Men Toss Dead Body into Random Grave to Escape Approaching Gang
How's that for a headline? It actually happened in 2 Kings 13:20-21 "So Elisha died, and they buried him. Now bands of Moabites (the gang) used to invade the land in the spring of the year. And as a man was being buried (by some men), behold, a marauding band was seen and the man was thrown into the grave of Elisha, and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet."
Ahh… Springtime! The snow melts, flowers begin to bud, rain comes, and we see the vernal equinox and the Moabites invading the land.
Often as I read through the OT with my family I continually come across stories and think, "What in the world does this have to do with anything?" Or, "I hope my kids don't ask me what that means."
But, later I find myself drawn to meditate upon these stories, especially the weird ones, in light of Christ, and because these stories are God's inspired Word and worthy of all our attention. One thing that has helped me in reading the Bible is knowing that from the beginning of the Scripture to the end God is progressively revealing himself. In the Old Testament we often get a reflection of the mountain in the water at night, but in the New Testament we get to see the mountain itself in broad daylight.
So here are a couple of reflections in light of Christ to encourage you with the good news of Jesus today:
• In the Old Testament God spoke to his people through prophets like Elisha. In the New Testament God has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom he also created the world. Hebrews 1:1-2
• In the Old Testament a prophet was used by God to communicate his word. In the New Testament, Jesus literally is God's word. John 1
• In the Old Testament when a dead man touched one prophet's bones he came to life. In the New Testament when Jesus touches dead people they come to life. Luke 7
• In the Old Testament, this prophet did not come back to life with a new body, his bones were in a grave. In the New Testament, there are no "bones" of Jesus because he had a physical resurrection! Jesus alone conquered death. Luke 24
• In both the Old Testament and the New: God is sovereign over life and death
• In both the Old Testament and the New: There is life-giving, death-reversing, power in the Word of God, but the former (Elisha) points to the latter (Jesus). Christ is the substance.
I'm sure you all could think of many more connections or parallels. God is amazing and beautiful, thus His Word is amazing and beautiful. It will probably take me my whole life to only catch and understand a glimpse of all that he has revealed of himself to us in His Word.
It was the wisdom of God’s amazing plan that prompted Paul to burst into song:
33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:33-36
Yes, a lot of Old Testament stories would make really horrific headlines. And, of course we won’t understand it all, but as we read the Old Testament we can meditate upon the stories in light of Christ and see how God had been slowly revealing himself to his people until His appointed time for the incarnate birth of His Son for the redemption of the world.
(This week’s post, written by Joey Turner, Pastor of Student Ministries, appeared in last week’s PPC Family Email.)
Persevere, Paul Pyle Discipleship Pastor