 2:18, The Kinsman Redeemer Ruth 3:12, Christ is the anticipated as the Anointed One,1 Samuel 2:10, The Son of David 2 Samuel 7:14, The Coming King 1 & 2 Kings, Builder of the Temple 1 & 2 Chronicles (1 Chronicles 28:20), Ezra represents Christ as the Restorer of the Nation Ezra 6:14, 15, Nehemiah shows Him as the Restorer of the Temple Nehemiah 6:15, and Esther portrays Him as the Preserver of the Nation Ester 4:14, Christ is seen as the Living Redeemer Job 19:25, The Praise of Israel Psalm 150:6, The Wisdom of God Proverbs 8:22, 23, The Great Teacher Ecclesiastics 12:11, The Fairest of Ten Thousand Song of Solomon 5:10. Christ is the Suffering Servant Isaiah 53:11, The Maker of the New Covenant Jeremiah 31:31, The Man of Sorrows Lamentations 3:28-30, The Glory of God Ezekiel 43:2, The coming Messiah Daniel 9:25, The Lover of the Unfaithful Hosea 3:1, The Hope of Israel Joel 3:16, The Husbandman Amos 9:13, the Savior Obadiah 21, the Resurrected One Jonah 2:10, the Ruler in Israel Micah 5:2, the Avenger Nahum 2:1, the Holy God Habakkuk 1:13, the King of Israel Zephaniah 3:15, the Desire of Nations Haggai 2:7, the Righteous Branch Zechariah 3:8, and the Sun of Righteousness Malachi 4:2.

The King of the Jews Matthew 2:2, the Servant of the Lord Mark 10:45, the Son of Man Luke 19:10, and the Son of God John 1:1. Christ is the Ascended Lord Acts 1:10, the believer's Righteousness Romans 1:17, Sanctification 1 Corinthians 1:30, Sufficiency 2 Corinthians 12:9, and Liberty Galatians 2:4. He is the Exalted Head of the church Ephesians 1:22, the Christian's Joy Philippians 1:26, and the Fullness of Deity Colossians 2:9. In the Thessalonian epistles Christ is the believer's Comfort 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 and Glory 2 Thessalonians 1:12. The Christian's Preserver 1 Timothy 4:10, Rewarder 2 Timothy 4:8, Blessed Hope Titus 2:13, and Substitute Philemon 17. He is the High Priest Hebrews 4:15, the Giver of Wisdom James 1:5, the Rock 1 Peter 2:6, and Precious Promise 2 Peter 1:4. John represents Christ as the Life 1 John, the Truth 2 John, and the Way 3 John, Jude portrays Christ as the Advocate and Revelation shows Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords Revelation 19:16. The whole Bible is literally all about Christ!

Questions:

Let's expand how these chapters expanded your faith and your relationship with God.

Questions About God's Character:

How do the miracles in these chapters reveal God’s compassion and care for individuals in need?
What does God’s response to the widow, the Shunammite woman, and Naaman tell us about His attentiveness and mercy?
In what ways do you see God acting as Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Who Provides) throughout these stories?
How does God's character challenge our understanding of justice and mercy, especially in the way Elisha treats Israel’s enemies?
What do these chapters teach us about God’s willingness to work through unexpected people and situations?
How does God demonstrate His faithfulness to those who trust Him, even when circumstances seem hopeless?
How does the theme of restoration in these chapters reflect God’s heart toward the broken and hurting?

Questions About Themes:

How is the theme of miraculous provision demonstrated across chapters 4–6, and what does it say about God's power?
What role does obedience play in receiving God’s miracles, and how is this highlighted through Naaman’s story?
In what ways do these stories reveal the importance of faith, even when instructions from God seem illogical or simple?
How does the theme of God’s sovereignty appear through Elisha’s insight into enemy plans and control over nature?
How does the contrast between pride and humility drive the outcomes for characters like Naaman and Gehazi?
What recurring theme is illustrated by Elisha's willingness to serve both the powerful and the poor?
How do these chapters emphasize God’s protection and unseen presence, even when circumstances appear dangerous or overwhelming?

Reflective Application Questions:

Where in your life do you need to trust God for provision, like the widow with the oil?
Have you ever hesitated to obey God because His instructions didn’t make sense? How can Naaman’s story encourage you?
In what area of your life do you need to open your spiritual eyes to see God’s presence and protection?
Are there people in your life you’ve dismissed as being “outside” of God’s grace—like Naaman may have seemed? What might God be teaching you through his inclusion?
How can you practice humility and surrender to receive more of God’s healing and restoration?
When have you seen God meet your needs in a small but significant way, like the floating axe head story?
How can you reflect God’s mercy to your enemies or those who wrong you, following the example of Elisha with the Arameans?

These questions can help deepen understanding of the themes of these chapters, while encouraging trust in God's sovereignty, justice, faithfulness, and timing. We hope thoughts to these questions invite you to reflect on your own journeys, grow in faith, and understand more about God's nature.

Reference Guides:

Life Application Study Guide

A Popular Survey of the Old Testament by Norman L. Geisler

The Power of God's Names by Tony Evans