20. Elisha died and was buried. Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring.21. Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man's body into Elisha's tomb. When the body touched Elisha's bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet.
The most unusual part of the story when Elisha died and some time later there is another funeral near his tomb. Since the Moab nation was raiding the land, the undertakers quickly disposed of another's body by throwing it into the tomb of Elisha and suddenly and miraculously the body came to life again.
Most liberals will say this is just a legend that has no validity. If I believed that the Bible contained errors and fables, then I would be drawn to that conclusion too. However, I do believe that the Bible is the truth and in the authority of all Scripture which is inspired by God. I believe this is not only possible, but it happened.
This is unusual. Yet there are other stories in the Scriptures which remind us of the healing power of God. Many sick and lame tried to have Peter's shadow pass over them so they might be healed. There are episodes in Acts 19:11,12 when napkins and handkerchiefs from the Apostle Paul were placed on the sick or diseased and they were healed.
Here the body touched the bones of Elisha, and he was healed and resurrected. Can you imagine what happened after that? If it is anything like people's obsession with relics and holy places today there would probably be hundreds of bodies brought to the tomb of Elisha for resurrections. Yet there is no record of any other resurrection.
We must acknowledge that healing was NOT through shadows, napkins, and bones. It was through the special power and will of God. Those happened to be the instruments used by God on such special occasions to bring authority to the word of those prophets. It was to bring people to faith. It was to authenticate their word was from God. It was for the purpose of people believing and obeying God.
We do not compliment a hammer, or a wood plane, or a screwdriver and think they were something, but we give glory to the skilled carpenter that brought about the work by using those tools. We don’t make much of paint tubes and brushes; we honor the one who used those things for being the artist who deserves praise. The artist may not use the same paint brush twice, and God may not use the same person twice in the same way for something He is doing.
I would hope that when I die God would use that event to somehow bring people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, but it will have nothing to do specifically with me. That is entirely up to God, but it is my prayer.
In Elisha’s situation others might reflect over his holy and godly life and desire to turn their own hearts to God. Elijah was taken up in a whirlwind and Elisha was well thought of for God's grace and goodness by the king and others that knew he was indeed a man of God. This was a means of honoring his service, faith, and life.
