Elijah and Elisha: Exploring Differences, Similarities, and the Reward of Prophets

Elijah and Elisha, two of God's chosen prophets, are renowned for their extraordinary deeds. Their lives were marked by divine intervention and powerful acts that showcased the might of the Almighty.

Elijah, known for his fiery character, caused a drought in Israel, called down fire from heaven on Mount Carmel, and prayed for rain's return. He even raised a widow's son from the dead. His ministry lasted around 10-15 years, and he lived a solitary life, often in the wilderness. Elijah's remarkable journey concluded with a dramatic whirlwind ascent to heaven.

Elisha, on the other hand, was characterized by compassion and approachability. He multiplied a widow's oil, healed Naaman of leprosy, and fed a hundred men with only twenty loaves of bread. Elisha's prophetic career spanned around 50-60 years, and he interacted with both kings and common people, making his ministry a more social one. Elisha's life ended with his death due to illness, but even in death, his bones held a miraculous power, bringing another man back to life.

The stories of Elijah and Elisha not only showcase their extraordinary gifts but also reveal the depth of their faith and their unwavering commitment to serving God. Here is a snapshot of their lives comparing the two prophets.

I'd like to explore two narratives that exhibit remarkable similarities, as well as two narratives that distinctly contrast each other. Let's commence with the accounts involving both prophets' miraculous resurrections of deceased sons.

Similar Stories - Raising Dead Sons:

Elijah's Miracle - The Widow's Son (1 Kings 17:17-24): In this account, during a severe drought, Elijah encounters a widow in Zarephath whose son becomes seriously ill and eventually dies. Elijah takes the boy, prays to God, and stretches himself out on the child three times, resulting in the child's miraculous resurrection.

1 Kings 17:17-24 (NIV):

17 Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing. 18 She said to Elijah, "What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?" 19 "Give me your son," Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed. 20 Then he cried out to the Lord, "Lord my God, have you brought tragedy even on this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?" 21 Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried out to the Lord, "Lord my God, let this boy's life return to him!" 22 The Lord heard Elijah's cry, and the boy's life returned to him, and he lived. 23 Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, "Look, your son is alive!" 24 Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth."

Elisha's Miracle - The Shunammite Woman's Son (2 Kings 4:32-37): Elisha stays at the house of a Shunammite woman who had been blessed with a son through Elisha's prophetic word. Tragically, the child dies, and the Shunammite woman seeks Elisha's help. Elisha prays, stretches himself out on the child, and the boy sneezes seven times, coming back to life. This story underscores Elisha's similar gift of resurrecting the dead.

2 Kings 4:32-37 (NIV):

32 When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch. 33 He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed to the Lord. 34 Then he got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he stretched himself out on him, the boy's body grew warm. 35 Elisha turned away and walked back and forth in the room and then got on the bed and stretched out on him once more. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes. 36 Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, "Call the Shunammite." And he did. When she came, he said, "Take your son." 37 She came in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground. Then she took her son and went out.

Here's a side-by-side chart highlighting the similarities in the two stories of Elijah and Elisha raising dead sons:

Both stories share several key similarities, such as the child's dire condition, the prophets' physical contact with the dead child, and their earnest prayer to God. The ultimate outcome in both cases is the miraculous revival of the deceased child, which reinforces the prophets' divine calling and authority and Glorifies God.

Contrasting Stories about their deaths - Ascension vs. Death with a Posthumous Miracle:

Elijah's Ascension (2 Kings): In a dramatic and unique departure from the earthly realm, Elijah is taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, directly ascending without experiencing physical death. His ascension symbolizes a supernatural transition and God's special favor and divine intervention in the life of the prophet Elijah.

2 Kings 2:11 (NIV):

11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.

Elisha's Posthumous Miracle (2 Kings 13:20-21): In a posthumous miracle, Elisha, after his death, indirectly revives a man. When a dead man is hastily buried in Elisha's tomb, his body touches Elisha's bones, and he is brought back to life. This story highlights the enduring connection between Elisha's earthly remains and God's power.

The Bible does not provide a detailed account of Elisha's death, but it briefly mentions his passing. Here is the relevant scripture:

2 Kings 13:20-21 (NIV):

20 Elisha died and was buried. Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. 21 Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet.

This passage briefly notes Elisha's death and burial. It also describes an extraordinary posthumous miracle, where a dead man was revived when his body came into contact with Elisha's bones.

These stories illustrate the remarkable similarities and differences between the two prophets, showing their shared ability to raise the dead and their contrasting fates, one ascending to heaven without death and the other continuing to impact lives even after his demise.

"Elijah's ascension and Elisha's posthumous miracle exemplify the profound ways in which God works through His chosen vessels."

A Prophets reward? Are you familiar with the scripture that discusses the blessings and rewards received when one welcomes a prophet and the concept of a "prophet's reward"? (Please refer to my article, "Identifying & Understand Real Prophets Today while Safeguarding Against the False Ones", which dives into the recognition of prophets based on scriptural guidance, as well as the importance of identifying false prophets.)

Matthew 10:41 (NIV):

"Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward."

The verse "He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward" conveys the idea that we can share in the reward of God's servants by supporting them in their work. While the specific nature of this reward isn't detailed in the Scriptures, the examples provided, such as the miraculous resurrection of the two dead sons, offer profound insights into the magnitude and characteristics of this reward.

The examples of the two mothers receiving the lives of their dead sons as a reward demonstrate that God's rewards can be incredibly significant and supernatural. In these instances, the reward was nothing less than the restoration of life itself. Such a gift is beyond human capability without the power of God.

Possibly, the reward may be as straightforward as that, and it can manifest in various aspects of our lives, such as our health, spiritual journey, financial well-being, or even our relationships, including marriage.

I firmly believe, without a shadow of a doubt, that the prophet's reward has the power to bring life to the dormant or seemingly lifeless areas in our own lives. My belief in this concept is firmly rooted in the examples and the contextual narratives within these stories. What I'm emphasizing is that the reward is of considerable magnitude, life-sustaining, and profoundly transformative, and most likely supernatural.

These examples teach us that God's rewards, though not always tangible or immediately apparent, are indeed incredibly huge in their scope, supernatural in their nature, and heartfelt in their impact. They demonstrate God's unfailing love and the miraculous power He bestows upon those who honor and support His servants, emphasizing that the rewards of faith are rich, meaningful, and transcendent.

This article reveals numerous layers of insight, emphasizing the importance of respecting and honoring the prophets. It underscores why a deep study of these biblical figures in the Word of God is crucial. Discerning between the authentic and the deceptive is a skill we must cultivate, as discussed in the referenced article above. Our path to knowledge and understanding hinges on the continuous process of studying, listening, and, in my case, writing.

Amanda Allen

www.KingdomRevelations.com