If Elijah was the prophet of fire, then Elisha was the prophet of miracles. Where Elijah confronted kings and called down judgment, Elisha healed the sick, multiplied food, raised the dead, and demonstrated God’s compassionate power to the marginalized and forgotten. His ministry was marked by twice as many recorded miracles as his mentor—a testament to the “double portion” anointing he received.
Yet Elisha’s greatness wasn’t instant. He was a humble farmer when God called him, a faithful servant before he became a powerful prophet. His life teaches us that God doesn’t just use the naturally gifted—He empowers the faithful, the obedient, and those who hunger for more of His Spirit.
From parting rivers to multiplying oil, from healing lepers to raising the dead, Elisha’s story is a breathtaking display of what happens when an ordinary person walks in extraordinary faith.
Join us as we explore the life and miracles of Elisha—the man who proved that God’s power knows no limits when we surrender completely to His will.
Who Was Elisha the Prophet?
From Plowman to Prophet (1 Kings 19:19-21)
Elisha’s calling came suddenly. He was plowing a field with twelve yoke of oxen when the great prophet Elijah passed by and threw his mantle over him. This wasn’t just a gesture—it was a divine commission.
Elisha immediately understood. He asked permission to say goodbye to his parents, then made a decisive break from his old life:
“He took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.” — 1 Kings 19:21 (NKJV)
Elisha burned the bridges to his former life. There was no Plan B. He was all in.
The Humble Successor to Elijah
For years, Elisha served Elijah faithfully. He didn’t demand a platform or seek recognition. He poured water on Elijah’s hands (2 Kings 3:11)—a phrase indicating he served as Elijah’s personal attendant.
True ministry begins with servanthood. Elisha learned humility, obedience, and dependence on God before he ever performed a single miracle.
Receiving the Double Portion: Elisha’s Anointing
“Let a Double Portion of Your Spirit Be Upon Me” (2 Kings 2:9)
As Elijah’s time on earth drew to a close, he asked Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?”
Elisha’s request was bold:
“Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” — 2 Kings 2:9 (NKJV)
This was not greed—it was holy hunger. In ancient inheritance customs, the firstborn son received a double portion. Elisha was asking to be Elijah’s spiritual heir, to carry on and even exceed his mentor’s ministry.
Elijah responded: “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so.”
The Mantle of Elijah Falls
When the chariot of fire separated them and Elijah was taken up in a whirlwind, Elisha tore his own clothes and picked up Elijah’s fallen mantle (2 Kings 2:12-13).
That mantle represented the anointing, the authority, and the power of God. And Elisha was ready to carry it.
Twice the Miracles, Twice the Faith
The Bible records approximately 16 miracles performed by Elisha—exactly double the number attributed to Elijah. His request for a double portion was granted. When we hunger for God’s power with pure motives, He abundantly supplies.
Elisha’s First Miracles: Establishing His Ministry
Parting the Jordan River (2 Kings 2:13-14)
Elisha’s first act as prophet was to strike the Jordan River with Elijah’s mantle and cry out:
“Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” — 2 Kings 2:14 (NKJV)
The waters parted. The sons of the prophets watching from Jericho declared: “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.”
This miracle confirmed that God’s power was not limited to Elijah—it rested on whoever walked in faith and obedience.
Healing the Bitter Waters of Jericho (2 Kings 2:19-22)
The men of Jericho came to Elisha with a problem: their water was bad, and the land was unfruitful. Elisha asked for a new bowl with salt, threw it into the spring, and declared:
“Thus says the Lord: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.'” — 2 Kings 2:21 (NKJV)
The water was healed permanently. God not only performs miracles—He restores and redeems.
The Bears and Mocking Youths (2 Kings 2:23-25)
When a group of young men mocked Elisha, saying “Go up, you baldhead!” (a contemptuous reference to Elijah’s ascension), Elisha pronounced a curse in the name of the Lord. Two female bears came out of the woods and mauled 42 of them.
This sobering event demonstrates that mocking God’s anointed servants is not a trivial matter. God defends His own.
