Two Weeks Before...
Open your Trip Bible, mark it with your
trip highlighter, 2 Kings 4 and Luke 7
Open your Trip Bible, mark it with your
trip highlighter, 2 Kings 4 and Luke 7
Personal Bible Study - just two weeks to go - Israel and Egypt...
“A Great Prophet Among Us!”
Open your Trip Bible and with your highlighter, mark: 2 Kings 4:8-37; Luke 7:11-17
______________________________________
First - Elisha's Ministry in Shunem (2 Kings 4:8-37)
The birth of a child (4:8-17)
The village of Shunem rests on the southern slopes of the hill of Moreh.
Did you know the word “moreh” means "teacher"? This hill, near a major
road and about halfway between Megiddo and the Jordan River, probably
got its name from the teaching ministries of Elijah and Elisha.
A wealthy Canaanite woman and her husband provided hospitality to Elisha
when his ministry brought him to the area. Moreh is about 1300 feet high and
near its base is the town of Shunem - today called Sulam, in Arabic.
Prior to Elisha, this city had known its share of terror . . . and honor.
Philistines captured the village and used it as their base when they gathered to fight Saul and the Israelites
(I Sam. 28:4).
Later a woman from Shunem named Abishag was chosen to take care of King David in his old age
(I Kings 1:3-4).
1. The woman's kindness and hospitality to Elisha (4:8-10)
2. Elisha's kindness to the woman (4:11-17)
In the Old Testament, barrenness was a sign of cursing. The woman displayed faith in recognizing Elisha
as prophet, and she displayed compassion in providing for his needs. God blessed her with fruitfulness.
The "second birth" of the child (4:18-37)
After the miraculous birth of the child, you might expect the family to live "happily ever after." The sudden death of the child was a severe test of the woman's faith, but her quick, decisive response revealed her depth of trusting faith in God.
1. The child's death (vv. 18-21)
The child went out to his dad who was "with the reapers." This would be in the springtime, during wheat or barley harvest. (A little later than when we're there.) Sometimes even in that season the sun can become brutally hot in late morning. The cooling breezes from the Mediterranean Sea don't usually arrive until early afternoon.
The child may have been overcome by the intense morning sun, because he died at noon (v. 20).
2. The mother’s journey (vv. 22-30)
She rode quickly across the Jezreel Valley from Shunem to Mount Carmel in the heat of the day to summon the prophet of God, her friend and frequent houseguest, Elisha.
3. Elisha's miracle of restoring the boy to life (vv. 31-37)
After raising the boy, Elisha gave him back to his mother. "Then she took her son and went out" (v. 37).
Now the scene shifts, not the region, but the time. We move forward on the calendar about 900 years , and on the map to another small town just on the opposite slope of the same hill of Moreh.
Now - Jesus' Ministry in Nain (Luke 7:11-17)
Jesus arrives in the village (7:11-13)
The village of Nain rests on the opposite (northern) side of Moreh, about 2 miles (45 minute walk) from Shunem.
The parallels to Elisha's miracle in the area are so obvious... and pretty obviously, intentional by Jesus!
1. The event takes place on the slopes of the same hill
2. The dead child is an only son – he is her love, her life, her livelihood
3. The account focuses on the response of the mother
4. Each account focuses on a man of God recognized as a prophet
Jesus' raises the widow's son (7:14-15)
1. Jesus restores the boy to life (v. 14)
2. Jesus gives the child back to his mom (v.15)
In many ways, Jesus' actions parallel those of Elisha. Elisha summoned the Shunammite woman and commanded her to "take your son." Jesus gives the boy "back to his mother."
The crowd responds to the miracle (7:16-17)
The crowd understands the significance of Jesus' miracle when they shout for joy,
"A great prophet has appeared among us."
No doubt they see the connection between Jesus' miracle and the one performed by their revered Elisha - on the very same hill - nearly nine hundred years before!
The Bottom Line:
Much of Jesus' ministry focuses on visibly reminding the people that the same God who had delivered them in the past is now and always, at work in their midst. The miracles validate His claims to be God's Son, Israel's Messiah, and "the Prophet" promised by Moses. This particular account also gives us a real glimpse into God's compassion for those who are hurting. Are you hurting today? Just as Jesus' "heart went out to her" in her time of grief, so Peter admonishes us to "cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you!" (1 Peter 5:7)
When we stand on Mt. Carmel and on Tel Megiddo, from our vantage points, look across the Jezreel valley at the mountain called Moreh. You might think about these two great accounts and others as we walk the hills and valleys, streets and alleys where Jesus walked. Remember:
"They were all filled with awe and praised God. A great prophet has appeared among us!" (Luke 7:16-17)
Indeed!
