2 Kings 2:1-25
Elijah Ascends to Heaven
2Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2Elijah said to Elisha, ‘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. 3The company of prophets* who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, ‘Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?’ And he said, ‘Yes, I know; keep silent.’
4 Elijah said to him, ‘Elisha, 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 company of prophets* who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, ‘Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?’ And he answered, ‘Yes, I know; be silent.’
6 Then Elijah said to him, ‘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 company of prophets* also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.
9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.’ Elisha said, ‘Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.’ 10He responded, ‘You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.’ 11As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. 12Elisha kept watching and crying out, ‘Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!’ But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
Elisha Succeeds Elijah
13 He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, saying, ‘Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?’ When he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.
15 When the company of prophets* who were at Jericho saw him at a distance, they declared, ‘The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.’ They came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. 16They said to him, ‘See now, we have fifty strong men among your servants; please let them go and seek your master; it may be that the spirit of the Lord has caught him up and thrown him down on some mountain or into some valley.’ He responded, ‘No, do not send them.’ 17But when they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, ‘Send them.’ So they sent fifty men who searched for three days but did not find him. 18When they came back to him (he had remained at Jericho), he said to them, ‘Did I not say to you, Do not go?’
Elisha Performs Miracles
19 Now the people of the city said to Elisha, ‘The location of this city is good, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the land is unfruitful.’ 20He said, ‘Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.’ So they brought it to him. 21Then he went to the spring of water and threw the salt into it, and said, ‘Thus says the Lord, I have made this water wholesome; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it.’ 22So the water has been wholesome to this day, according to the word that Elisha spoke.
23 He went up from there to Bethel; and while he was going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, ‘Go away, baldhead! Go away, baldhead!’ 24When he turned round and saw them, he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two she-bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys. 25From there he went on to Mount Carmel, and then returned to Samaria.
It took me a while to grasp this chapter. I believe I have an understanding.
Elijah departure from earth to heaven was on this wise:
Elijah, Elisha, the sons of the prophets, and the little children are the people we will see in this chapter.
Elijah moved from 4 named places. Gilgal, Bethel, Jordan, and Jerico.
The places symbolize our move with God.
1. Gilgal represents God exist
2. Bethel represents God must be praised/worshiped
3. Jordan- Entrance to the new life
4. Jerico- Removing things that separate us from God.
The people
1.Elijah-represents the Christ
2. Elisha represents the Holy Spirit working in and through us.
3. Sons of Prophets represent people at large (People who may be a distraction or help in your purpose of leadership)
4. The little children represent the fiery darts we will face in life.
Elijah and Elisha traveled as one. Each time a move was made, Elijah told Elijah to tarry in when he had to move, but Elijah knew that he did not want Elijah to be out of his sight for one moment. Elisha knew he had a short time left to actually be in Elijah's presence. Where Elijah moved Elisha moved.
Elisha was the student who wanted to do as his teacher did. Elijah saw something great in Elisha. Elijah asked Elisha what he wanted from him before he left. Elisha responded, give me a double portion of the power that works through you. Elisha may not have known that the more power you ask for, the more power you have to use. God does not give power for prestige.
Elijah assures Elisha, if you keep your eyes on me, you will have what you ask. Today that means, the more you know of God the more power you have to move for God. God does not give his understanding for nothing. That will make us puffed up. The energy that God gives must be utilized.
Elisha stayed with Elijah until he saw him taken away in a whirlwind. Elijah is taken to heaven in the presence of Elisha and those who viewed. Those who viewed were eyewitnesses of Elijah being taken away. This gives Elisha added support when he will need validation for his assignment. God allowed more than 2 witnesses to see and this will support Elisha's call, when others may doubt who he is and what God has anointed him to carry out.
The 50 sons of prophets watched from a distance. These men represent people who are curious, indecisive, and sometimes supportive. God is allowing Elisha to view life in the people he will be exposed to in his endeavor to carry out his assignment.
Elisha used the mantle dropped by Elijah and smote the water. This was the first miracle God did and those that stood by watched and recognized Elijsha had taken Elijah's place. The sons of the prophets were not fully convinced of what happened to Elijah. They asked Elisha for permission to search for him. Elisha emphatically said, no! Then the sons of the prophets persisted in asking again to search for Elijah and Elisha gave in reluctantly and said OK you may go on the search. After 3 days they returned and they did not find Elijah.
Elisha reminded them that he told them not to go and he proved himself again while being with the sons of the prophets that he was the prophet to take the responsibility of what Elijah had. Many times we see God put people in place of someone else: it should be viewed as God is giving the responsibility to another person. God does not fill in blanks. Elijah served God as he served people. This is clearly what God appointed Elisha to continue doing in backsliding Israel through Elisha. God does not take up space. He fulfills subscriptions/positions.
While moving more into his assignment, Elisha was tested again. This time little children came out of seemingly nowhere and insulted Elisha. Elisha did not overlook them because they were young. He spoke to them and cursed the insults against who he was in God's plan. He knew that no one had a right to insult God's plan. This serves as a warning to little children and to old men. We must be careful that you don't be found in the wrath of God for speaking against God's anointed. God sent nature's (female bears) to tare 42 of the children who were meddling with Elisha. The little children represent the little foxes who destroy crops or the fiery darts who are sent to distract.
When we know what is to be expected in our call of God, we should be not surprised of any of these negative events that took place in Elisha's first encounter with his newfound leadership role. When we accept the challenge of carrying out God's call in us, these scenarios should not cause us delays in finishing the assignment God has for each of us.
Elisha left them and went to Mount Carmel. This is the mountain where God proved to those in doubt that he was the living God. We must go to the place where God established for all to see, I am the living God. We should always stay where God lives, and that is in his Word.
From there he went to Samaria. Samaria represents the field of God for he has assigned for us. All of us will face our own battleground. If you continue in his work, you will be established in your field. Just as Ruth. She was placed in the field of Boaz and everything she needed was provided in her assigned place/ position.
Elisha's ministry begins.
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