He invited his servant, Elisha, to go along with him, and the pair set off for what I see as a "teaching journey. Elijah took off his mantle - a wide, loose-fitting garment or gown - and he smote the water with it.
Supernaturally, the waters parted, and the two men crossed over on dry ground see 2 Kings When they reached the other side, Elijah turned to his servant and said: "Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee" verse 9. Without hesitation, the younger man answered, "I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me" same verse.
At first glance, Elijah appeared surprised by Elisha's response. He said, "Thou hast asked a hard thing Then he answered, " He was saying, "If you see me as the Lord is taking me away, your desire will be fulfilled. But if you miss the action, you'll have to go home disappointed. As they walked along, suddenly a chariot appeared out of heaven and separated the men. In a flash, Elijah was taken up in the chariot - and Elisha witnessed the whole scene.
He cried out, "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces" verse Elijah was gone - but his mantle had dropped to the ground.
When Elisha saw it, he ripped off his own clothes, tore them into pieces and placed Elijah's mantle on his back. Then he returned to the Jordan and did just as his master had done: He took off the mantle and struck the water with it.
Immediately the waters parted, and Elisha walked over on dry ground. Thus began the young prophet's own remarkable ministry. The events in this chapter are absolutely incredible. Yet what does this passage have to say to us today? I believe God has given us an unmistakable lesson here, with a clear, simple meaning: God wants to do greater things with each succeeding generation. And each new generation must seek the Lord for its own experience of the Holy Spirit and its own enduement of power from him.
But it's another thing for us to ask God to perform wonders for us. Yet that is exactly what our Lord desires for us. He wants to perform miracles and provide more of his Spirit for his people beyond anything seen in the past.
He longs to increase and enlarge our faith - so that, like Elisha, we ask for a double portion of his Spirit, for his glory. In this Old Testament scene, Elijah is a type of Christ ascending to the father. And Jesus promises us, "You're going to do greater works than even I have done, because I go to my father" see John He's saying, in essence, "You're going to need more of my anointing, power and authority than any past generation has had.
And my Spirit is going to endue you with all you need to overcome. Why did the older prophet want his servant to accompany him to Bethel and Jericho? Surely it wasn't just a sentimental journey for Elijah, one last trip down memory lane. No - this wise, old man wanted to teach Elisha - as well as us today - our need for more of God's power and anointing.
The two men first came to Bethel, whose name means "house of God. Jacob himself had offered his sacrifice there. Yet, over the years, something had happened to the city. Jeroboam had set up a golden calf there, and soon the people were given over to idolatry. As a result, an entire generation had been lost to skepticism, scoffing and mockery, robbing their children of any trace of Bethel's spiritual roots.
Things were so bad, these people probably mocked Elijah and Elisha as the two arrived. How do we know this? Just a day or so later, when Elisha came back to Bethel, the young men of the town ran out to mock him. Now, as they walked through the streets, Elijah probably noticed his servant's horror and indignation at the totally backslidden society.
Elijah himself had faced mockers and scoffers in his own day, on Mount Carmel. But he knew it would take even greater supernatural strength to face this new generation.
These young people were far more hardened and godless than the idolatrous priests he had battled. I believe it was at this point that Elijah decided to test his servant. He most likely suggested, "Elisha, why don't you settle here and pastor these people? You have a sure calling, and you've been well-trained. You could help restore Bethel's great heritage. I'm sure Elisha listened, because he knew his master had powerful discernment. Yet I believe the young man quickly recalled the story of another prophet.
God had sent a certain unnamed spokesman to Bethel to prophesy against Jeroboam's idolatry. This prophet had cried, "Jeroboam, your golden calf is coming down" - and immediately the idol fell from the altar, spilling ashes. When Jeroboam saw this, he reached out to strike the prophet - but suddenly his hand was paralyzed. God affirmed the unnamed prophet's ministry with other supernatural works. Yet this same holy prophet was later seduced and compromised by a lack of spiritual power.
As Elisha surveyed the situation in Bethel, he knew he wasn't ready to stand up against the wicked spirits there. He realized what Elijah had known all along - the need for the Holy Spirit to do a greater, more powerful work in him before he could face down the evil in such a wicked city.
