Elijah (my God is Jehovah) and Elisha (my God is salvation) were, in some ways, very different. Consider: (1) There is no evidence that Elijah came from a wealthy background. Elisha seems to have been. He plowed with twelve yokes of oxen (1 Kings 19:19-21). (2) Elijah is described as a hairy man (2 Kings 1:8). Elisha was baldheaded (2 Kings 2:23). (3) Elijah spent much time in hiding, apart from society (1 Kings 17:1-7 cf. 18:1; 19:1-9). Elisha appears often among people (2 Kings 2:19; 4:38-44; 5:1-8; 6:1-4). (4) Elijah had great conflict with an evil king and queen (1 Kings 17:1 cf. 18:7-18; 19:1-4; 21:20-24). Elisha had a better situation with kings (2 Kings 3:11-27; 5:1-8; 13:14-21). (5) Elijah suffered with discouragement and depression (1 Kings 19:1-18). Elijah is not so described. (6) About fourteen miracles or providential events are connected with the life of Elijah in scripture (1 Kings 17:1, 4, 14, 22; 18:38, 45; 21:22, 23, 2 Kings 1:4, 10, 12; 2:8, 10, 12). About twenty-eight are connected with the life of Elisha (2 Kings 2:14, 21, 24; 3:17, 22; 4:4, 16, 34, 41, 43; 5:14, 26, 27; 6:6, 9, 17, 18, 20; 7:1, 2, 6; 8:1, 10, 12; 9:7; 13:7, 19, 21). (7) Many of Elijah’s miracles are done in conflict or judgment on evil (1 Kings 17:1; 18:38, 45; 21:22, 23; 2 Kings 1:2-4, 10, 12). Many of Elisha’s miracles are done out of compassion or mercy (2 Kings 2:21; 4:4, 16, 34, 41, 43; 6:6). (8) Elijah’s ministry (1 Kings 17 – 2 Kings 2) occurred during the days of two kings: Ahab and Ahaziah. It lasted perhaps twenty or twenty-five years. Elijah’s ministry (2 Kings 2-13) occurred during the days of four kings: Jehoram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, and Joash. His ministry was much longer. It lasted almost sixty years.

Some things to consider. God can use different personalities, very different men, in different circumstances to accomplish His will. Also, the Elijah-Elisha ministries have been thought by some to be a type of the John-Jesus ministries. There are comparisons that can be made in some details.

Elijah and Elisha also had things in common. Consider: (1) Elijah anointed Elisha (1Kings 19:16). (2) Elisha followed and served Elijah (1 Kings 19:21). (3) Elisha received a double portion of Elijah’s spirit (2 Kings 2:9-11). (4) Both were prophets of God in Israel. They are both called “man of God.” (5) Some of their miracles were similar (1 Kings 17:1 cf. 2 Kings 8:1; 1 Kings 17:11-16 cf. 2 Kings 4:1-7; 1 Kings 17:17-24 cf. 2 Kings 4:17-37; 2 Kings 2:8 cf. 2 Kings 2:14). (6) Both had a miracle connected with their departure from this earth (2 Kings 2:11 cf. 2 Kings 13:20-21).

The similarities that we will consider in this lesson concerns their being cared for by others. Moreover, we will consider the blessing which came to these others as a result.

The Widow of Zarephath

The land of Israel was in a drought which had been pronounced on the land by Elijah (1 Kings 17:1). Elijah was a wanted man. He was in hiding (1 Kings 17:2, 7, 8 cf. 18:10).

The LORD said, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you” (1 Kings 17:8-9). Sidon was outside Israel (cf. Luke 4:25-26).

This widow did not have much. The drought had afflicted her land, as well. She was hospitable. She was willing to bring Elijah a little water (1 Kings 17:10). But how could she feed him? She only had a handful of flour and a little oil in a jar. She was going to use this to feed herself and her son. She thought death was near for her and her son (1 Kings 17:11-12).

Elijah said, “Do not fear… make me a cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and for your son.” (1 Kings 17:13). He reassured her saying, “For thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the LORD sends rain on the earth'” (1 Kings 17:14).

She did what he said. She, and her son, and the prophet ate for many days. God blessed her house. The flour was not used up, and the oil did not run dry (1 Kings 17:15-16).

Widow of A Son of the Prophets

She was in trouble. Her husband had died. The creditor was coming to take her two sons as slaves (2 Kings 4:1-2). She had nothing in the house but a jar of oil (2 Kings 4:2-4).

Her husband had been one of the sons of the prophets. He had served Elisha and had feared the LORD (2 Kings 4:1).

Elisha had a plan. He told this woman to borrow all the empty vessels she could borrow from her neighbors. The little oil she had in her house was to be poured into all of these vessels (2 Kings 4:3-6). The oil was multiplied. Elisha then told her, “Go sell the oil and pay your debt, and you and your sons live on the rest” (2 Kings 4:7).

Woman of Shunem

Elisha traveled to various places as a prophet. One of those places was the town of Shunem, Israel. It was located in the tribe of Issachar (cf. Joshua 19:17-18).

In Shunem there was a “notable woman.” She fed the prophet as often as he passed by (2 Kings 4:8). She went farther. She said to her husband, “Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly. Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall, and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there” (2 Kings 4:9-10). The room was made for the prophet [note: Such a room was made for me by a family in India. May God bless them].

Elisha was grateful. He wanted to do something for her. He found out that she had no child. Furthermore, her husband was old. He blessed her and her husband with a son (2 Kings 4:11-17).

The Lesson

When one is kind to one of God’s workers, it does not go unnoticed by God. Jesus said, “He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And who ever gives one of these little ones a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward” (Matthew 10:40-42).

Furthermore, it is not only about God’s workers. He sees what we do for others (cf. Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 14:12-14; 1 Timothy 5:24-25). The reward does not always come in this life (ibid).