February 2003

Contents for this issue:
- comparison of Elisha and Christ Jesus;
- upcoming Bible talks and seminars;
- monthly content change at www.BibleWise.com.

Dear Readers,

How well do you know the prophet Elisha? The book of
II Kings is chock full of wonderful and amazing stories
about Elisha. Some of these stories are frequently
recounted and likely very familiar to you. They
include, for example, Elisha's instruction to a widow
woman to borrow empty vessels from her neighbors. The
vessels were filled when the pot of oil she had on hand
was increased by the prophet's prayers. (II Kings 4:1-7)


Other events in Elisha's ministry are less well-known.
For example, did you know that Elisha healed the
polluted water in Jericho? He put salt in the spring
and declared "there shall not be from thence any more
death or barren land." (II Kings 2:19-22)

Another lesser known Elisha story concerns twenty loaves
of barley and some corn. He instructs his servitor to
give the food to one hundred men. The servitor
questions Elisha, thinking this will not be enough.
Elisha repeats his instruction, and "they did eat."
(II Kings 4:42-44)

One interesting incident occurs after Elisha dies. The
biblical writer notes that "as they were burying a
man...they spied a band of men; and they cast the man
into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let
down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and
stood up on his feet." In other words, a dead man came
back to life when he came in contact with Elisha's
bones. (II Kings 13:20, 21) This must have been quite
a shock to those men burying him! Unfortunately, no
further details are recorded.

As you study Elisha's life, you may notice a striking
resemblance between Elisha's works and Christ Jesus'
works. In the career of Elisha we see a significant
foreshadowing of things to come in the ministry of
Jesus.

For example, at one point Elisha and his servant are in
Dothan. The king of Syria sent "horses, and chariots,
and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed
the city about." When the servant saw these horses and
chariots, he was frightened and asked Elisha what they
would do. Elisha responds by praying and reassuring his
servant. "Fear not: for they that be with us are more
than they that be with them." He said, "Lord, I pray
thee, open his eyes, that he may see." The account
continues: "And the Lord opened the eyes of the young
man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of
horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." The
end result is that "the bands of Syria came no more
into the land of Israel." (II Kings 6:8-23)

Now the servant's blindness was not a literal blindness.
Yet, the experience of having his eyes opened to see the
reality of things was repeated by at least seven men who
approached Jesus for healing of blindness. (See #1
below.)

Compare the following events:

- Elisha restores the lifeless son of the Shunammite
woman. Jesus restores the dead son of a widow woman
in Nain. (II Kings 4:32-37; Luke 7:11-16)

- Elisha cleanses a leper named Naaman. Jesus cleanses
lepers on at least two occasions. (II Kings 5; 1-14;
Matthew 8:2-4; Luke 17:11-19)

- Elisha causes an iron axe head to float on the Jordan
River. Jesus walks on the Sea of Galilee.
(II Kings 6:4-7; John 6:16-21)

Pamela McKean wrote an article in "Scripture Forum," a
now discontinued publication of Principia Adult
Continuing Education, in the Autumn of 1998. In her
article, titled "Elisha: Preview of Coming
Attractions?," Ms. McKean explained:

"Each prophet displayed the ability to discern the
thought of others. During the war with the Syrians,
Elisha knew the secret words of the Syrian king and was
able to warn the Israelites of the enemy's battle plans
(II Kings 6:8-12). Jesus often read the hidden thoughts
of the Pharisees (see Luke 7:36-50; Matt. 9:2-8;
Mark 2:3-12, which also appears at Luke 5:17-26.)"

Ms. McKean notes that "Elisha and Jesus both retained a
common touch, moving freely among people -- rich and
poor, high and low....Elisha typified the Christly
elements that would later be fully expressed in Jesus.
Through healing, Elisha demonstrated God's love for
humanity. In this respect, he certainly does prefigure
Jesus, providing a healing presence for his own time."

#1. Two blind men healed, Matt. 9:27-31; blind man at
Bethsaida, Mark 8:22-26; man born blind, John 9:1-41;
Bartimaeus and two blind men near Jericho,
Matt. 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43.

To learn more about the parallels in the careers of
Elisha and Christ Jesus, please see:

"Elisha: Preview of Coming Attractions?" Pamela McKean,
Scripture Forum, Autumn 1998, Vol. 3, No. 2. Editor of
Scripture Forum: Gail Haslam.


Joel B. Green, S. McKnight and I. H. Marshall,
Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels. Downer Grove,
Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1992, p. 206.


David Noel Freedman, "Elisha," The Anchor Bible
Dictionary, Vol. 2. New York: Doubleday, 1992, p. 473.
_____________________

UPCOMING BIBLE TALKS AND SEMINARS

Sometimes hearing a talk about some aspect of the Bible
can be just what you need for inspiration. In the next
few months there are several opportunities to hear a
knowledgeable speaker. There will be a Bible Seminar at
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, May 18-22, 2003. For more info,
email gtracy@cedar.net or call 1-877-448-0587.

Another Bible Study Seminar will be held at Asilomar
Conference Center, Pacific Grove, California, June
15-19, 2003. See www.biblestudyseminars.com.

I will be giving Bible workshops in Ohio, Maine and
Washington, DC during the month of March. Please email
me if you'd like details. Also, if you'd like to
receive a newly printed brochure about my workshops,
please let me know.
________________

NEW INFORMATION AT BIBLE WEBSITE

Be sure and visit www.BibleWise.com at least once each
month. The excellent content of the page changes the
beginning of each month and always has something
interesting for Sunday School teachers and other lovers
of the Bible. The focus for February is Abraham and
Sarah.

I always enjoy hearing from my e-newsletter subscribers.
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Yours truly,

Joan Koelle Snipes

Volume 3; No. 1
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