Elijah and Elisha

 

2King 2 :1-14

1Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you? And he said, “yes I know it; keep quiet.” 4Elisha said to him, “Elisha, please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. 5The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.” 6The n Elijah said to him, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. 7Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8Then Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up and struck the water, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground. 9When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before i am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.”10And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as i am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” 11And they still went on and talk, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by whirlwind into heaven. 12And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 13And he took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side to the other, and Elijah went over. 

Elijah took a final tour of Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho, and the Jordan River, which were places in Israel’s history where God’s promises had been fulfilled. Elijah intended to go on this journey alone, but his disciple Elisha pleaded with him to allow him to accompany him. Just before Elijah’s ascension, Elisha asked that God would give him twice the power of Elijah, and his desire was granted. After Elijah’s ascension, Elisha picked up his robe and performed the same miracle as Elijah of parting the Jordan River.

Very. 1-14 God is a God of power. Not only did He take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, but He also gave Elisha incredible power. Do i believe that God is powerful and that He is the one who gives us power?

Very. 1-6, We must be zealous to the end. Elisha followed Elijah to the end, not leaving Elijah’s side even though he tried to stop him three times. Let us follow our heroes of faith and learn from them diligently. What am i doing to be more like Jesus, the best mentor of all?