prophets and kings-第42章
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When they reached the house； Elisha went into the room where the dead child lay； 〃and shut the door upon them twain； and prayed unto the Lord。 And he went up； and lay upon the child； and put his mouth upon his mouth； and his eyes upon his eyes； and his hands upon his hands： and he stretched himself upon the child； and the flesh of the child waxed warm。 Then he returned； and walked in the house to and fro； and went up； and stretched himself upon him： and the child sneezed seven times； and the child opened his eyes。〃
Calling Gehazi； Elisha bade him send the mother to him。 〃And when she was come in unto him； he said； Take up thy son。 Then he went in； and fell at his feet； and bowed herself to the ground； and took up her son； and went out。〃
So was the faith of this woman rewarded。 Christ； the great Life…giver； restored her son to her。 In like manner will His faithful ones be rewarded； when； at His coming； death loses its sting and the grave is robbed of the victory it has claimed。 Then will He restore to His servants the children that have been taken from them by death。 〃Thus saith the Lord； A voice was heard in Ramah； lamentation； and bitter weeping； Rachel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children； because they were not。 Thus saith the Lord； Refrain thy voice from weeping； and thine eyes from tears： for thy work shall be rewarded； 。 。 。 and they shall come again from the land of the enemy。 And there is hope in thine end； saith the Lord； that thy children shall come again to their own border。〃 Jeremiah 31：15…17。
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Jesus comforts our sorrow for the dead with a message of infinite hope： 〃I will ransom them from the power of the grave； I will redeem them from death： O death； I will be thy plagues； O grave； I will be thy destruction。〃 Hosea 13：14。 〃I am He that liveth； and was dead； and； behold； I am alive for evermore； 。 。 。 and have the keys of hell and of death。〃 Revelation 1：18。 〃The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout； with the voice of the Archangel； and with the trump of God： and the dead in Christ shall rise first： then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds； to meet the Lord in the air： and so shall we ever be with the Lord。〃 1 Thessalonians 4：16； 17。
Like the Saviour of mankind； of whom he was a type； Elisha in his ministry among men combined the work of healing with that of teaching。 Faithfully； untiringly； throughout his long and effective labors； Elisha endeavored to foster and advance the important educational work carried on by the schools of the prophets。 In the providence of God his words of instruction to the earnest groups of young men assembled were confirmed by the deep movings of the Holy Spirit； and at times by other unmistakable evidences of his authority as a servant of Jehovah。
It was on the occasion of one of his visits to the school established at Gilgal that he healed the poisoned pottage。 〃There was a dearth in the land； and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him： and he said unto his servant； Set on the great pot； and seethe pottage for the sons of the prophets。 And one went out into the field to gather herbs； and found a wild vine； and gathered thereof wild gourds
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his lap full； and came and shred them into the pot of pottage： for they knew them not。 So they poured out for the men to eat。 And it came to pass； as they were eating of the pottage； that they cried out； and said； O thou man of God； there is death in the pot。 And they could not eat thereof。 But he said； Then bring meal。 And he cast it into the pot； and he said； Pour out for the people； that they may eat。 And there was no harm in the pot。〃
At Gilgal； also； while the dearth was still in the land； Elisha fed one hundred men with the present brought to him by 〃a man from Baalshalisha；〃 〃bread of the first fruits； twenty loaves of barley； and full ears of corn in the husk thereof。〃 There were those with him who were sorely in need of food。 When the offering came； he said to his servant； 〃Give unto the people； that they may eat。 And his servitor said； What； should I set this before an hundred men？ He said again； Give the people； that they may eat： for thus saith the Lord； They shall eat； and shall leave thereof。 So he set it before them； and they did eat； and left thereof； according to the word of the Lord。〃
What condescension it was on the part of Christ； through His messenger； to work this miracle to satisfy hunger！ Again and again since that time； though not always in so marked and perceptible a manner； has the Lord Jesus worked to supply human need。 If we had clearer spiritual discernment we would recognize more readily than we do God's compassionate dealing with the children of men。
It is the grace of God on the small portion that makes it all…sufficient。 God's hand can multiply it a hundredfold。
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From His resources He can spread a table in the wilderness。 By the touch of His hand He can increase the scanty provision and make it sufficient for all。 It was His power that increased the loaves and corn in the hands of the sons of the prophets。
In the days of Christ's earthly ministry； when He performed a similar miracle in feeding the multitudes； the same unbelief was manifested as was shown by those associated
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with the prophet of old。 〃What！〃 said Elisha's servant； 〃should I set this before an hundred men？〃 And when Jesus bade His disciples give the multitude to eat； they answered； 〃We have no more but five loaves and two fishes； except we should go and buy meat for all this people。〃 Luke 9：13。 What is that among so many？
The lesson is for God's children in every age。 When the Lord gives a work to be done； let not men stop to inquire into the reasonableness of the command or the probable result of their efforts to obey。 The supply in their hands may seem to fall short of the need to be filled； but in the hands of the Lord it will prove more than sufficient。 The servitor 〃set it before them； and they did eat； and left thereof； according to the word of the Lord。〃
A fuller sense of God's relationship to those whom He has purchased with the gift of His Son； a greater faith in the onward progress of His cause in the earththis is the great need of the church today。 Let none waste time in deploring the scantiness of their visible resources。 The outward appearance may be unpromising； but energy and trust in God will develop resources。 The gift brought to Him with thanksgiving and with prayer for His blessing； He will multiply as He multiplied the food given to the sons of the prophets and to the weary multitude。
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Chapter 20
Naaman
〃Now Naaman； captain of the host of the king of Syria； was a great man with his master； and honorable； because by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria： he was also a mighty man in valor； but he was a leper。〃
Ben…hadad； king of Syria； had defeated the armies of Israel in the battle which resulted in the death of Ahab。 Since that time the Syrians had maintained against Israel a constant border warfare； and in one of their raids they had carried away a little maid who； in the land of her captivity； 〃waited on Naaman's wife。〃 A slave； far from her home； this little maid was nevertheless one of God's witnesses； unconsciously fulfilling the purpose for which God had chosen Israel as His people。 As she ministered in that heathen home； her sympathies were aroused in behalf of her master； and； remembering the wonderful miracles of
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healing wrought through Elisha； she said to her mistress； 〃Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria！ for he would recover him of his leprosy。〃 She knew that the power of Heaven was with Elisha； and she believed that by this power Naaman could be healed。
The conduct of the captive maid； the way that she bore herself in that heathen home； is a s
