17. ELISHA
Elisha was a prophet in Israel for about twenty years, 850 years
before the birth of Jesus. Stories were told against the political events which
took place in Israel in that time.
THE CALL OF ELISHA. Elisha was a farmer who was working in the field
plowing with twelve yoke of oxen when the prophet Elijah came to him
and threw his mantle over him. This meant that Elijah had authority over
Elisha. Elisha slaughtered the oxen, cooked a meal, and gave it to the people
to eat. After saying goodbye to his parents, he followed Elijah as his helper.
THE WIDOW'S OIL. A poor widow was in great debt and would have to sell
her two sons as slaves as payment for the debt. She asked Elisha for help as
all that she had was a jug of oil. He told her to gather as many containers as
possible. She was then told to pour the little oil she had into the containers.
After all the containers were full of oil, the prophet told her to sell the
oil. She sold the oil and had enough money not only to pay her debt but also
for her and her two sons to live on.
NAAMAN IS HEALED. Naaman was a leper and also the Syrian army commander
who was told that the prophet Elisha could cure him. He travelled to Israel to
seek Elisha's cure. He objected when told by the prophet to bathe seven times
in the Jordan River. He was finally persuaded to do what the prophet told him,
and he was cured. Naaman returned to his own country believing in the God of
Israel.
Elisha was a farmer called by Elijah to become a prophet. He made the
water pure to drink, helped a widow save her two sons, and cured Naaman of his
leprosy. He helped the people in many ways.
