How does this miracle connect to other resurrections in the Bible? Setting the Scene “Then he summoned Gehazi and said, ‘Call the Shunammite.’ So he called her, and when she came in, he said, ‘Pick up your son.’” (2 Kings 4:36) The child who had been lifeless is now breathing again. Elisha’s invitation, “Pick up your son,” rings with joy and awe—and it connects to a beautiful thread of resurrections woven throughout Scripture. Echoes of Earlier Resurrections • Elijah and the widow’s son – 1 Kings 17:21-22 “Then the LORD heard Elijah’s voice, and the boy’s life returned to him, and he lived.” • Both miracles occur in an upstairs room. • Prophet stretches himself over the child, praying earnestly. • Result: a mother’s grief turns to worship. Elisha and Later Old-Testament Hints • A man restored by touching Elisha’s bones – 2 Kings 13:21 Even after his death, the prophet’s ministry of life continues, foreshadowing resurrection power that outlives the servant. Foreshadowing the Ministry of Jesus • Widow of Nain’s son – Luke 7:14-15 “‘Young man, I tell you, get up!’” – Like Elisha, Jesus returns a son to a grieving mother. – Crowd declares, “A great prophet has risen among us,” linking Jesus to Elijah and Elisha. • Jairus’s daughter – Mark 5:41-42 “Taking her by the hand, He said, ‘Talitha koum!’” – The personal touch mirrors Elisha’s physical closeness to the boy. • Lazarus – John 11:43-44 “Lazarus, come out!” – Public demonstration that moves faith from private households to the watching world. Resurrections in the Early Church • Tabitha (Dorcas) – Acts 9:40-41 • Eutychus – Acts 20:10-12 – Both episodes echo prophetic patterns: prayer, physical contact, proclamation of life. Common Threads Across the Accounts • God’s initiative: Each narrative shows the Living God intervening directly in human hopelessness. • Compassion for families: Mothers, fathers, friends—all taste God’s tenderness. • Faith and obedience: Simple, decisive acts—laying prone, speaking a word, taking a hand—become conduits for divine power. • Preview of ultimate victory: These limited, individual resurrections point toward the empty tomb of Christ and the final resurrection promised in 1 Corinthians 15:20-22. What This Reveals About God • He is the giver and restorer of life. • His Word is effective—whether spoken by prophets, Messiah, or apostles. • He delights in reversing the curse, offering concrete proofs that death will not have the last word. Life-Changing Takeaways • The same Lord who raised the Shunammite’s child holds authority over every grave. • Every smaller resurrection strengthens confidence in the coming, universal resurrection of believers. • Moments of despair invite us to trust the God who has already demonstrated—time and again—that nothing is impossible for Him. |
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