Podcast 85 Story if Elisha, “Pt 11”

Miracles, by their nature, are strange things, for they often appear to deny nature or probability or common sense. Furthermore, often miracles, no matter how spectacular they appear, can often be explained away by ordinary things. For example, everyone witnessed that the Syrian army left in a great hurry, but not everyone attributed it to the Lord. They undoubtedly came up with their own comfortable explanation.

2 Kings 7:18-20

And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria: And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the Lord should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof. And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died.

If you recall, previously Elisha told the messenger that the price of food would drop but that the messenger would not be able to eat. The prophecy was fulfilled because the messenger was trampled by starving people rushing to get the food.

One of the last recorded acts of Elisha is rather peculiar. Here is the background.

2 Kings 8:7-8

And Elisha came to Damascus; and Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick; and it was told him, saying, The man of God is come hither. And the king said unto Hazael, Take a present in thine hand, and go, meet the man of God, and inquire of the Lord by him, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?

Hazael, apparently a high ranking official, does as the King Ben-hadad commanded.

2 Kings 8:9

So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, even of every good thing of Damascus, forty camels’ burden, and came and stood before him, and said, Thy son Ben-hadad king of Syria hath sent me to thee, saying, Shall I recover of this disease?

Elisha’s answer is very peculiar.

2 Kings 8:10

And Elisha said unto him, Go, say unto him, Thou mayest certainly recover: howbeit the Lord hath shewed me that he shall surely die.

What appears to be a lie, isn’t. The king does not die from his illness. He survives his illness but dies from assassination. Elisha merely predicted the future. He begins to weep, not for the king but for Israel.

2 Kings 8:11-12

And he settled his countenance steadfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept. And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child.

The next scene positively appears to be the inspiration for the Story of Shakespeare’s MacBeth. Elisha prophesies that Hazael shall become king

2 Kings 8:13

And Hazael said, But what, is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing? And Elisha answered, The Lord hath shewed me that thou shalt be king over Syria.

Hazael first delivers his message to the king and then smoothers Ben-hadad, king of Syria.

2 Kings 8:14-15

So he departed from Elisha, and came to his master; who said to him, What said Elisha to thee? And he answered, He told me that thou shouldest surely recover. And it came to pass on the morrow, that he took a thick cloth, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died: and Hazael reigned in his stead.

Elijah is remembered more for his departure than for the miracles he performed which were spectacular. He was taken up into heaven in a chariot of fire.