Let The Bible STOP You + “Now, Elisha Fell Sick”
Now, Elisha Fell Sick.
“Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died…”
As I was praying I opened my Bible and felt to read right where the Bible had opened:
Hold the show. God completely broke me with that line. Seriously. Flat out broke me.
To understand, let’s back up….waaaaaay up…
Elijah was Elisha’s predecessor. ( I always remember this because “J” comes before “SH” 😉)
Elijah was mightily used by God and is famous for calling fire from heaven with a 63-word prayer. The fire consumed not only the sacrifice on Elijah’s altar, but also the wood under it and the rocks of the altar itself and evaporated the 4 barrels of precious water that had been poured over the sacrifice. This is just one of (and probably) the most prolific miracles of Elijah. (I Kings 18) Shortly after this incredible display of God’s supernatural power, Elijah faces intense depression to the point that “he requested for himself that he might die.” (I Kings 19:4) God sends an angel, who bakes a cake for him, and Elijah is strengthened by it for FORTY DAYS and goes to a cave in mount “Horeb the mount of God.” While Elijah is in the cave, he has incredible encounters with God and learns that God’s voice is not bold and dramatic, but “a still small voice.” (I Kings 19:12) During that encounter with the gentle voice of God, this mighty man of God is given instructions to anoint the next king of Syria…to anoint the next king of Israel, AND he is told, “ELISHA, THE SON OF SHAPHAT OF ABEL-MEHOLAH SHALT THOU ANOINT TO BE PROPHET IN THY ROOM.” (I Kings 19:16) So Elijah left the cave and, at the instruction of the LORD, found Elisha, his replacement. When he finds Elisha, he casts his mantle upon him, and the chapter ends by saying “Then he arose and went after Elijah and ministered unto him.” Elisha was called, but he served. Elisha’s earliest days of “ministry” were to be the personal attendant to this great man of God. His ministry began as a servant.
We do not hear Elisha’s name mentioned again until 2 Kings 2, verse 1, which says, “And it came to pass, when the LORD would take Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went WITH ELISHA from Gilgal, knowing full well that this is his last day with this great man of God. Elijah tries to convince him to stay behind, but Elisha refuses to part ways with him: “As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I WILL NOT LEAVE THEE.” (2 Kings 2:2,4,6) He is given multiple opportunities to stay behind, but his loyalty to this man who has mentored him (for roughly 6 years) causes him to refuse to part ways. They finally come to Jericho “and Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.” (2 Kings 2:8) When they have crossed the Jordan, Elijah asks Elisha what he would like him to do for him before he is taken away (2Kings 2:9), and Elisha’s instant and only response is, “I PRAY THEE, LET A DOUBLE PORTION OF THY SPIRIT BE UPON ME.” Elijah replies that he has asked a difficult thing, BUT if Elisha sees him when he is taken from him, “It shall be so unto thee.” The text carries on: “And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” (2 Kings 2:11). Elisha sees his mentor taken to heaven in one of the most dramatic exits from this world ever recorded, and the Bible says that he saw Elijah no more, (2 Kings 2:12) and “he took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him…” (2:14). And while a double-portion of Elijah’s spirit WAS a difficult thing, we see that Elisha went on to perform exactly twice as many miracles as Elijah.
Elisha’s “double-portion career” went on to include Naaman’s healing, the raising of the Shunamite woman’s miracle son from the dead, and a prayer over his servant Gehazi’s eyes to see that “they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” For 60-70 years, this mighty man of God served the northern tribes of Israel through many powerful miracles and prophecies. And yet, in spite of serving Elijah faithfully…in spite of serving Israel faithfully…and in spite of having a double portion of Elijah’s spirit, we read in 2 Kings 13:14: “Now Elisha WAS FALLEN SICK OF THE SICKNESS WHEREOF HE DIED…”
As soon as I read that line the other day, God broke me…..
NOT EVERYONE GETS A MIRACLE. While Elisha had a double-portion of Elijah’s anointing, he didn’t exit earth in a dramatic, supernatural event, ushered out in a fiery chariot pulled by fiery horses. While Elisha had caused oil to be multiplied to provide for a widow and had prayed to smite the Syrian army with blindness, his own body fell sick, and there was no apparent MIRACLE for him. While on his deathbed, the reigning king of Israel, Joash, visits him and weeps over his face. He speaks, “Oh my father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof.” These were the same exact words Elisha had spoken to Elijah at his translation, yet the chariot that took Elisha into eternity was not fiery and visible. Elisha’s departure was death by natural causes. It was “sickness whereof he died.” (2 Kings 13:14) This line is proof that we ALL live under effects of the fall. We all live in the ravages of death and decay…illness and injury. The costs of the curse are meted out to one and all, and the effects of sin on the human race have not yet been completely reversed. God COULD HAVE given Elisha another fiery chariot or He COULD HAVE performed a bold dramatic miracle and raised this faithful servant from his death bed, but He did not. He allowed his prophetic, powerful life to be snuffed out by an unnamed sickness.
