2 KINGS 6

DESPITE ELISHA’S MIRACLES, SAMARIA IS OVERTHROWN

Elisha is approached by a group of prophets who want to build a larger living space in Jordan. Elisha agrees to help them build their new accommodations. As they are chopping down trees, one of the prophets loses the head of a borrowed ax. The ax had fallen in the river and sunk to the bottom, unable to be retrieved. Elisha takes a branch and throws it at the spot where it fell, and it miraculously floats back to the top! God uses Elisha in both big and seemingly small ways.

The next instance of Elisha’s miracle working takes place during a war between Aram and Israel. One of Elisha’s servants is alarmed when he sees the Aram army approaching with horses and chariots. Elisha comforts him, telling him not to be alarmed. Elisha prays for him to have eyes to see what God is doing around them. The servant realizes that God filled the entire mountainside with horses and chariots of fire!

In contrast to the prayer for the servant to see, Elisha prays for the Arameans to be blind. God responds to Elisha’s prayer and the entire army is struck blind. Although Elisha had the ability and motive to kill the Aram army, he instead responds with kindness and makes a feast for his enemies. Because of his humility and generosity, the Arameans make peace with Israel.

Much later, after the peace with Aram has ended, Ben-Hadad the king of Aram launches a siege of Samaria. With their capital city overthrown, a terrible famine comes upon Israel. Desperation rules in Israel throughout the famine, causing the people of Samaria to resort to eating donkey heads, bird feces, and even their own children.