What other biblical stories show God's power over life and death? The Child’s Cry: 2 Kings 4:19 “My head! My head!”. The Shunammite boy collapses in a field, dies on his mother’s lap, and is later restored to life through Elisha (vv. 32-35). This scene opens a window into God’s unrivaled authority over life and death. Scripture echoes that authority in many other moments: Echoes of Resurrection in the Old Testament • 1 Kings 17:17-24 – Elijah and the Widow’s Son • “O LORD my God, let this boy’s life return to him!” (v. 21). • Breath returns; the mother exclaims, “Now I know that you are a man of God.” • 2 Kings 13:20-21 – The Man Revived at Elisha’s Tomb • A corpse tossed into the prophet’s grave touches his bones and “revived and stood up.” • Genesis 22:1-14 – Isaac on Mount Moriah • Abraham believes God can raise the promised son (cf. Hebrews 11:17-19). A ram appears, sparing Isaac and foreshadowing resurrection power. Life from Death in the Ministry of Jesus • Luke 7:11-17 – The Widow of Nain’s Son • “Young man, I say to you, get up!” (v. 14). The once-dead sits up; the crowd glorifies God. • Mark 5:35-43 – Jairus’s Daughter • “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” Immediate life floods back. • John 11:1-44 – Lazarus • Four days in the tomb, yet Jesus declares, “I am the resurrection and the life” (v. 25) and calls Lazarus out. • Matthew 28:1-10 – The Resurrection of Jesus • The empty tomb is the ultimate proof; death is forever defeated (cf. Revelation 1:17-18). Resurrection Power through the Early Church • Acts 9:36-42 – Peter and Tabitha (Dorcas) • “Tabitha, get up.” She opens her eyes; many believe in the Lord. • Acts 20:7-12 – Paul and Eutychus • A fatal fall from the third story; Paul embraces the youth: “His life is in him.” • Acts 14:19-20 – Paul in Lystra • Stoned and left for dead, yet rises and re-enters the city, displaying God’s sustaining power. Moments of Divine Reversal—Life Preserved • 2 Kings 20:1-7 – Hezekiah’s Fifteen Added Years • God turns a death sentence into extended life. • Jonah 2 – Jonah in the Fish • Three days seemingly entombed, then freed; Jesus later cites it as a sign of His own resurrection (Matthew 12:40). • Daniel 6 – Daniel in the Lions’ Den • Certain death averted by divine intervention; “My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths” (v. 22). Takeaway: The Unbroken Thread From Isaac to Lazarus, from Elisha’s room to an empty garden tomb, Scripture consistently portrays the Lord as the author, sustainer, and restorer of life. The same power that answered a Shunammite mother’s anguish in 2 Kings 4 still reigns, assuring believers that death never has the final word. |
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