In our reading, the King of Israel places the blame for the siege of Samaria on Elisha the prophet. In reality, it is his sin and the sin of the people that brought about the calamity. Today in America we tend to place blame on things that have nothing to do with our problems. In this story, we see how this mistake can lead to destruction.  

When we are struggling with the hiddenness of God the one thing we can turn to is the character of God. God is always faithful and true. His lovingkindness for us is something we can anchor our lives in. 

Today we compare the stories of blindness and sight in Elisha and the ministry of Jesus. 

In both of our readings, we meet lepers that needed healing. One theme that is found in both of these readings is the need for humility. God calls us to humble ourselves under His mighty hand. 

Looking at a comparison of Elisha's multiplication of food in 2 Kings 4:42-44 and Jesus' similar miracle in Matthew 14:13-21 allows us to draw out some interesting parallels. The big take-a-way? In the hands of God, our incapability becomes his power.  

In this episode, we explore the connections between the passing of the mantle between Elijah and Elisha and the story of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. 

David tells us that all those around him speak receipt. They use eloquence to speak lies. They are duplicitous and untrustworthy. But in contrast, God's word is trustworthy and God will not forsake the righteous. 

The prophet Elisha is about to die after a long career as Israel's prophet. He is giving words of encouragement and life to King Joash. King Joash is half-hearted in this commitment to God's promise. We find that the prophet Elisha still brings life even after he is dead. 

Jehu is anointed as King over Israel and God brings final judgment to the household of Omri through the death of the evil queen Jezebel. 

Elisha accepts Naaman's context but not his gift, so Gehazi takes things into his own hands. However, because Gehazi lusts after the wealth and monetary security of the Gentiles he also incurs their diseases.