2 Kings 2:1 New International Version (NIV)2 When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. All the stories of the Bible have a reason for being there and this one is no exception. We find Elijah and Elisha leaving Gilgal a place where Israel begins her journey into the promise land. It was here that they were circumcised and went into covenant with God. Salvation if you would. It was the start not the end of a journey. 2 Kings 2:2-3 New International Version (NIV) 2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3 The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so be quiet.” Next we find them going up to Bethel. Elijah seems to be discouraging Elisha in going there. God will often test us to see how bad we want something. What price will you pay? Nevertheless Elisha presses on and goes to Bethel. Bethel is a place where Jacob (Israel) mistakenly believes it is the gate of Heaven not understanding that God has called him , Israel ,to be the Gateway to heaven. It is a whole new level for one to walk in from receiving salvation to being the one to give salvation to others. Here we find a company of profits who though they have some revelation they are unwilling to go any further in there walk. Pay a greater price. 2 Kings 2:4-5 New International Version (NIV) 4 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho. 5 The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” he replied, “so be quiet.” Once again Elijah tries to discourage Elisha from going yet further but he has his eye on the prize. Jericho was dedicated to God. All of Jericho was to be given to God nothing was to be left before Israel could go into the promise land. They could not stand before their enemies till all was burned. Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when all is burned up in your life the Devil can’t burn you. Here we find another company of prophets with some revelation of what is going on, but God is to ask more of Elisha. 2 Kings 2:6-8 New International Version (NIV) 6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on. 7 Fifty men from the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. 8 Elijah took his cloak rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground. They all go to the edge of the Jordan. It would be on the other side in the wilderness that Jesus would be tempted and tried. It is a place these prophets of Jericho were unwilling to go. The comfort of the city was a hard thing to leave. Only two would go across and pay that price. 2 Kings 2:9-15 New International Version (NIV) 9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. 10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.” 11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two. 13 Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over. 15 The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. The oldest son in the Jewish family was to get a double portion of the inheritance and be head of the household. Elisha wants more of God than the rest and ask for this honor, but there is a price to be paid. Only one was willing. The other prophets stayed on the other side of the Jordan and could only watch from a distance only Elisha experienced the Glory of God. He was not distracted by the things of this world, but keep his eyes on God as a result he watch as that cloak of Elijah floated down from Heaven and he picked it up tore of his old self and put on the mantel (cloak) of God. It was then the power of God was on him and revelation that the other did not know. Luke 24:45-52 New International Version (NIV) 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. Jesus was taken to Heaven in much the same way as Elijah. He let his cloak of the Holy Spirit fall back to earth. Pick it up and put it on.
Posted on: Wed, 23 Oct 2013 13:41:39 +0000
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