IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Elisha Raises a Dead Boy to Life

Date: Mar. 6, 2019

Passage

2 Kings 4:18-37 (ESV)

18 When the child had grown, he went out one day to his father among the reapers. 19 And he said to his father, “Oh, my head, my head!” The father said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.” 20 And when he had lifted him and brought him to his mother, the child sat on her lap till noon, and then he died. 21 And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God and shut the door behind him and went out. 22 Then she called to her husband and said, “Send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may quickly go to the man of God and come back again.” 23 And he said, “Why will you go to him today? It is neither new moon nor Sabbath.” She said, “All is well.” 24 Then she saddled the donkey, and she said to her servant, “Urge the animal on; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you.” 25 So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel.

When the man of God saw her coming, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Look, there is the Shunammite. 26 Run at once to meet her and say to her, ‘Is all well with you? Is all well with your husband? Is all well with the child?’” And she answered, “All is well.” 27 And when she came to the mountain to the man of God, she caught hold of his feet. And Gehazi came to push her away. But the man of God said, “Leave her alone, for she is in bitter distress, and the LORD has hidden it from me and has not told me.” 28 Then she said, “Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive me?’” 29 He said to Gehazi, “Tie up your garment and take my staff in your hand and go. If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not reply. And lay my staff on the face of the child.” 30 Then the mother of the child said, “As the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So he arose and followed her. 31 Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the face of the child, but there was no sound or sign of life. Therefore he returned to meet him and told him, “The child has not awakened.”

32 When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed. 33 So he went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the LORD. 34 Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm. 35 Then he got up again and walked once back and forth in the house, and went up and stretched himself upon him. The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36 Then he summoned Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite.” So he called her. And when she came to him, he said, “Pick up your son.” 37 She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 4:33

So he went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the LORD.

1. A mother's prayer to resurrect her dead son (18-30)

One day the woman's son went to the field with his father and suffered a heat stroke. They brought him to his mother and he died on her lap. She did not give up. She laid him down on the bed she prepared for Elisha. With resurrection faith, she saddled a donkey, went to Elisha and did not leave him until he returned with her to her dead son's side. It was her prayer to resurrect her dead son. A mother prays for her children in spite of the reality of their condition and puts her hope in God to raise them up.

2. Elisha's prayer to resurrect a dead boy (31-37)

Out of his shepherd heart, Elisha earnestly wanted to restore her son. He had sent his staff with his servant Gehazi ahead of him to lay on the boy, but it did not work. When Elisha arrived at the room, he shut the door, leaving the others outside. Then he prayed for the boy to be resurrected, demonstrating his battle of prayer for this boy's life. Twice he lay on him and breathed his spirit into him, and the boy awoke and was returned to his mother. Their fervent prayers were heard.

Prayer: Prayer: Lord, help me to pray for spiritually dead sons and daughters to be resurrected in Jesus by his Spirit.

One Word: God hears a mother's prayer and a shepherd's prayer to resurrect a dead youth

Daily Bread

King Manasseh’s Sin

2 Kings 21:1-26

Key Verse: 21:7

And the carved image of Asherah that he had made he set in the house of which the LORD said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever.

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