Elisha

In the Beginning

This issue of The Herald is about Elisha, the famous prophet of God who succeeded Elijah, attaining his wish of a “double portion of thy spirit” (2 Kings 2:9). When Paul recounts the faithful of the Old Testament in Hebrews chapter 11, these two are referred to by their deeds rather than their names (Hebrews 11:35). But their fame is renowned among all who cherish the testimony of the Old Testament. 

There are many levels on which we appreciate the experiences recorded about Elisha. The opening article, Shalom, It is Well, is a tender and elegant look at the woman who received a cherished son, her tragic but temporary loss of him, and her overflowing thanks for his restoration. This article reflects the level on which we experience most of life’s trials. It describes the very personal sense of service, blessing, loss, perplexity, imploring, determination, and triumph that every saint of God can relate to. 

Naaman, the Leper expresses the breadth of God’s program of blessing, even for the Gentile world, namely the recovery out of sin and death for all people willing to humbly wash themselves by the means God arranges. 

Elijah and Elisha Together suggests the richness of the divine word, by exploring another level of meaning in the pictures embedded in the lives of these two prophets. This is supplemented by a brief On the Other Hand reminder of a more familiar level of meaning (see also some introductory remarks in the closing triad of articles).

A single page Prelude to Elisha is followed with Elisha and the Army Made Blind, an article that draws lovely lessons of faith and trust that apply to the New Creation. 

We close with Elisha, the Prophet of God, a three-part series of articles th9at examines the prophetic teaching in each of fourteen episodes recorded during the life of Elisha. These suggest some order and reason to all of them. The experiences of Elisha wonderfully represent the blessings God will soon reveal to the world during the Millennium.

We hope this review of one of the most glorious of the Old Testament prophets will help us appreciate our experiences, augment our faith, and reveal some of the treasures the Lord has laid down for our learning.