The God who gives life

This is one of the more interesting, if short, stories that we see in scripture. 

After Elisha had died and was buried, the Israelites continued to have problems with their neighbors, in this case, raiding bands from Moab.

As a group of men were burying one of their friends, one of these raiding bands came and in their hurry to get away, these men threw their friend into the first available tomb. 

It just so happened to be Elisha’s.  And when the dead man touched Elisha’s bones, he revived.

At a guess, God was trying to send a message to Jehoash and all of Israel, that he was the God who lives.  And even if his servant Elisha was dead, God wasn’t and was still working. 

Not only that, he was the God who gives life to the dead.

And although Israel was perishing in their sins, and suffering from oppression from the Arameans, and their surrounding neighbors, God had the power to give life to them. 

All they had to do was turn to him. 

Unfortunately, there is no sign that the Israelites in the northern kingdom ever did turn.  Things went from bad to worse as we will see.

But God says the same to us. 

We may be stuck in a bad situation because of our sin, but if we turn to him and repent, he has the power to give life.  All we have to do is turn. 

Let us not be stubborn as the kings of Israel were. 

Rather, let us humble ourselves, pray, seek his face, and turn from our wicked ways.  And he will heal us.