As a matter of fact, the Bible does not convey the assumption that miracles are commonplace. Rather, they are rare, and tend to occur in clusters at key junctures in salvation history. If we graphed the occurrence of miracles in the biblical narrative, it would look like a low, flat line interrupted by a few peaks during the times of Moses and Joshua (Exodus & Conquest), Elijah and Elisha (Israel's cross-roads), Jesus and the apostles (authentication of Messiah and the gospel), and the end of the age (both satanic and divine). There are other miracles recorded, but they are relatively few. Many godly people in biblical times lived their entire lives without ever witnessing a miracle, just as many of us do today.

Elisha's ministry lasted about twice as long as Elijah's (13 to 25 years).

The Kings narrative also records twice as many miracles by Elisha as by Elijah (14 to 7).

Some scholars speculate that these differences were part of God's answer to grant Elisha a "double portion" of Elijah's spirit (2 Kings 2:9).

Most of his ministry was directly confronting powerful worldly figures (Ahab; Jezebel; Ahaziah).
Elisha, on the other hand, dealt mainly with common people whose names we will never know--a widow, a laborer, a Shunnamite woman, etc. And when Elisha did deal with powerful figures, he did so indirectly and carried out God's directives to Elijah.

Similarly, most of Elijah's miracles were dramatic and judgmental on apostasy (DROUGHT; FIRE FROM HEAVEN).
By contrast, most of Elisha's miracles were modest and deeds of compassion. He cleansed the waters of Jericho (2:19-22). He increased a widow's supply of oil, which saved her children from being sold into slavery (4:1-7). He cleansed a pot of food into which a poisonous herb had been mistakenly added (4:38-41). He fed 100 hungry men by multiplying a small amount of barley loaves and corn (4:42-44). He cured a Gentile of his leprosy (5:14). He recovered a lost ax-head that a man had borrowed, and thus saved him from financial ruin (6:1-7).

Because of the above, Elijah was and still is famous in his own right. He towers above every Old Testament figure except Moses.
Elisha, however, remains clearly in Elijah's shadow. He spent the first 10 years ministering to Elijah. Even after Elijah departed, he was known as "Elisha . . . who used to pour water on the hands of Elijah" (2 Kings 3:11).

But notice that God's fashioning work is "in Christ." You can learn the true purpose for your life and how you have been suited for it only after you have been reconciled to your Maker. And you can be reconciled to God only through Jesus Christ, because only he died to pay the penalty for your guilt before God. That's why this verse follows 2:8,9 (read). For some of you, this is the first order of business--receive God's gift of salvation by putting your personal trust in Christ as your Savior. Then you can begin to discover the true purpose for your life!

We are like the picture frame, and the picture is Christ. A good picture frame draws the viewers attention to the picture rather than to itself (RIJKS MUSEUM). When you disagree with God about how he made you, is it possible that you want to be the picture rather than the frame? If you could change certain things about yourself, would it be to bring more glory to Christ--or to yourself?

"As a Christian considers the possibility of being (used by God), often his reaction is . . . ‘I am such a small person, so limited in talents--or energy or psychological strength or knowledge--that what I do is not really important.' We must remember throughout our lives that in God’s sight there are no little people and no little places. Only one thing is important: to be consecrated persons in God’s place for us, at each moment."

We may live in the most horizontally-focused culture in human history. Polls, market-surveys, media--virtually everything sensitizes us to what others think about us. We come to intuitively evaluate our decisions in terms of how other people will view and respond to them. I'm afraid our President is truly representative of us in this regard!

But the Bible calls this way of evaluating your successfulness fundamentally foolish. Jesus is especially tough on this point. He is the One who warns us: "That which is highly esteemed among people is detestable in the sight of God" (Lk. 16:15). One of his favorite expressions was: "Then the last shall be first, and the first shall be last." On that day when all of us will be evaluated by God, there are going to be some big surprises. Many people who were viewed by their society (and church) as winners will be declared failures by God; and many for whom society had no use will be exalted and rewarded by God. The way the world evaluates success is usually so different from the way God evaluates it that it is both useless and perilous to look horizontally for your progress report.

What is the alternative? "To follow the call of God is . . . to shift our awareness of audiences to the point where only the last and highest--God--counts . . . We who live before the Audience of One can say to the world: 'I have only one audience. Before you I have nothing to prove, nothing to gain, nothing to lose.'"

Pride grows when I conclude that I am more successful than others in any area. It is not only corrupting, but blind because the issue is not how much I have accomplished compared to others, but how well I am fulfilling the potential God gave me to serve him. This is the perspective that keeps me humble and motivated to press on.

Envy grows when I come up short compared to others in any area of talent or results that is important to me. I know from personal experience how ugly this is. Instead of being thankful for their contribution, I resent their ability and accomplishments because I feel like a failure. Why? Because I am evaluating my success as a person by arbitrarily comparing myself to another person instead of simply doing my best to be a faithful steward for God. When I recover this perspective, I can focus on simply being where God wants me to be, doing what God wants me to do--and I then experience God's peace and empowering and fruit and satisfaction.

"When Jesus calls, he calls us one by one. Comparisons are idle, speculations about others a waste of time, and envy (and pride) as silly as (they are) evil. We are each called individually, (ultimately) accountable to God alone, to please him alone, and eventually to be approved by him alone."