You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. He [Jesus] must increase, but I [John the Baptist] must decrease. - John 3:28-30
This morning we are going to turn our attention away from the kings of Judah and Israel. Instead, we are going to discuss the prophet Elijah and his successor Elisha. Following the chronology of 2 Kings, the events we’ll cover this morning occurred soon after the death of Ahaziah and the crowning of Jehoram (his brother) as ruler over the northern kingdom.
It is important to remember that Elijah had already selected Elisha to become his replacement a few years earlier during the reign of King Ahab. In fact, Elisha had left his family and home behind in order to follow Elijah as his disciple (1 Kings 19:16b, 19-21). Therefore, these 2 prophets had known each other and even ministered together for a while. In today’s message, we will read about the official “passing of the torch” from Elijah to Elisha.
I. JOURNEY TO THE JORDAN (2 Kings 2:1-8)
The Lord instructed Elijah to go to Bethel. Elijah told his disciple Elisha to stay behind, but he insisted on going with him. So the 2 men departed from Gilgal and came to Bethel. When they arrived, the sons of the prophets there asked Elisha if he knew that the LORD intended to take his master away from him that day. Elisha indicated that he was aware of God’s plan and encouraged them to remain calm.
Then the Lord instructed Elijah to continue on to Jericho. Again he asked Elisha to stay behind, but Elisha insisted on going with him. When they reached Jericho, the sons of the prophets there also asked Elisha if he knew that God planned to take Elijah his master away, and Elisha said, “Yes, I know, but don’t be troubled by it.”
Then the Lord instructed Elijah to keep going to the Jordan River. Elijah asked Elisha to stay in Jericho, but insisted on going so the 2 men went together, accompanied by 50 sons of the prophets. When they arrived at the Jordan, Elijah took off his mantle and struck the waters. The river parted and he and Elisha crossed over on dry ground to the opposite side while the 50 sons of the prophets stayed put and watched from a distance.
Apparently God had already revealed His intentions to Elijah, Elisha, and the sons of the prophets in both Bethel and Jericho. They already knew that the LORD was about to formally replace Elijah with Elisha as the prominent prophet in Israel. In fact, they were somewhat unsettled by it so Elisha tried to reassure them and relieve their anxiety.
II. TRANSLATION AND SEARCH (2 Kings 2:9-18)
Having crossed to the opposite side of the Jordan, Elijah asked Elisha if there was any departing thing he might do from him. Elisha asked for a double-portion of Elijah’s spirit to be upon him. Elijah answered that if Elisha was able to see him being taken away, it would be a sign that God had granted his request. As they were walking, suddenly the 2 men were separated by a fiery chariot and flaming horses and Elijah was taken up by a whirlwind to heaven as Elisha watched. As he was whisked away, Elijah dropped his mantle to the ground. Elisha mourned his master’s departure, took up the mantle (signifying the transition of office), and used it to divide and cross back over the river.
The 50 sons of the prophets, who had observed everything from a distance, declared that Elijah’s spirit now rested on Elisha. They asked Elisha if they might go search for Elijah in the surrounding area and perhaps find where God had taken him. Elisha discouraged them from doing so, but they insisted until he consented. They searched for Elijah for 3 days and were unable to find him. When they called off the search, Elisha said, “I told you not to go.”
The traditional view is that Elijah was taken up into Heaven, where God the Father abides. However, many contemporary Bible students (myself included) disagree with this assessment. I tend to think that Elijah was translated to another somewhat distant and discrete location on the earth where he later died in obscurity. Here are a few (but not all) of the reasons why I hold this opinion. First, the Hebrew word for heavens in this passage is most often translated “sky” elsewhere in the Bible. Second, the fact that the witnesses wanted to look for him suggests that he was taken away across the sky, not up into Heaven. Third, as we’ll read in a few weeks, some years later King Jehoram of Judah received a letter sent from an unknown location that was written by Elijah (2 Chronicles 21:12-15). Fourth, there are examples of instantaneous relocation to another place on the earth in both John (6:21) and Acts (8:39-40). Fifth, and most significant to me, Jesus explicitly said that He was the first person to ascend into Heaven (John 3:13) - not Elijah (or Enoch for that matter).
III. RETURN TO SAMARIA (2 Kings 2:19-25)
After the failed search for Elijah, the people of Jericho informed Elisha that the city’s water was bad and, accordingly, the land was unfruitful He requested that they bring him a new jar that had been filled with salt. He went out to the principal spring that supplied Jericho’s water. He sprinkled some salt into it and declared that the Lord had miraculously purified the water. Sure enough, the waters were cleaned and have remained clear and good ever since.
