Don't Die Twice

2 Kings 13:20–21 (NLT)
Then Elisha died and was buried. Groups of Moabite raiders used to invade the land each spring. Once, when some Israelites were burying a man, they spied a band of these raiders. So they hastily threw the corpse into the tomb of Elisha and fled. But as soon as the body touched Elisha’s bones, the dead man revived and jumped to his feet!

During his ministry, Elijah performed fourteen miracles by the power of God resting upon him.

When Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit (2 Kings 2:9), many believe this meant he would perform at least twice the number of miracles. By the time Elisha died, he had performed twenty-seven miracles.

This resurrection miracle when a dead man revived after touching Elisha’s bones became the twenty-eighth miracle.

Some Bible scholars view this as the precise fulfilment of the double portion resting upon Elisha.

The Urgency of the Burial Party

Let us revisit the scene.

An Israelite man had died, and his body was being carried outside the city for burial. As the funeral procession approached the burial site, a Moabite raiding party appeared on the horizon.

Safety was found only within the city walls. The men faced a serious dilemma. They did not have time to complete a proper burial. The threat was immediate.

In their urgency, they quickly threw the body into the nearest tomb—the tomb of Prophet Elisha—and fled toward the city.

Contact With the Anointing

The moment the body touched Elisha’s bones, something extraordinary happened.

The dead man revived.

He stood up on his feet.

Even in death, the power of God that had rested upon Elisha was still evident.

This moment reveals something profound: what God deposits in a life can carry impact beyond that life itself.

The Fastest Runner That Day

Now imagine the scene.

The burial party is running toward the city for safety.

Behind them or perhaps ahead of them is the very man they were just carrying to bury.

I believe that when the resurrected man saw the Moabite raiders approaching, he also ran toward the city.

And I imagine he ran faster than all the others because he did not want to die twice.

Can you picture the expressions on the faces of those who had come to bury him, only to see their dead friend sprinting ahead of them?

It must have been a moment of shock, awe, and overwhelming amazement.

The Message for Us

The message is powerful and simple.

After God has touched you…

After you have experienced salvation…

After you have had a genuine encounter with Him…

Do not remain passive. Run your race.

Be all that God has called you to be.

When life is restored to you spiritually, emotionally, or physically it is not for stagnation. It is for movement. It is for a purpose. It is for destiny.

The man did not linger in the tomb.

He did not analyse the miracle.

He did not sit down to reflect on what just happened.

He ran. And so must we.

Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 2-3

Don't Die Twice

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