DON’T JUDGE YOUR FAITH BY A MIRACLE OR LACK THEREOF. Elisha’s illness was not an indicator of his faith or an indictment on his life. His death from sickness was scripted by the sovereignty of God. God is ALWAYS able to perform the “miraculous,” but God does not always perform the “miraculous.”
This brings to mind 2 sets of individuals mentioned in Hebrews chapter 11. The writer of Hebrews has just gone through a litany of faith heroes, and in verse 32, he states that he’s running out of time to mention more heroic figures. He lists off a few names…Gideon…Barak…Samson…Jephthae…David…Samuel…the prophets…then he says WHAT they DID: who through faith subdues kingdoms, wrought righteousness, OBTAINED PROMISES, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again.” BOOM. WOW. THAT’S FAITH AS WE OFTEN THINK OF IT. Results. Visible outcomes. Response from God. Supernatural. Divine miracles.
But the writer goes on with a second group of heroes: “…and OTHERS were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: and others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins: being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.” (Hebrews 11:35-38) This is NOT faith, as we often think of it. Being sawn in two is not a happy ending. Being killed with a sword is NOT the outcome we would assume for a person of faith.
But the writer clarifies: the first group “OBTAINED PROMISES.” (11:33) The second group “OBTAINED A GOOD REPORT THROUGH FAITH…” (11:39) The lack of miracles and absence of a supernatural display of power was not a statement on their faith or on God’s goodness. Those who did not receive a preferred outcome are listed in the “faith hall of fame” right along with those who did.
This is important, because the enemy is quick to lie to us when our prayers are not answered in the way we hope. He is quick to seed disappointment and doubt. He is quick to whisper words that erode our faith and cast God’s faithfulness in an unfavorable light. He is quick to bring accusations that somehow, it’s “our fault…” we didn’t pray right…. fast enough…on and on he drones, using the lack of a miracle to drive a wedge between us and God. His ultimate goal is to sever our connection from our Source and strip the “shield of faith” (Eph 6:16) from our grasp.
But faith is not outcomes. Faith is a firm, unshakeable belief in the ability of God. Faith leads to action, & faith is holding on and enduring when God chooses not to exercise his supernatural ability. Faith is a resolution to proclaim God’s capability and miracle power and it is a resolution to hold on to His sovereignty when He withholds “the miracle.” We must choose to hold the shield of faith “wherewith you may be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” with a white-knuckled grasp when we don’t see the performance of God in the way we’ve prayed or on our timetable. God is God. God is sovereign. God reigns from eternity, so unaffected, as we are, by human constraints and limitations of time. He is just as powerful when He sends a fiery chariot as He is when He allows the “sickness whereof we die” to ebb and erode our life source.
So, when I am not seeing my desired answer to prayer, when I am not perceiving God moving on my behalf, let me remember that “Elisha fell sick of the sickness whereof he died.” Let me remember that some in Hebrews 11 obtained promises, and others obtained a good report without receiving promises. Let me parrot and reiterate the words of Job, who in the middle of severe testing boldly stated, “though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.” (Job 13:15) Let me follow in the footsteps of faith heroes: both Elijah’s with the fiery chariots and Elisha’s with the terminal diagnosis. Let my faith be in the character & nature of God, the ability of God, the blood of Jesus and forgiveness made available by it, the Word of God and It’s sure promises. Let my faith be in the assurance of salvation, having made my calling and election SURE, let it be in the reality of eternity and the hope of heaven. Let my faith be in the GOODNESS and FAITHFULNESS of God, and not in the performance of God. Let my pursuit be HIS HEART and not HIS SIGNS & WONDERS. If and when, He does signs & wonders, I’ll rejoice, but if He chooses another route, let me sit in the ashes, and with Job say, “Blessed be the name of the LORD…HE gives and takes away,” and I trust Him.
If He sends a fiery chariot, I’ll go, and if He sends the “sickness whereof I die,” I’ll go. Let me TRUST His sovereignty in spite of appearances.
You see, sometimes, the lack of a miracle opens the doors for future miracles. Elisha’s story doesn’t stop here. A few short verses later we read: “And Elisha died and they buried him.” That carries a sense of finality. The epitaph on his miracle career has been chiseled. But the Scripture carries on: “And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. AND IT CAME TO PASS, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sephulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, HE REVIVED, and stood up on his feet.” (2 Kings 13:20-21)
Because, AS A DIRECT RESULT OF Elisha NOT getting a miracle, someone else got a miracle! The anointing of Elisha’s double portion was still resident in his decaying bones, and because God, in His sovereignty, had not performed a miracle for Elisha, SOMEONE ELSE GOT THEIR MIRACLE. If God says “no”, keep trusting…what seems to be only a sephulchre may just in fact be the makings of a miracle for someone coming behind you. It may just so happen to be that God has something up ahead that we can’t see yet.
When He sends sickness instead of a chariot, keep trusting. ❤️
YOUR UNANSWERED PRAYER MAY BE THE KEY TO A MIRACLE IN THE NEXT GENERATION.
Thank you for joining me for this journey!
Go grab your Bible and your journal!
I look forward to the power of this habit in your life.