Elisha and the resurrection

2 Ki 13:20  And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.
2 Ki 13:21  And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.

One more miracle from Elisha. Israel had lost their prophet, they were running from their enemies when in haste a man is lowered into the convenient open grave of Elisha and the dead man became alive again and stood up on his feet. 

There is a fictional book written about "Elisha's bones" I have not read it, but it probably is somewhat like the "raiders of the lost ark" movie. People searching for the bones of Elisha or the ark because they were seeing it as a source of power. The power is not in Elisha's bones, nor the ark. When Israel and Judah were into idolatry, eventually the spirit of God left the temple and the ark.

Ezek 10:18  Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.

The glory of the LORD left the nation because of their wickedness and their worshiping idols. So let us not be seeking power from dead bones or an empty ark. The power is of God by faith. In the miracle of this dead man's resurrection we are to look to the God of life and resurrection. Jesus came and he gave us power over death through faith in him.

John 11:25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
John 11:26  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Jesus went on to raise a dead man, Lazarus, from the grave. Jesus died, but we do not seek his bones for life, their is no body in a grave. He was raised from the dead by the power of God. This power to give eternal life is in the name of Jesus.

John 1:12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
John 1:13  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

We as Christians who have been born again by the power of God are made alive forever because our spirit is one with God. We have the power in Jesus' name to make dead men alive. The world is full of people who are dead in their sins who need the resurrection life given only through the name of Jesus.

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Ezekiel also prophesied that the dry bones of Israel would again be made live and brought back as a nation.

Ezek 37:4  Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
Ezek 37:5  Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:

Rom 11:25  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26  And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom 11:27  For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

Mark 12:26  And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
Mark 12:27  He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ...

Our nation is dying because we have put our trust in evil men instead of the God of our fathers. Our symbols of power, the flag, the dollar, the military, our past glory, these will not save us. We must put our trust in the God of Israel, repent and do his will. We must believe our motto "In God We Trust."