2 Kings 13

The Explanation

There was a new king in Israel, and his name was Jehoahaz. He did not listen to God. He followed the same wrong paths as the kings before him. So God let enemy soldiers come. The king of Syria attacked Israel again and again, until almost no soldiers were left to fight back.

Then Jehoahaz did something wise. He prayed. He begged God for help. And God listened! He sent Israel someone to save them from the Syrians. But even after that, the people did not truly turn back to God.

Years later, another king named Joash ruled Israel. One day, the old prophet Elisha became very sick. Joash came to see him and cried. "My father, my father!" he said. "The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" He knew Elisha had protected Israel like an army all by himself, through God's power.

Elisha told the king, "Take a bow and arrows." Then Elisha put his own hands on the king's hands and said, "Open the window! Shoot!" The arrow flew out. "This is Yahweh's arrow of victory over Syria," Elisha said.

Then he told the king to strike the ground with the arrows. Joash struck three times, and stopped. Elisha became angry. "You should have struck five or six times!" Why did Joash stop so soon? Maybe he did not believe God could give a bigger victory.

Soon after, Elisha died and was buried. Later, some men were burying another man when raiders suddenly attacked. In a hurry, they threw the body into Elisha's tomb. The moment the man touched Elisha's bones, he stood up alive.

What Does This Mean?

This chapter shows two things happening at once. The kings kept doing wrong, but God kept being patient. Even when Joash only half believed, God still gave Israel victories through Elisha's words. God's power did not depend on how brave or strong the king was. It depended on God himself.

The Common Thread

The Bible tells us why God did not give up on Israel. "Yahweh was gracious to them, and had compassion on them… because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." Long before, God had promised those men that he would bless their family forever. Even when Israel's kings failed, God kept his promise.

And notice what happened at Elisha's tomb. A dead man touched dead bones, and he lived again! That is a strange and wonderful sign. Life came out of a grave. Many years later, Jesus himself walked out of a grave, alive forever. Elisha could only give one man a few more years of life. Jesus gives life that never ends.

For You

Sometimes you might feel like Joash, only doing a little bit when God asks for more. Maybe you pray once and give up, instead of trusting God enough to keep asking. Try this: the next time you pray for something hard, do not stop after just one try. Keep bringing it to God, like knocking on a door until someone opens it.

Talk About It

Why do you think Joash stopped striking the ground after only three times?

What does the man coming back to life at Elisha's tomb tell us about God's power over death?

Praying Together

Dear God, thank you that you keep your promises even when we forget to trust you fully. Thank you that you have power over life and death. Help us to keep praying and not give up too soon. Amen.