Day 27 of 90 - 2 Kings 10 - 2 Kings 20

Day 27 - COMPLETE!

On Day 27, we read 2 Kings 10-2 Kings 20, and I was completely struck by the way Elisha died. Why? Because he was a miracle worker. Elisha had a double portion from Elijah, and he did double the miracles Elijah did. Elijah performed 8 miracles. Elisha performed 16. Here is a quick list.

Elisha divided the waters in the Jordan river 2 Kings 2:14
Elisha healed from waters at the spring of Jericho 2 Kings 2:21
Elisha destroyed the mockers by bears from the woods 2 Kings 2:24
Elisha provided water for kings 2 Kings 3:20
Elisha provided oil for the widow 2 Kings 4:1-4
Elisha gave a gift of a son in 2 Kings 4:16-17
Elisha raised a child from the dead 2 Kings 4:35
Elisha provided healing from the pottage 2 Kings 4:41
Elisha multiplied bread miraculously (2 Kings 4:43)
Elisha healed Naaman (2 Kings 5:10)
Elisha had Gehazi smitten (2 Kings 5:27)
Elisha caused the iron to swim (2 Kings 6:6)
Elisha provided sight to the blind (2 Kings 6:17)
Elisha smites men with blindness (2 Kings 6:18)
Elisha restores the sight of these same men (2 Kings 6:20)
Elisha does a miracle after his death, and a man comes to life by touching Elisha’s bones (2 Kings 13:21)

So Elisha worked 16 miracles, but scripture tells us he became sick and died. The reason this blessed me is because I believe that sometimes, we assume those who are saved don’t get sick. Or, we assume that those who are sick, are sick because of sin. This is nothing new. The disciples made the same assumptions with the blind man in John 5 when they asked “who did sin? This man or his parents that he was born blind?” And Jesus says “no one sinned.” Elisha didn’t die because he was sinning. He died because he was done. He fulfilled everything God had him in the earth to do, and in the same reading today, we saw how God extended the life of Hezekiah but allowed Elisha to transition. Why? Because we all have an appointment, and transitioning into heaven isn’t a penalty; it’s a reward.

Today, I pray for those who are wrestling with questions of faith because they are experiencing sickness or a loved one is seeking answers. I pray that this will be consolation for someone. That it matters not what we die of; it matters who we die in. May our prayer be “Lord, don’t let me just die old…let me die FINISHED.” I pray that we complete the purposes for which he called us, and that every ounce of his will, his plan, and his intention for our lives will be rung out of us like a rag, until we hear Jesus say “Well Done.”