The next several articles (starting with this one) continue a study on the prophets of Elijah and Elisha. However, with Elijah carried up to heaven in the previous studies from 2 Kings 2:1-18, we’re on to the ministry of Elisha. Specifically, this next mini-series covers several miracles that God performed through Elisha.
It has been pointed out that more miracles are recorded at the hand of Elisha than his predecessor Elijah. Some attribute this to the “double portion” of Elijah’s spirit that Elisha requested (see 2 Kings 2:9-10), although that request might have been more focused on Elisha being Elijah’s successor or spiritual “heir”, rather than just having a higher “miracle count”.
Let’s also remember that miracles aren’t done for no reason, so let’s look for the purpose of the miracles that we read about over the next several articles. I propose that some key reasons why God intervenes in His creation – outside of the normal laws of physics, probability, and people – include the following:
- Showing people that He is real.
- Showing people what He is like, including His character, His nature, and His power.
- Confirming His message, given through His messengers.
- Inspiring people to turn to Him.
- And, sometimes testing – or demonstrating – the faith of those who receive the benefit of those miracles, especially when they are asked to do something unusual as part of the process.
I think that we can look at miracles in this way (i.e., trying to understand their purpose) throughout the Bible. This goes all the way back to Creation, and includes the miracles performed through Jesus and His disciples.
Our first passage is right after the account of Elijah’s being taken to heaven, and Elisha getting talked into letting 50 men go out and search for his former master (see 2 Kings 2:15-18). They didn’t find anything, and Elisha told them, essentially, “I told you so”.
The people of the city said to Elisha, “Look, our lord, this town is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive.”
“Bring me a new bowl,” he said, “and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him.
Then he went out to the spring and threw the salt into it, saying, “This is what the LORD says: ‘I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.’ ” And the water has remained pure to this day, according to the word Elisha had spoken.
2 Kings 2:19-22 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/2ki.2.19-22.NIV
I’m not sure how much time passed after the previous account of Elijah going to heaven with a “chariot of fire” (although this might have happened right away). Regardless, I suspect that Elisha was still in Jericho when the people approached him about the water. Apparently, the land and water were somewhat toxic, whether not producing good crops, or – depending on the translation – perhaps leading to wider fertility problems (i.e., for the women and/or livestock who partook of the food and water in the region).
In fact, a commentator (Long, p. 295-296) suggested that the land may have still been under a curse from Joshua (see Joshua 6:26), since Jericho had been rebuilt despite his curse.
I suspect that the people of the land had a practice of asking prophets of God for help, and since Elisha had not only worked with Elijah for some years, but he had also crossed back over the Jordan River in the same miraculous way that Elijah did previously, there was evidence that the power of God was with Elisha. Asking for help can be good, but it makes sense to ask someone who can actually help!
Now, I’m not sure what the people expected Elisha to do, but his instructions seem a little unusual: bringing a new bowl or jar with salt. Normally, I think that salting the land ruins its ability to grow crops, but with God all things are possible (see Matthew 19.26, Mark 10:27).
Elisha threw the salt into the spring, gave credit to God for healing the waters, and the results were more than just temporary. This wasn’t just a short-term balancing of the land’s pH, or anything like that. It wasn’t a quick fix just until Elisha left town. No, when God worked to heal the waters, He did so permanently (or at least until the book of 2 Kings was written).
So, why did God work here? I think that we can go back to the usual reasons for miracles: It showed that He is powerful, it helped His people, and it confirmed that Elisha was a man of God (so the people should listen to any word from the Lord that Elisha shared with them).
We’re off to a good start in looking at miracles performed through Elijah, but there are more. For today, though, consider that sometimes God works in ways we don’t expect. Let’s not miss out on His “next big thing” just because we were looking in the wrong place!
From Sunday School lesson prepared for June 8, 2025
References:
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – 1 & 2 Kings, by Jesse C. Long, Jr. © 2002 College Press Publishing Co.
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