Read chapter in full: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=ESV&search=2Kings+002
2 Kings Chapter 2 (ESV)
1 Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 And 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. 3 And 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.”
4 Elijah 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. 5 The 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.”
6 Then 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. 7 Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8 Then 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.
9 When 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.” 10 And 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.” 11 And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And 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.
REFLECTION:
- If time permits, please read the whole chapter through to learn how Elisha began his ministry after the departure of Elijah.
- This passage painted a beautiful picture between a current leader and his student as they walked their final journey together both knowing that Elijah will leave and pass on his work and God’s people to Elisha.
- Now imagine I am the future leader (Elisha). How would I feel as people around me keep repeating that Elijah is moving on? Do I have an “Elijah” whom I can walk with and experience God’s faithfulness?
- As a Christ-follower at PGC, do I serve brothers and sisters and God faithfully? Am I walking with my Elisha when I serve? Do I have an Elijah walking with me?
PRAYER:
Ask God to bring to mind one person that may be the Elijah or Elisha that God has prepared for me. Pray for that person and for the possibility of establishing such relationship in mentoring, teaching, learning and sharing.
HYMN:
“Find Us Faithful” – www.youtube.com/watch?v=eERKnxzNzwg
