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BibleProject | One Story That Leads to JesusSample

BibleProject | One Story That Leads to Jesus

DAY 102 OF 358

Times of great pain call for compassionate remedy. Elisha brings miraculous healing and extends Yahweh’s tender care for those who suffer. He rescues them from illness, hunger, destitution, and even death. Israel’s king stands in stark contrast, bringing nothing helpful for anyone in need.

Some of the miracles in today’s reading echo into the New Testament. Elisha provides bread for a hungry crowd, raises a person from the dead, and heals a foreigner suffering from leprosy.

Unfortunately, Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, has not been empowered like his master—apparently because Gehazi lacks Elisha’s integrity. Driven by greed rather than love and care for others, Gehazi brings his entire family under a curse as he manipulates and schemes. Meanwhile, Naaman, a non-Israelite outsider, experiences not a curse but Yahweh’s good, generous blessing.

The Israelite driven by evil receives justice. The non-Israelite who loves and cares for others receives blessing. God’s mercy extends to every person, impartially, whether he’s an Israelite or not.

As the story further unfolds, notice how Yahweh engages without favoritism, including his chosen people, Israel. The biblical story continuously suggests Yahweh has a favorite way of life, one compelled by love and care for everyone. People who embrace Yahweh’s way of life tend to experience blessing. Those who harm others tend to experience the opposite.

Reflection Questions

  • Review Moses’ warning in Deuteronomy 28 to the Israelites about what would happen if they tried to gain blessings by bowing to idols instead of trusting Yahweh. In your own words, how would you describe the essential choice that Israel (and perhaps each of us) has to face?
  • Recall another story where two women ask a king to intervene in a dispute involving two sons—one dead, one still alive. How did that king respond? How does that compare to the king’s response in today’s reading? What does this contrast tell you about the state of Israel’s leadership at this point in the biblical story?

About this Plan

BibleProject | One Story That Leads to Jesus

Read through the Bible in one year with BibleProject! One Story That Leads to Jesus includes daily devotional content, reflection questions, and more than 150 animated videos to bring biblical books and themes to life. Join the growing community around the globe who are learning to see the Bible as one unified story that leads to Jesus.

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