When Elisha's call came to follow Elijah and dedicate himself to the prophetic calling, he was knee deep in plowing with 12 yoke of oxen. He clearly came from a wealthy family. He had work to do, crops to plant, a family to support, yet his willingness to give up everything so he can serve God was perfect. Before he set off he ensured the Lord knew his commitment was complete by making a break with his past life. He slaughtered the oxen and destroyed the farming implements. He then built a fire with the plowing equipment and cooked the oxen and gave it to people to eat (2 Kings 19:21). How symbolic this gesture, showing that he was willing to serve others and give to them his all. Contrast this with the rich young ruler in Matthew 19 who also was rich. When the Saviour told him to sell all that he had and give it away to the poor and follow him, the rich man, unlike Elisha, walked away.
Before Elijah was translated he asked Elisha what request he had of him and Elisha said: "I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me" (2 Kings 2:9). Having witnessed Elijah's mighty miracles and his acts of service, he no doubt felt inadequate to fill Elijah's shoes. Elijah replied that if Elisha gets to witness his departure, that will be a sign to him that it will be as he desired. This indeed did happen for Elisha came to witness Elijah's ascension and the desire of his heart was fulfilled. His ministry lasted more than 50 years and was very similar in nature to that of his master teacher. Among his many prophecies as Israel's prophet, he achieved the following:
- He parted river Jordan (2 Kings 2:8)
- He healed and provided continual water (2 Kings 2:19-22, 2 Kings 3:9, 16-20)
- He changed water's appearance to blood (2 Kings 3:22)
- He multiplied the widow's oil (2 Kings 4:2-7)
- He raised the widow's son from the dead (2 Kings 4:32-35)
- He healed food that was poisonous (2 Kings 4:40-41)
- He healed Namaan of leprosy (2 Kings 5:14)
- He caused the sunken ax head to float (2 Kings 6:5-7)
- He caused blindness to come upon the Syrian army (2 Kings 6:18-24)
- He fed 100 men with only twenty loaves and some grain and had food left over (2 Kings 4:42-44)
- He prophesied the future
Of all his mighty works, my favourite is Elisha's ability to blind the whole of Syrian army and lead them into Samaria as hostages. Syria attacked Israel several times but was always defeated. When it finally came to the attention of the king of Syria that his soldiers were losing because of the prophetic power of Elisha, he sent a large army to destroy him. The Syrian army located Elisha in Dotham (2 Kings 6:13) where they surrounded the city so that he could not escape. The next morning Elisha's servant panicked when he saw the vastness of the army that had come to destroy his master. Elisha, unperturbed, comforted his servant by saying: "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them" (2 Kings 6:16). He then called upon the Lord to open the servant's eyes so that he could see the heavenly hosts that were there to protect them for "behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha" (2 Kings 6:17). Elisha then prayed that the army would be smitten with blindness and the Lord complied following which Elisha led the whole army into Samaria and into the hands of the king of Israel and instructed him to feed them and send them back to their master. Syrians never came into the land of Israel again (2 Kings 6:23).
Another mesmerizing story involving Elisha was recited by Elder Orson Hyde. So afflicted was the northern kingdom of Israel with a famine that people were selling and eating mules' heads and dove's dung. The famine became so severe that some resorted to cannibalism. In 2 Kings 6:28-29 we read of an account of two women who one of their sons. Elisha's prophecy regarding the famine is as follows:
"Once there was a great famine in Samaria and so sore was that famine that a mule's head sold for four score pieces of silver in the market and a cab of dove's dung sold for food in the market, I cannot recollect for how much. We should consider it pretty much of a task or penalty to be compelled to use an article like that for food, but the people of Samaria were sorely distressed with famine, and which way to turn to save themselves they knew not. About this time, the King of Syria, with a large army, came to besiege the city and there was a mighty host of them, and they brought everything in the shape of food that was necessary for the comfort and happiness of man; and although the famine was so sore among the Samaritans, the old Prophet, Elisha..., told them that on the next day meal should be sold in the gate of their city at very low figures, lower than it had ever been known to be sold before. A certain nobleman, who heard the prophecy of Elisha expressed his doubt of its truth, and he said that if the windows of heaven were opened and meal poured down from above, it could not fall to such low figures. Now see what he got by doubting the words of the Prophet - said Elisha to him - 'Your eyes shall see it, but you shall not taste it'. That night the Lord sent forth the angels of his presence and they made a rustling in the trees, and sounds like horses' hoofs and chariots, as if the whole country had combined to go out to battle against the Syrians, and they did not know what to make of it, and they were frightened and fled, leaving almost everything they had brought with them in the borders of the town; and as they went, the rustling of the trees and the noise of the horses and chariots seemed to pursue them, and in order to make their burdens as light as possible, they threw away everything they had with them, and their track was strewed with everything good and desirable. The next morning the people of Samaria went out and brought the spoils into the market, and it was overstocked with provisions and the word of the Lord through the Prophet was fulfilled. Now you see, the Lord knew they had eaten mules' heads long enough and that they had need of something more palatable; he had had the matter under advisement, no doubt, when the crusade was inaugurated against the people of