870 BC
Elisha, the successor of Elijah, performed even more miracles than his predecessorβScripture records at least a dozen, compared to Elijah's handful. Called by Elijah while plowing in the field, Elisha left his oxen and ran after Elijah, asking to 'inherit a double portion' of Elijah's spirit (2 Kings 2:9)βa request that was granted when Elijah's mantle fell upon Elisha. Elisha's ministry was characterized by both prophetic confrontation and miraculous compassion.
Elisha's miracles include: parting the Jordan River (2 Kings 2:14), healing Naaman the Syrian of leprosy (2 Kings 5), multiplying oil for a widow to pay her debts (2 Kings 4:1-7), raising the Shunammite's son from the dead (2 Kings 4:32-37), making a poisonous stew edible (2 Kings 4:38-41), feeding 100 men with 20 loaves (2 Kings 4:42-44), causing an iron axe head to float (2 Kings 6:1-7), and revealing the whereabouts of the Aramean army to the king of Israel (2 Kings 6:8-23). Each miracle demonstrated the power of the God of Israel over nature, disease, death, and foreign powers.
The Catholic Church sees in Elisha's miracles a continuation of God's pattern of using prophets to demonstrate His power and compassion. Elisha's healing of Naamanβa foreignerβprefigures the Church's mission to all nations. Key Scripture: 2 Kings 2-8; 2 Kings 5:1-14; 2 Kings 4:1-7; 2 Kings 4:32-37; CCC 54