“A Great Prophet Among Us!”
Open your Trip Bible and with your highlighter, mark: 2 Kings 4:8-37; Luke 7:11-17
______________________________________
First - Elisha's Ministry in Shunem (2 Kings 4:8-37)
The birth of a child (4:8-17)
The village of Shunem rests on the southern slopes of the hill of Moreh.
Did you know the word “moreh” means "teacher"? This hill, near a major
road and about halfway between Megiddo and the Jordan River, probably
got its name from the teaching ministries of Elijah and Elisha.
A wealthy Canaanite woman and her husband provided hospitality to Elisha
when his ministry brought him to the area. Moreh is about 1300 feet high and
near its base is the town of Shunem - today called Sulam, in Arabic.
Prior to Elisha, this city had known its share of terror . . . and honor.
Philistines captured the village and used it as their base when they gathered to fight Saul and the Israelites
(I Sam. 28:4).
Later a woman from Shunem named Abishag was chosen to take care of King David in his old age
(I Kings 1:3-4).
1. The woman's kindness and hospitality to Elisha (4:8-10)
2. Elisha's kindness to the woman (4:11-17)
In the Old Testament, barrenness was a sign of cursing. The woman displayed faith in recognizing Elisha
as prophet, and she displayed compassion in providing for his needs. God blessed her with fruitfulness.
The "second birth" of the child (4:18-37)
After the miraculous birth of the child, you might expect the family to live "happily ever after." The sudden death of the child was a severe test of the woman's faith, but her quick, decisive response revealed her depth of trusting faith in God.
1. The child's death (vv. 18-21)
The child went out to his dad who was "with the reapers." This would be in the springtime, during wheat or barley harvest. (A little later than when we're there.) Sometimes even in that season the sun can become brutally hot in late morning. The cooling breezes from the Mediterranean Sea don't usually arrive until early afternoon.
The child may have been overcome by the intense morning sun, because he died at noon (v. 20).
2. The mother’s journey (vv. 22-30)
She rode quickly across the Jezreel Valley from Shunem to Mount Carmel in the heat of the day to summon the prophet of God, her friend and frequent houseguest, Elisha.
3. Elisha's miracle of restoring the boy to life (vv. 31-37)
After raising the boy, Elisha gave him back to his mother. "Then she took her son and went out" (v. 37).
Now the scene shifts, not the region, but the time. We move forward on the calendar about 900 years , and on the map to another small town just on the opposite slope of the same hill of Moreh.
Now - Jesus' Ministry in Nain (Luke 7:11-17)
Jesus arrives in the village (7:11-13)
The village of Nain rests on the opposite (northern) side of Moreh, about 2 miles (45 minute walk) from Shunem.
The parallels to Elisha's miracle in the area are so obvious... and pretty obviously, intentional by Jesus!
1. The event takes place on the slopes of the same hill
2. The dead child is an only son – he is her love, her life, her livelihood
3. The account focuses on the response of the mother
4. Each account focuses on a man of God recognized as a prophet
Jesus' raises the widow's son (7:14-15)
1. Jesus restores the boy to life (v. 14)
2. Jesus gives the child back to his mom (v.15)
In many ways, Jesus' actions parallel those of Elisha. Elisha summoned the Shunammite woman and commanded her to "take your son." Jesus gives the boy "back to his mother."
The crowd responds to the miracle (7:16-17)
The crowd understands the significance of Jesus' miracle when they shout for joy,
"A great prophet has appeared among us."
No doubt they see the connection between Jesus' miracle and the one performed by their revered Elisha - on the very same hill - nearly nine hundred years before!
The Bottom Line:
Much of Jesus' ministry focuses on visibly reminding the people that the same God who had delivered them in the past is now and always, at work in their midst. The miracles validate His claims to be God's Son, Israel's Messiah, and "the Prophet" promised by Moses. This particular account also gives us a real glimpse into God's compassion for those who are hurting. Are you hurting today? Just as Jesus' "heart went out to her" in her time of grief, so Peter admonishes us to "cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you!" (1 Peter 5:7)
When we stand on Mt. Carmel and on Tel Megiddo, from our vantage points, look across the Jezreel valley at the mountain called Moreh. You might think about these two great accounts and others as we walk the hills and valleys, streets and alleys where Jesus walked. Remember:
"They were all filled with awe and praised God. A great prophet has appeared among us!" (Luke 7:16-17)
Indeed!