The Widow’s Oil: God’s Provision Multiplied
A Desperate Widow’s Cry (2 Kings 4:1-7)
A widow came to Elisha in desperation. Her husband, a prophet, had died, leaving her in debt. Creditors were coming to take her two sons as slaves.
Elisha asked, “What do you have in your house?”
She replied: “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.”
The Miracle of Endless Oil
Elisha instructed her to borrow as many empty vessels as possible from her neighbors, shut the door, and begin pouring her small jar of oil into them.
As she poured, the oil multiplied miraculously, filling every vessel. It only stopped when there were no more containers.
Elisha then told her:
“Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.” — 2 Kings 4:7 (NKJV)
God’s Economy: From Nothing to Abundance
This miracle teaches us:
- God works with what we have, no matter how small.
- Our limitation is not God’s limitation.
- Obedience and faith unlock divine provision.
The widow’s faith and obedience turned a single jar of oil into financial freedom.
The Shunammite Woman: Reward, Loss, and Resurrection
A Room Built for the Man of God (2 Kings 4:8-17)
A wealthy woman from Shunem regularly provided food and lodging for Elisha. She even built a special room for him on her roof.
Elisha wanted to bless her in return. Through his servant Gehazi, he learned she had no son, and her husband was old. Elisha prophesied:
“About this time next year you shall embrace a son.” — 2 Kings 4:16 (NKJV)
The Promise of a Son Fulfilled
Despite her initial disbelief, the promise came to pass. The barren woman conceived and bore a son, just as Elisha had said.
Death Strikes—And Life Returns (2 Kings 4:18-37)
Years later, the boy suddenly fell ill in the field and died in his mother’s arms. Heartbroken yet faithful, she immediately sought Elisha.
Elisha went to the house, prayed, and stretched himself upon the child. The boy’s body grew warm. Elisha walked back and forth, then stretched himself on the child again.
“Then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.” — 2 Kings 4:35 (NKJV)
The dead was raised to life. This mother’s faith and Elisha’s intercession brought a resurrection miracle.
“Where Is the Lord God of Elijah?”—Answered in Elisha
This miracle echoes Elijah’s raising of the widow’s son at Zarephath. The same God who worked through Elijah was now working through Elisha—with even greater frequency.
Feeding 100 Men with 20 Loaves
The Miracle of Multiplication (2 Kings 4:42-44)
During a time of famine, a man brought Elisha 20 loaves of barley bread and some fresh grain. Elisha commanded his servant to feed 100 men with it.
The servant protested: “What? Shall I set this before one hundred men?”
But Elisha declared:
“Thus says the Lord: ‘They shall eat and have some left over.'” — 2 Kings 4:43 (NKJV)
And so it was—they ate, and there was food left over.
A Foreshadowing of Jesus Feeding the Multitudes
This miracle prefigures Jesus feeding the 5,000 (and later the 4,000). God’s provision transcends natural limitations. When we give what we have to God, He multiplies it beyond our expectations.
Naaman’s Healing: Cleansing from Leprosy
A Syrian Commander Seeks the God of Israel (2 Kings 5:1-14)
Naaman, a great commander of the Syrian army, suffered from leprosy. A young Israelite servant girl told him about the prophet in Samaria who could heal him.
Naaman came to Elisha’s house with gifts, expecting a grand spectacle. Instead, Elisha didn’t even come out to meet him. He simply sent a messenger with instructions:
“Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.” — 2 Kings 5:10 (NKJV)
“Wash Seven Times in the Jordan”
Naaman was furious. “Are not the rivers of Damascus better than all the waters of Israel?” he protested.
But his servants wisely counseled him: “If the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”
Humility, Obedience, and Complete Healing
Naaman humbled himself, dipped in the Jordan seven times, and:
“His flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.” — 2 Kings 5:14 (NKJV)
Miracles require obedience, even when God’s instructions seem simple or illogical.
Naaman then declared:
“Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel.” — 2 Kings 5:15 (NKJV)
Gehazi’s Greed and Judgment (2 Kings 5:15-27)
Sadly, Elisha’s servant Gehazi ran after Naaman and deceitfully asked for money and clothing. As a result, Naaman’s leprosy clung to Gehazi and his descendants.
