Elisha
Category: Prophetic perseverance & faith in God’s power
Could avoid: Remain a farmer, avoid the prophetic mantle.
“So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them… Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.” (1 Kings 19:21 → background to 2 Kings)
Cross-Refs: Luke 9:62; Philippians 3:13–14.
Chose: Followed Elijah, received a double portion of his spirit.
“Elisha replied, ‘Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit.’” (2 Kings 2:9)
Cross-Refs: Deuteronomy 34:9; John 14:12.
Endured: Mockery, political threats, years of prophetic ministry.
*“Get out of here, baldy!” they said. (2 Kings 2:23)
Cross-Refs: Amos 7:12–15; Matthew 5:11–12.
Why: Zeal for God’s honour, compassion for His people.
“This is what the LORD says: Make this valley full of ditches.” (2 Kings 3:16)
Cross-Refs: Hebrews 11:33–34; Romans 8:31.
Result: Many miracles confirmed God’s presence (healed water, multiplied oil, raised dead, fed hungry, healed Naaman).
“And the people ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.” (2 Kings 4:44)
Cross-Refs: Matthew 14:20; John 11:43–44.
The Widow with the Oil
Category: Faith in desperate poverty
Could avoid: Give up in debt and let her sons be enslaved.
“His creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” (2 Kings 4:1)
Cross-Refs: Exodus 22:25–27; Nehemiah 5:5.
Chose: Obeyed Elisha and gathered jars in faith.
“Go around and ask all your neighbours for empty jars.” (2 Kings 4:3)
Cross-Refs: John 2:7; Hebrews 11:6.
Endured: Shame of poverty, trust in an unusual command.
“She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons.” (2 Kings 4:5)
Cross-Refs: Isaiah 54:4; Philippians 4:19.
Why: Believed God could provide through His prophet.
“She kept pouring.” (2 Kings 4:6)
Cross-Refs: Psalm 81:10; Malachi 3:10.
Result: Debt cancelled, family preserved.
“Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.” (2 Kings 4:7)
Cross-Refs: Matthew 6:33; 2 Corinthians 9:8.
The Shunammite Woman
Category: Hospitality, faith & perseverance in loss
Could avoid: Ignore Elisha, keep her resources for herself.
“Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table.” (2 Kings 4:10)
Cross-Refs: Hebrews 13:2; Romans 12:13.
Chose: Welcomed Elisha and received God’s promise of a son.
“About this time next year… you will hold a son in your arms.” (2 Kings 4:16)
Cross-Refs: Genesis 18:10; Luke 1:36.
Endured: Death of her child, long journey to find Elisha.
“But the child grew… and he died in her lap.” (2 Kings 4:18, 20)
Cross-Refs: Job 1:21; Psalm 34:18.
Why: Trusted God enough to seek His prophet.
“Did I ask you for a son, my lord? Didn’t I tell you, ‘Don’t raise my hopes’?” (2 Kings 4:28)
Cross-Refs: Psalm 42:11; John 11:32.
Result: Son restored to life by God’s power.
“Elisha turned away… the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.” (2 Kings 4:34–35)
Cross-Refs: Hebrews 11:35; Mark 5:41–42.
Naaman’s Servant Girl
Category: Witnessing faith & courage in weakness
Could avoid: Stay silent as a captive slave.
“Now bands of raiders… took a young girl captive from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife.” (2 Kings 5:2)
Cross-Refs: Psalm 137:1–4; Lamentations 1:5.
Chose: Pointed Naaman to God’s prophet for healing.
“If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” (2 Kings 5:3)
Cross-Refs: Matthew 18:3–4; Acts 16:31.
Endured: Captivity, separation from family, low status.
“She served Naaman’s wife.” (2 Kings 5:2)
Cross-Refs: Psalm 119:141; 1 Corinthians 1:27.
Why: Believed in God’s power even in exile.
“He would cure him of his leprosy.” (2 Kings 5:3)
Cross-Refs: Daniel 3:17; Romans 10:14.
Result: Naaman healed, confessed faith in the true God.
“Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel.” (2 Kings 5:15)
Cross-Refs: John 4:42; Acts 10:34–35.
Hezekiah
Category: Trust under siege & prayerful endurance
Could avoid: Surrender to Assyria.
“Do not let Hezekiah deceive you. He cannot deliver you out of my hand.” (2 Kings 18:29–30)
Cross-Refs: Isaiah 36:4–6; Daniel 3:15.
Chose: Sought the LORD in prayer.
“Hezekiah went up to the temple of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD.” (2 Kings 19:14)
Cross-Refs: Psalm 55:22; Philippians 4:6.
Endured: Assyrian threats, illness to death.
“In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death.” (2 Kings 20:1)
Cross-Refs: Isaiah 38:1–5; James 5:15.
Why: Trusted in God alone.
“Hezekiah trusted in the LORD… There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah.” (2 Kings 18:5)
Cross-Refs: 2 Chronicles 32:7–8; Psalm 20:7.
Result: Jerusalem delivered, life extended 15 years.
“That night the angel of the LORD went out and put to death 185,000 in the Assyrian camp.” (2 Kings 19:35)
Cross-Refs: Psalm 34:7; Hebrews 11:33.
Josiah
Category: Zeal for reform & wholehearted devotion
Could avoid: Continue idolatry like his fathers.
“He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD… not turning aside to the right or to the left.” (2 Kings 22:2)
Cross-Refs: Deuteronomy 5:32; Philippians 2:15.
Chose: Humbled himself when the Book of the Law was read.
“When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes.” (2 Kings 22:11)
Cross-Refs: Joel 2:13; James 1:21–22.
Endured: Opposition to reforms, weight of national repentance.
“The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant.” (2 Kings 23:3)
Cross-Refs: 2 Chronicles 34:29–33; Acts 17:30.
Why: Loved the LORD with all his heart, soul, and strength.
“Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did.” (2 Kings 23:25)
Cross-Refs: Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37.
Result: Nationwide revival, though judgment still came later.
“Because your heart was responsive… your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring.” (2 Kings 22:19–20)
Cross-Refs: Psalm 51:17; Revelation 2:5.