Elisha the Prophet

​Yesterday I was reading the Bible story of Elisha in the Old Testament, what an interesting read! One thing that really struck me was that Jesus and his disciples weren’t the only ones to perform miracles. 


2 Kings chapters 2-6 provides us with the stories of Elisha’s miracles. He makes unsanitary water potable again, raises a widows son, makes a poison stew edible, makes an axe head float and feeds one hundred people.

The later story, feeding the one hundred, is reminiscent of Jesus feeding the five thousand and the four thousand. 

In the feeding of the one hundred, a man comes to Elisha with twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain (2 Kings 4:42).  Elisha instructs the man to “Give it to the people and let them eat”. The man states that the food is not enough for one hundred people but Elisha basically says to do it anyway. The man gives it to the people and there was enough to go around with some left over. Where have I heard this story before? 

Through Elisha’s miracles I sense a common theme of God providing for his children. The miracles also stress how much God loves us. God works through Elisha to give his followers his generosity. 

Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus”.  

This doesn’t mean that God is going to fulfill every request made of him, but he will send someone your way to help. 

Generosity is one of the Fruits of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22 says, “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

God instructs us to be like him and generously provide for others. But exactly how do we live generously in Christ? 

God instructs us to love our neighbor as ourselves. 

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself “ Luke 10:27

One suggestion is to help care for the needy. There are so many older Americans in nursing homes who never get a visitor. Be a volunteer and spread God’s grace, pray for them.

Visit the homeless. Find a shelter near you and talk to them. These people all have interesting stories and appreciate the time you spend with them. Believe me when I say that you will get more out of your conversation than the person you are talking to will.

Build your relationship with Christ. Read the New Testament, pray often, meditate on him. 

Living with a generous spirit is not difficult and it will help you to fully live the life that God wants you to. 

Dear God, please help me to have a generous spirit. Help me to live as you would. Amen 



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