Four Weeks Before...

Open your Trip Bible, mark with your

trip highlighter,2 Kings 4 and Luke 7

Find a few minutes, find a quiet place and enjoy this personal Bible Study!

Just four weeks to go - then we're off to Israel...

“A Great Prophet Among Us!” 

OK, here we go...  Open your Trip Bible and with your highlighter, mark: 2 Kings 4:8-37; Luke 7:11-17

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First - Elisha's Ministry in Shunem  Read 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 both Elijah and Elisha.

A wealthy Canaanite woman and her husband provided hospitality to Elisha

when his ministry would bring him to the area. Moreh is about 1300' 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 of 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 (don't name your daughter that!) was chosen to take care of King David in his old age (I Kings 1:3-4).

   1. The Shunamite woman's thoughtfulness, kindness and hospitality to Elisha (4:8-10)

   2. Elisha's kindness to the woman (4:11-17)

       To the Old Testament cultures, barrenness was a sign of a curse. The woman showed 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 boy, a child' storybook might have the family live "happily ever after." But we all know that life simply isn't like that. The sudden death of the child was a severe test of the woman's faith, but her quick, decisive response revealed the depth of her trust 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 springtime, during the wheat or barley harvest (later than when we will be there.) Sometimes even in that season the sun can be brutally hot in late morning. Cooling breezes from the Mediterranean Sea don't usually arrive until early in the afternoon.

The child may have been simply 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 same heat of the day - to summon the prophet of God, her friend and frequent house-guest, 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). What an understated moment!

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 other slope of the same hill of Moreh.

We move ahead to - Jesus' Ministry in Nain  Read Luke 7:11-17

Jesus arrives in the village (7:11-13)

Nain village rests on the opposite (northern) side of Moreh, about 2 miles (a 45 minute walk) from Shunem.

The parallels to Elisha's earlier miracle in the area are so obvious... and obviously intended by Jesus!

   1. Both events take place on the same hill

   2. The dead child is an only son – he is her love, her life and her livelihood

   3. This 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 summons the Shunammite woman and commands her to "take your son." Jesus gives the boy "back to his mother."

The crowd responds to the miracle (7:16-17)

The crowd remembers the story, and understands the significance of Jesus' miracle. 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. His miracles validate His claim 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 hurt. Are you hurting today? Just as Jesus' "heart went out to her" in her time of grief, so Peter tells us to "cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you!" (1 Peter 5:7)

When we stand on Mt. Carmel and even more clearly on Tel Megiddo, from our vantage points, we 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 He has!  Wow!  Let's never lose the wonder!  We'll be walking "in His steps" and reading His Word!