EyeCatchers OT: Story 14

The Seven Sneezes

Set of 16 visuals together with the story of Elisha and The Seven Sneezes. Includes story script, Powerpoint presentation, colour JPG images and black and white masters.

Aim: To demonstrate that God works in mysterious ways.

Bible Text: 2 Kings 4:18-37

Background Notes: Life and death are such a mystery to us all. There are only 7 cases of the dead being raised to life in the Bible. This story is one of the two in the Old Testament. "The child sneezed seven times ... Show More Life and death are such a mystery to us all. There are only 7 cases of the dead being raised to life in the Bible. This story is one of the two in the Old Testament. "The child sneezed seven times and the child opened his eyes" (2 Kings 4:18-37). There are many mysteries and it is our nature to want to explain the mysteries of the world. Raising someone from death to life is something we would all like to have power over. Even the Prophet Elisha, who loved and served God thought he knew how to bring a young child to life, but he discovered that even he couldn't. The added mystery is that he was responsible for bringing the child into this world (2 Kings 4 :16-17) , but he couldn’t bring him back to life (2 Kings 4:31). It is God's will, timing and method by which someone is raised to life. One thing we do know is that it is only possible with God and that it is a mystery as to why he heals some people and doesn’t heal others. It is also a Mystery how He does these things and it is not for us to look for formulas and processes which the Church is still so guilty of doing. Elisha thought that if he took his staff and put it on to the child's face, it would bring him back to life. It didn’t work. We also often look for the physical miracle because it impresses us, but God is more interested in the spiritual miracle of a changed life. To God the big question is "are we spiritually dead or alive" that is the big mystery for us all and no one knows that
answer for anyone else. Even at physical death we often don't know that answer for our loved ones. When Elisha couldn't heal the boy the only way he knew how, he lay across him and prayed to God for help. It was then that the child sneezed 7 times. Why sneezed ? Why 7 times ? It is a mystery, but he came to life, which is a miracle as well as a mystery! Let us not rely on the process and explanations, finding the answers. Let's just celebrate the mystery!