This sobering lesson reminds us: Integrity matters. God’s gifts are not for sale.
The Floating Axe Head: Power Over Natural Laws
A Borrowed Axe and a Desperate Need (2 Kings 6:1-7)
The sons of the prophets were building a new dwelling when one man’s borrowed axe head fell into the Jordan River. He cried out in distress: “Alas, master! For it was borrowed.”
Elisha asked where it fell, cut off a stick, threw it into the water, and the iron axe head floated to the surface.
God Cares About the Small Things
This may seem like a minor miracle, but it reveals God’s compassionate attention to the everyday struggles of His people. He cares about our debts, our losses, and our needs—no matter how small.
Elisha and the Syrian Army: Eyes Opened
Surrounded by Enemies, Protected by Angels (2 Kings 6:8-17)
When the king of Syria sent an army to capture Elisha, his servant woke up and saw the city surrounded by horses and chariots. He cried out in fear.
Elisha calmly replied:
“Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” — 2 Kings 6:16 (NKJV)
Then Elisha prayed:
“Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” — 2 Kings 6:17 (NKJV)
“Those Who Are with Us Are More Than Those Who Are with Them”
Suddenly, the servant saw the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha.
The spiritual realm is more real than the physical. God’s angelic armies protect His servants.
Blinding and Leading the Enemy
Elisha then prayed for the Syrian army to be struck with blindness. He led them straight to Samaria, where their eyes were opened—and the king of Israel showed them mercy.
God’s power is not only for destruction—it’s for mercy, deliverance, and revelation.
The Final Miracle: Even Elisha’s Bones Brought Life
Death Could Not Stop God’s Power (2 Kings 13:20-21)
After Elisha died and was buried, a group of Israelites were burying a man when they saw a raiding party. In haste, they threw the corpse into Elisha’s tomb.
“And when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.” — 2 Kings 13:21 (NKJV)
A Dead Man Raised by Touching Elisha’s Bones
Even in death, the anointing on Elisha’s life brought resurrection. This is a stunning reminder that God’s power doesn’t end with our earthly lives.
Timeless Lessons from Elisha’s Ministry
Faithfulness Leads to Greater Anointing
Elisha served faithfully before he led powerfully. God promotes those who are faithful in the small things.
God Uses Ordinary People for Extraordinary Miracles
Elisha was a farmer—not a priest, not royalty. God delights in using ordinary, surrendered vessels.
Compassion and Power Go Hand in Hand
Elisha’s miracles weren’t just displays of power—they were acts of love, provision, healing, and restoration.
God’s Resources Are Limitless
From multiplying oil to raising the dead, Elisha’s life proves that nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37).
How to Walk in Elisha-Like Faith Today
Ask for a “Double Portion” of God’s Spirit
Don’t settle for mediocrity. Hunger for more of God’s presence and power in your life (Matthew 5:6).
Serve Faithfully Before You Lead Publicly
Embrace the season of servanthood. God prepares leaders in the hidden places before bringing them into the spotlight.
Believe God for the Impossible
Step out in faith. God’s power is activated by obedience, not by understanding.
Conclusion: The Legacy of the Miracle Worker
Elisha’s life is a breathtaking testimony to the limitless power of a God who works through surrendered servants. He healed the sick, raised the dead, multiplied resources, and demonstrated that God’s compassion is as infinite as His power.
Yet the greatest miracle wasn’t the floating axe or the endless oil—it was the transformation of a humble plowman into a mighty prophet of the Most High.
Will you ask God for a “double portion” of His Spirit? Will you serve faithfully in the hidden seasons? Will you believe Him for the impossible?
The same God who worked through Elisha is alive, active, and ready to move through you.
🙏 Pray with Us
“Lord, like Elisha, I hunger for more of Your Spirit. Give me a double portion of Your power, not for my glory, but to serve others and demonstrate Your love. Help me be faithful in the small things, believe You for the impossible, and walk in the miracles You have prepared for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”