So he told his master, "As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee Then, scripture says, " I believe Bethel represents the kind of evil society our own nation has become in just a generation's time. We too live among scoffers and mockers - sensual people given over to lust, idolatry, homosexuality. And this present generation is worse than any Elijah or Elisha ever faced.
Those holy prophets saw children mocking, scoffing and blaspheming - but America's children are murdering one another. Ten-year-old boys are raping five-year-old girls. Young children are killing without any guilt or sorrow - cutting down parents, classmates, innocent strangers. I don't wish to make a broad, sweeping judgment against all youth.
I know there are many godly teenagers in this society who are on fire for Jesus. I thank God for every young person who takes a stand for Christ in these wicked times. Yet, this evil day demands that God's people obtain a double portion of his power and authority, to be able to reach this lost generation.
It's going to require a measure of anointing such as we have never seen in all of history. It demands that a holy remnant rise up like Elisha and cry, "Oh, Lord - more is needed. Elijah and Elisha proceeded to Jericho, which means "a place called pleasant.
There were no trees, no pastures, no fruit. Everything had withered because a stream of poison had infiltrated Jericho's water supply. This city represents dead, dry Christianity - a church Jesus describes in Revelation this way: " Elijah had established a school of prophets in Jericho, and apparently he and Elisha visited the school. More on this topic: See Robert D. August Accept the Challenge L.
Tom Perry. Me, a Pioneer? Mei Hsiang Moyer. The Mantle of Elijah Bruce L. Hardy Jr. Children of Divorce Elaine Walton. Taking the Higher Road W. Craig Zwick. Enriching Our Prayers Dan B.
Prayer in a Practical Vein Kayleen Silver. Following a Prompting Claralyn C. Polly Daw. Bernadene G. Oh, no! He loved His servant no less when Elijah felt himself forsaken of God and man than when, in answer to his prayer, fire flashed from heaven and illuminated the mountaintop. And now, as Elijah slept, a soft touch and a pleasant voice awoke him.
He started up in terror, as if to flee, fearing that the enemy had discovered him. But the pitying face bending over him was not the face of an enemy, but of a friend.
God had sent an angel from heaven with food for His servant. A second time the angel came. If, under trying circumstances, men of spiritual power, pressed beyond measure, become discouraged and desponding; if at times they see nothing desirable in life, that they should choose it, this is nothing strange or new. Let all such remember that one of the mightiest of the prophets fled for his life before the rage of an infuriated woman.
A fugitive, weary and travel-worn, bitter disappointment crushing his spirits, he asked that he might die. But it was when hope was gone, and his life-work seemed threatened with defeat, that he learned one of the most precious lessons of his life.
In the hour of his greatest weakness he learned the need and the possibility of trusting God under circumstances the most forbidding. Those who, standing in the forefront of the conflict, are impelled by the Holy Spirit to do a special work, will frequently feel a reaction when the pressure is removed. Despondency may shake the most heroic faith and weaken the most steadfast will.
But God understands, and He still pities and loves. He reads the motives and the purposes of the heart. Heaven will not fail them in their day of adversity. He wrapped his face in his mantle and went out to stand in the mouth of the cave On the continuum between arrogance and humility, where was Elijah at this time?
Elijah throws his mantle on Elisha 1 Kings The biblical account is very cryptic here. Elijah simple throws his mantle on Elisha and keeps on going. What kind of intellectual, spiritual, and emotional impact would such an experience make on an apprentice prophet? Ahab repents in sackcloth 1 Kings Jezebel had arranged to kill Naboth, the man who refused to give the king his ancestral land. When Ahab went down to look over his newly-acquired vineyard, Elijah was there to meet him.
Elijah proceeds to pronounce a stinging judgment on Ahab and his family. Was it all a fake? The angels of God in their messages to men represent time as very short. Thus it has always been presented to me. It is true that time has continued longer than we expected in the early days of this message. Our Saviour did not appear as soon as we hoped. But has the Word of the Lord failed? It should be remembered that the promises and the threatenings of God are alike conditional.
Elijah picked up the mantle of his departed master.
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