Tonight’s family service looked at the Old Testament prophets, Elijah and Elisha, who were indeed men of miracles. Stephen spoke about how Elijah saw many different kinds of miracles – miracles of provision (1 Kings 17:16), when the jar of oil did not run out, thus keeping Elijah alive during a time of famine; miracles of life (when God listened to Elijah’s cry and raised a dead boy back to life, 1 Ki 17:22); miracles reminiscent of Moses when the water parted as he struck it with his cloak (2 Ki 2:8) and the ultimate miracle of not having to taste death (2 Ki 2:11).
Elisha, present when God took Elijah, received a double portion of God’s power, performing twice as many miracles as Elijah. These included parting the water as Elijah had (2 Ki 2:14), thus demonstrating he had inherited Elijah’s mantle (the literal origin of this metaphor!); miracles of provision (2 Kings 4); miracles of healing (2 Ki 5:10); miracles of bringing the dead to life (2 Ki 4).
What is important for us to realise, however, is that miracle are not just impressive stories from the Bible. They happen too in our day, because God does not change. James reminds us that Elijah was a man just like us; he listened to God and obeyed Him – this was the key to his success and is the key to seeing miracles happen nowadays. Jesus performed many miracles of provision, healing and resurrection and we too can see miracles happen today if we put our trust in Him.