Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 8
It seems clear that God was constantly doing wonderful things in answer to Elisha’s prayers. The Bible gives just a few accounts of how God acted in power at this time (compare John 21:25). The people saw that God truly had appointed Elisha as a prophet (holy man) in Israel (5:8). For that reason, Elisha is frequently called ‘a man of God’ (for example, 2 Kings 8:2) – in other words, a man who does God’s work.
Elisha seemed not to desire attention for these powerful events. Many of them happened in private (4:32). However, Gehazi had been his servant. So he was able to tell King Joram about events that few other people knew about.
Perhaps the most astonishing of these events was how the dead boy became alive again (4:18-37). Joram could easily have thought that Gehazi was making up an untrue story in order to impress him. However, on this occasion, God himself provided evidence that this event really had happened.
As Gehazi spoke about this incident, the mother of the boy came herself to make her appeal to the king. She had brought her son with her. Gehazi recognised them and, at once, he introduced her to Joram. So Joram asked her questions, to test whether Gehazi had spoken the truth.
Joram accepted that her account was true. He supported her appeal for the return of her house and land. He even ordered her to receive the income from the land for the time that she had been abroad.
Clearly, this event impressed Joram greatly – but it did not change his attitudes. He did not turn back to God. If he had done, God’s judgment against him would not have happened (Ezekiel 18:21-23). However, the next thing that we shall read about him, is that judgment (2 Kings chapter 9).
Next part: God sends Elisha abroad, to Damascus (2 Kings 8:7)
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