April 8, 2025 - 2 Kings 1-4

It is well known that Elijah foreshadows the coming of John the Baptist, but it is also true that Elishah foreshadows the coming of Jesus and the new covenant. Elijah and Elishah were both spirit-empowered individuals who called the people of Israel to covenant-faithfulness through the use of the Spirit in miraculous acts and his presence in their lives. When Elishah succeeds Elijah it says that he received a “double portion” of Elijah’s spirit, and he goes on to do twice as many miracles as Elijah. Jesus’ ministry was a spirit-empowered one as well as Luke so often emphasizes and the purpose of his ministry was to usher in the new covenant.

Bruce Waltke summarizes a comparison between the two,

Both … cleanse lepers (2 Kings 5; Mark 1:40–45); heal the sick (2 Kings 4:34–35; Mark 8:22–25; defy gravity (2 Kings 6:6; Matt 14:22–33); reverse death by raising sons and restoring them to their mothers (2 Kings 4:1–7; Luke 7:11–17); help widows in desperate circumstances; are kinsman redeemers to save from slavery (2 Kings 4:1–7; Luke 4:19); feed the hungry (2 Kings 4:1–7; Mark 8:1–12); minister to the Gentiles (2 Kings 5:1–16); prepare (2 Kings 6:20–23) and sit at table with sinners (Luke 5:29); lead captives (2 Kings 6:18–20; Eph 4:7–8); have a covetous disciple (Gehazi and Judas); end their lives in a life-giving-tomb from which people flee (2 Kings 13:20–21; Mark 16:1–8).1

In foreshadowing the spirit-filled life of Christ, Elisha also foreshadows the spirit-filled live everyday Christians like me and you can have.

“Through the Holy Spirit we can know God, bring life and healing in a culture of death, represent the presence of God, and do even greater works than our Master (John 14:12).” 2

Let us keep these comparisons in mind as well as we continue to read about the life of Elisha.

1http://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/meditating-scripture/

2https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/themelios/article/the-spirit-in-elishas-life-a-preview-of-jesus-christ-and-the-new-covenant/