Elisha went up from there to Bethel. He was met by a large hoard of “young lads” from the city. They ruthlessly mocked him, shouting, “Go up, baldhead!” He looked at them and cursed them in the name of the LORD. 2 female bears came out of the woods and mauled 42 of the lads. Elisha continued on to Mount Carmel and from there returned to Samaria.
This episode is often perceived to be quite disturbing and incomprehensible. It has been depicted as a rash and impulsive decision by an insecure prophet to curse children leading to their violent deaths, simply because they were name-calling him. But, upon further study, the same Hebrew word translated “children” in the King James Version of this passage is also used regularly in Scripture to refer to young men or servants. Furthermore, they were taunting Elisha to “go up” like Elijah had done, apparently well aware of Elijah’s miraculous translation. This makes me wonder if these young men were the aforementioned “sons of the prophets” in Bethel, or were affiliated with them in some way. Regardless, a more apt understanding of this story is that a large group of informed young men confronted Elisha, bitterly questioning and scornfully doubting his credentials as Elijah’s rightful successor, and were judged by God for their dismissive behavior. This is comparable to those who accepted John the Baptist as legitimate, but then despised and rejected Jesus who followed thereafter.
CONCLUSION
A major theme of today’s message is the transition of status from Elijah to Elisha. For the past several years, Elijah had been the premiere prophet in Israel. Among other things, he had announced the beginning and ending of the drought, he’d blessed the widow’s flour and oil so that it would not run out, he’d raised her young son from the dead, he’d challenged the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel, he’d called fire down from heaven 3 times (once to consume a sacrifice and twice to consume a captain and his soldiers), and he had given specific prophecies of doom to Ahab, Jezebel, and Ahaziah. When you have been successful in ministry like Elijah was, sometimes it can be hard to step aside and let others lead, but he did so gracefully and in spectacular fashion. Passing the baton takes a measure of humility.
Likewise, it can be difficult to follow in and step out of the shadow of a great leader. Elisha had some big shoes to fill and, naturally, he felt some degree of pressure. This is why he asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit to be upon him, and it explains why all of the sons of the prophets were somewhat nervous about the change. Would Elisha be up to the challenge? Could he rise to the level of his mentor? Could he become the great man of God that Elijah was? Obviously there were some “haters” in Bethel who didn’t think so. Only time would tell…
Beloved, I close with this simple thought... We have led our own lives long enough. It is time to hand the reins over to Jesus and give him control. We must decrease, and He must increase.
This morning we are going to turn our attention away from the kings of Judah and Israel. Instead, we are going to discuss the prophet Elijah and his successor Elisha. Following the chronology of 2 Kings, the events we’ll cover this morning occurred soon after the death of Ahaziah and the crowning of Jehoram (his brother) as ruler over the northern kingdom.
It is important to remember that Elijah had already selected Elisha to become his replacement a few years earlier during the reign of King Ahab. In fact, Elisha had left his family and home behind in order to follow Elijah as his disciple (1 Kings 19:16b, 19-21). Therefore, these 2 prophets had known each other and even ministered together for a while. In today’s message, we will read about the official “passing of the torch” from Elijah to Elisha.
I. JOURNEY TO THE JORDAN (2 Kings 2:1-8)
The Lord instructed Elijah to go to Bethel. Elijah told his disciple Elisha to stay behind, but he insisted on going with him. So the 2 men departed from Gilgal and came to Bethel. When they arrived, the sons of the prophets there asked Elisha if he knew that the LORD intended to take his master away from him that day. Elisha indicated that he was aware of God’s plan and encouraged them to remain calm.
Then the Lord instructed Elijah to continue on to Jericho. Again he asked Elisha to stay behind, but Elisha insisted on going with him. When they reached Jericho, the sons of the prophets there also asked Elisha if he knew that God planned to take Elijah his master away, and Elisha said, “Yes, I know, but don’t be troubled by it.”
Then the Lord instructed Elijah to keep going to the Jordan River. Elijah asked Elisha to stay in Jericho, but insisted on going so the 2 men went together, accompanied by 50 sons of the prophets. When they arrived at the Jordan, Elijah took off his mantle and struck the waters. The river parted and he and Elisha crossed over on dry ground to the opposite side while the 50 sons of the prophets stayed put and watched from a distance.
Apparently God had already revealed His intentions to Elijah, Elisha, and the sons of the prophets in both Bethel and Jericho. They already knew that the LORD was about to formally replace Elijah with Elisha as the prominent prophet in Israel. In fact, they were somewhat unsettled by it so Elisha tried to reassure them and relieve their anxiety.