Samaria, and he, in all probability, inspired them to take abundant supplies, that they might feel all the more confident on account of their great numbers being so well provided for. They no doubt calculated that they had the sure thing, little thinking that God was making them pack animals to take to his people what they needed. Their Father in heaven knew that they had need of them, and he sent them, and the people of Samaria brought them into market, and behold and lo the multitude rushed together just as hungry people will, and this nobleman came out also, and he was trodden down under foot and stamped to death - he saw it but he never tasted it. That is the reward of those who disbelieve the Prophets of God; it was so then, and if the same thing does not occur in every instance something of a similar character is sure to take place. There was no living faith in that man, he could not believe the testimony of the Prophets, and in this he was like some of our - what shall I say, great men, whose faith is weak and sickly, and they think they know it all, and can chalk out right and left that which would be best for building up the kingdom of God." (Journal of Discourses, 17:6-7)
"In a similar prophecy, Heber C. Kimball prophesied that the Saints in the Salt Lake Valley would be able to purchase goods more cheaply than they could back East. The prophecy was fulfilled when thousands came through the valley during the California gold rush". (See B.H. Roberts, A Comprehensive History of the Church, 3:349-53, Old Testament Student Manual, 1 Kings to Malachi, p 77)
At times it seems easier to believe in the prophets who have passed on than to believe in the living oracles and follow the counsel and direction they give for our day and time: "Sometimes modern Saints fall into the same traps as did ancient Israel. Have you heard people extol the teachings of Joseph Smith but murmur and criticize current Church leaders for a statement or a stand they take that contradicts the individual's personal ideas or preference? Do we say we honour the prophets and yet not follow their instructions from the last general conference? Some who read the Old Testament have a tendency to shake their heads sorrowfully over those proud and rebellious people. But the great value of our studying this work is that it provides a clear standard for measuring our own behaviour." (Old Testament Student Manual, 1 Kings - Malachi, p 65)
'He's a prophet', I repeated. 'Like Jeremiah or Moses or Peter'. The concept was powerful and she wanted desperately to understand.
'How does a man get to be a prophet?' she asked.
I spoke then of years of preparation, and talked to her of obedience and faithfulness and study and prayer and service - those qualities that enabled a man to fulfill such a calling.
'But the most important requirement is that he be called of God' I explained, 'because he receives revelation from the Lord and delivers it to the people. He speaks to us the words and the will of God.'
'How?'
'Pardon me?'
'How does he speak to you?' she asked. 'I mean, how does he let you know what the Lord says and what he expects? When he has a message, how does he deliver it?'
This was a missionary's dream. In nineteen months of proselyting and teaching I had never seen anyone so excited about the restoration of the gospel and the idea of a living prophet. She seemed aflame with a need to know the present word of God.
'Every six months, the Church holds a General Conference' I said. 'People attend from all over the world, and President McKay speaks, usually three or four times, during the three days of the conference'.
I could see in her eyes a great desire to sit and listen to the living words of a living prophet.
'But does everyone attend?' she asked. Then thinking of herself, she added, 'What about those who can't come to conference?'
I smiled. This woman was a joy to teach.
'The Church publishes a magazine called the Improvement Era' I responded. 'A month or two after conference, the entire proceedings of the conference are published in one of the issues. Everyone who wants to can get a copy and read the talks'.
But there was more, and speaking of the magazine had reminded me.
'That isn't all'. I was nearly as excited as she was now.
'Every month President McKay writes the editorial in the Improvement Era. Every month we get a written message from the Prophet of God'.
'That's wonderful!' she exclaimed, and I agreed. In my mind the faucets were running, the baptismal font already filling. She said she had one more question. I didn't mind. After nineteen months as a missionary, I could answer any question about living prophets that an investigator could ask. Any question, that is except this one. As she spoke, I saw the plug being pulled, the water draining from the font.
Her eyes shining with delight and anticipation, she said:
'What did he say last month?'
I could not answer her question. I knew that President McKay had been writing the editorials for the Improvement Era during most of the years of my life. But I had never read a single one of them."
- Ted Gibbons
"If we listened to the prophets of this day, poverty would be replaced with loving care for the poor and needy. Many serious and deadly health problems would be avoided through compliance with the Word of Wisdom and the laws of sexual purity. Payment of tithing would bless us and we would have sufficient for our needs. If we follow the counsel given by the prophets, we can have a life in mortality where we do not bring upon ourselves unnecessary pain and self-destruction. This does not mean we will not have any challenges. We will. This does not mean we will not be tested. We will, for this is part of our purpose on earth. But if we will listen to the counsel of our prophet, we will become stronger and be able to withstand the tests of mortality. We will have hope and joy. All the words of counsel from the prophets of all generations have been given so that we may be strengthened and then be able to lift and strengthen others."
(Robert D. Hales, Hear The Prophet's Voice and Obey, Ensign, May 1995, p 17)
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