God watches to see that His Word is fulfilled!
“The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.” (Jer. 1:12 NIV)
God keeps all promises in His Word, even in seemingly impossible ways!
Elisha’s amazing request
Just before the prophet Elijah was taken to heaven in a whirlwind, his successor, Elisha, made an amazing request. He asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit (2 Kings 2:9). This request was granted when Elisha met Elijah’s one condition that he be present when he was taken up.
Number of miracles
If you count the number of miracles done by both men you will notice something truly amazing, Elisha died one miracle short of the number of miracles Elijah did. But, don’t stop counting! Be sure to read all the way to the end. (Hint. Death cannot stop God from fulfilling His promises).
The miracles in the lives of these two men summarized
Miracles in the career of Elijah:
1) Causing the rain the cease for 3 1/2 years (1 Kings 17:1)
2) Being fed by the ravens (1 Kings 17:4)
3) Miracle of the barrel of meal and cruse of oil (1 Kings 17:14)
4) Resurrection of the widow's son (1 Kings 17:22)
5) Calling of fire from heaven on the altar (1 Kings 18:38)
6) Causing it to rain (1 Kings 18:45)
7) Prophecy that Ahab's sons would all be destroyed (1 Kings 21:22)
8) Prophecy that Jezebel would be eaten by dogs (1 Kings 21:23)
9) Prophecy that Ahaziah would die of his illness (2 Kings 1:4)
10) Calling fire from heaven upon the first fifty soldiers (2 Kings 1:10)
11) Calling fire from heaven upon the second fifty soldiers (2 Kings 1:12)
12) Parting of the Jordan (2 Kings 2:8)
13) Prophecy that Elisha should have a double portion of his spirit (2 Kings 2:10)
14) Being caught up to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11)
Miracles in the career of Elisha:
1) Parting of the Jordan (2 Kings 2:14)
2) Healing of the waters (2 Kings 2:21)
3) Curse of the she bears (2 Kings 2:24)
4) Filling of the valley with water (2 Kings 3:17)
5) Deception of the Moabites with the valley of blood (2 Kings 3:22)
6) Miracle of the vessels of oil (2 Kings 4:4)
7) Prophecy that the Shunammite woman would have a son (2 Kings 4:16)
8) Resurrection of the Shunammite's son (2 Kings 4:34)
9) Healing of the gourds (2 Kings 4:41)
10) Miracle of the bread (2 Kings 4:43)
11) Healing of Naaman (2 Kings 5:14)
12) Perception of Gehazi's transgression (2 Kings 5:26)
13) Cursing Gehazi with leprosy (2 Kings 5:27)
14) Floating of the axe head (2 Kings 6:6)
15) Prophecy of the Syrian battle plans (2 Kings 6:9)
16) Vision of the chariots (2 Kings 6:17)
17) Smiting the Syrian army with blindness (2 Kings 6:18)
18) Restoring the sight of the Syrian army (2 Kings 6:20)
19) Prophecy of the end of the great famine (2 Kings 7:1)
20) Prophecy that the scoffing nobleman would see, but not partake of, the abundance (2 Kings 7:2)
21) Deception of the Syrians with the sound of chariots (2 Kings 7:6)
22) Prophecy of the seven-year famine (2 Kings 8:1)
23) Prophecy of Benhadad's untimely death (2 Kings 8:10)
24) Prophecy of Hazael's cruelty to Israel (2 Kings 8:12)
25) Prophecy that Jehu would smite the house of Ahab (2 Kings 9:7)
26) Prophecy that Joash would smite the Syrians at Aphek (2 Kings 13:17)
27) Prophecy that Joash would smite Syria thrice but not consume it (2 Kings 13:19)
The number of miracles at the time of the two prophet’s deaths
- Elijah: 14
- Elisha: 27
Elisha was one miracle short when he died
When Elisha died, it appeared as though he fell one miracle short in fulfilling the promise of doing double Elijah’s portion. But, wait! Death cannot stop what God is able to do! There is one more amazing surprise after Elisha’s death!
Read this incredible story!
“Once when some Israelites were burying a man, they spied a band of these raiders. So they hastily threw the corpse into the tomb of Elisha and fled. But as soon as the body touched Elisha's bones, the dead man revived and jumped to his feet!” (2 Kings 13:21)
The last miracle is performed after Elisha is dead and buried!
28) Resurrection of the man touched by Elisha’s bones.
God’s eternal Word stands firm!
“Your word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” (Psalm 119:89 NIV)