II. TRANSLATION AND SEARCH (2 Kings 2:9-18)
Having crossed to the opposite side of the Jordan, Elijah asked Elisha if there was any departing thing he might do from him. Elisha asked for a double-portion of Elijah’s spirit to be upon him. Elijah answered that if Elisha was able to see him being taken away, it would be a sign that God had granted his request. As they were walking, suddenly the 2 men were separated by a fiery chariot and flaming horses and Elijah was taken up by a whirlwind to heaven as Elisha watched. As he was whisked away, Elijah dropped his mantle to the ground. Elisha mourned his master’s departure, took up the mantle (signifying the transition of office), and used it to divide and cross back over the river.
The 50 sons of the prophets, who had observed everything from a distance, declared that Elijah’s spirit now rested on Elisha. They asked Elisha if they might go search for Elijah in the surrounding area and perhaps find where God had taken him. Elisha discouraged them from doing so, but they insisted until he consented. They searched for Elijah for 3 days and were unable to find him. When they called off the search, Elisha said, “I told you not to go.”
The traditional view is that Elijah was taken up into Heaven, where God the Father abides. However, many contemporary Bible students (myself included) disagree with this assessment. I tend to think that Elijah was translated to another somewhat distant and discrete location on the earth where he later died in obscurity. Here are a few (but not all) of the reasons why I hold this opinion. First, the Hebrew word for heavens in this passage is most often translated “sky” elsewhere in the Bible. Second, the fact that the witnesses wanted to look for him suggests that he was taken away across the sky, not up into Heaven. Third, as we’ll read in a few weeks, some years later King Jehoram of Judah received a letter sent from an unknown location that was written by Elijah (2 Chronicles 21:12-15). Fourth, there are examples of instantaneous relocation to another place on the earth in both John (6:21) and Acts (8:39-40). Fifth, and most significant to me, Jesus explicitly said that He was the first person to ascend into Heaven (John 3:13) - not Elijah (or Enoch for that matter).
III. RETURN TO SAMARIA (2 Kings 2:19-25)
After the failed search for Elijah, the people of Jericho informed Elisha that the city’s water was bad and, accordingly, the land was unfruitful He requested that they bring him a new jar that had been filled with salt. He went out to the principal spring that supplied Jericho’s water. He sprinkled some salt into it and declared that the Lord had miraculously purified the water. Sure enough, the waters were cleaned and have remained clear and good ever since.
Elisha went up from there to Bethel. He was met by a large hoard of “young lads” from the city. They ruthlessly mocked him, shouting, “Go up, baldhead!” He looked at them and cursed them in the name of the LORD. 2 female bears came out of the woods and mauled 42 of the lads. Elisha continued on to Mount Carmel and from there returned to Samaria.
This episode is often perceived to be quite disturbing and incomprehensible. It has been depicted as a rash and impulsive decision by an insecure prophet to curse children leading to their violent deaths, simply because they were name-calling him. But, upon further study, the same Hebrew word translated “children” in the King James Version of this passage is also used regularly in Scripture to refer to young men or servants. Furthermore, they were taunting Elisha to “go up” like Elijah had done, apparently well aware of Elijah’s miraculous translation. This makes me wonder if these young men were the aforementioned “sons of the prophets” in Bethel, or were affiliated with them in some way. Regardless, a more apt understanding of this story is that a large group of informed young men confronted Elisha, bitterly questioning and scornfully doubting his credentials as Elijah’s rightful successor, and were judged by God for their dismissive behavior. This is comparable to those who accepted John the Baptist as legitimate, but then despised and rejected Jesus who followed thereafter.
CONCLUSION
A major theme of today’s message is the transition of status from Elijah to Elisha. For the past several years, Elijah had been the premiere prophet in Israel. Among other things, he had announced the beginning and ending of the drought, he’d blessed the widow’s flour and oil so that it would not run out, he’d raised her young son from the dead, he’d challenged the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel, he’d called fire down from heaven 3 times (once to consume a sacrifice and twice to consume a captain and his soldiers), and he had given specific prophecies of doom to Ahab, Jezebel, and Ahaziah. When you have been successful in ministry like Elijah was, sometimes it can be hard to step aside and let others lead, but he did so gracefully and in spectacular fashion. Passing the baton takes a measure of humility.
Likewise, it can be difficult to follow in and step out of the shadow of a great leader. Elisha had some big shoes to fill and, naturally, he felt some degree of pressure. This is why he asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit to be upon him, and it explains why all of the sons of the prophets were somewhat nervous about the change. Would Elisha be up to the challenge? Could he rise to the level of his mentor? Could he become the great man of God that Elijah was? Obviously there were some “haters” in Bethel who didn’t think so. Only time would tell…
Beloved, I close with this simple thought... We have led our own lives long enough. It is time to hand the reins over to Jesus and give him control. We must decrease, and He must increase.