Tuesday 2021.08.10
This afternoon I read Second Kings chapters five through eight from the OT. This portion of scripture includes accounts of the miraculous powers of the prophet Elisha in the northern kingdom of Israel during the reigns of Ahaziah ben Ahab, Joram ben Ahab, and subsequently Captain Jehu ben Jehoshaphat ben Niimshi.
Among Elisha's powers, in particular, was his ability to be remotely present in spirit in other places without actually having to travel there physically. Two such instances are described, one in 2 Kings 5 and the other in 2 Kings 6.
In 2 Kings 5, Elisha's servant Gehazi went out secretly to ask for gifts from Naaman the Syrian Commander, gifts which Elisha has declined earlier on. When Gehazi was questioned by Elisha upon returning home, Gehazi denied that he had gone anywhere. Little did Gehazi know that Elisha was present together with him when he asked for gifts from Naaman.
2 Kings 5:26 GNB
But Elisha said, “Wasn't I there in spirit when the man got out of his chariot to meet you? This is no time to accept money and clothes, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, or servants!
In 2 Kings 6, the King of Syria was repeatedly frustrated when his plans to set up camp in preparation to attack Israel was revealed to the king of Israel several times. He didn't know that Elisha had been warning the king of Israel about the movements of the Syrian king and his army.
2 Kings 6:11 - 12 GNB
11 The Syrian king became greatly upset over this; he called in his officers and asked them, “Which one of you is on the side of the king of Israel?”
12 One of them answered, “No one is, Your Majesty. The prophet Elisha tells the king of Israel what you say even in the privacy of your own room.”
Towards the end of 2 Kings chapter eight, an account of two more kings of the southern kingdom of Judah is recorded. Sadly, unlike their predecessor King Jehoshaphat, these two descendants of Jehoshaphat were evil kings who turned away from the LORD because of their family ties with the evil King Ahab of Israel.
- King Jehoram ben Jehoshaphat. His wife Athaliah bat Ahab, daughter of King Ahab of Israel caused him to sin.
- King Ahaziah ben Jehoram. His mother, Athaliah bat Ahab, caused him to sin against the LORD
