The Old Testament book of 2 Kings blesses us with a series of inspiring stories from chapter 4. It is a story surrounding the prophet Elisha and there are amazing lessons to learn and opportunities for prayer from the stories. There are three stories and all three contain the supernatural acts of God. A reference that tells us that miracles are not a New Testament phenomenon but a simple part of God’s revelation to humanity.

The most notable of the stories is about a woman who is widowed and discovers her husband has left her with debts and the creditors are circling and would like to enslave her sons. Elisha listens and offers a solution, the woman provides the materials for the miracle but it is God who ultimately performs the miracle. She and her children are provided for and God’s miraculous provision restores the family. 

The second story centers around a woman who couldn’t conceive and give birth. She was generous with her resources to Elisha the prophet and God blessed her with a child. Sadly the child died as a young boy but Elisha came and God used him to bring life back into the child. 

The last story centers around our ability to see beyond our present realities with an eye of faith against reality. It was a time of famine when food was scarce. Elisha commands a feast but unfortunately a poisonous plant was cooked among the stews and the food was ruined. When people began to feel unwell Elisha added some flour to the mixture and the poison was eradicated. Elisha then takes bread provided and uses it to feed hundreds of people and God performs a miracle and there was plenty of bread  left over.

We are going to use these stories reflectively for our prayers today.