December 29, 2021
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in 2 Kings? Here’s today’s reading:
2 Kings 2 (NIV)
Elijah Taken Up to Heaven
1 When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 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?”.......Continue Reading
Read Luke a chapter 12 this morning.
“Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth much more than many sparrows!”
Luke 12:7 GNTD
https://bible.com/bible/69/luk.12.7.GNTD
2 Kings 2
What a neat window into Elijah and Elisha’s relationship, Elijah the elder prophet and Elisha the new designee. Elisha’s care is evident in not letting Elijah go anywhere without staying with him, even after several detours. It is interesting that there were companies of prophets in these locations and they knew God’s plan for Elijah, but it is curious that Elisha doesn’t want to speak of it. Is it an indication that he will miss him too much and doesn’t want to talk about leaving? Or he just wants to trust God for the circumstances and timing or doesn’t want to trouble Elijah with the conversation. And it would be typical for a mentor to hand something over upon transferring responsibility. So it is fitting for Elijah to ask and impressive that Elisha asks for a double portion of his spirit…in that is power and wisdom, guidance and presence. And how miraculous that Elijah is taken up without dying. And what great confirmation that he was with God that they couldn’t find him. And just in case you wondered the nature of Elisha’s power/ability: he solves a problem for a city and shows some youthful mockers you just don’t mess with God’s prophet. They knew that about Elijah. Now they know it is true about Elisha as well.
It did seem a special relationship between Elijah and Elisha. Elisha who would be taking over certainly showed how much he was going to miss Elijah by staying with him to the very end no matter what journey or obstacle came.
I was confused at the extreme response to the mockers but i guess Elisha needed to establish himself as a true prophet with God’s power on his side even though I would have hoped cleaning up the water and the land would have dispelled anyone’s doubts.
Elisha stays with Elijah until the very end and asks for a double portion of his spirit. I have many questions that I would love to investigate about this chapter. It is interesting that Elijah doesn’t answer but proposes an “if this happens….then this will happen” scenario. I took this to mean that Elijah didn’t have the power to give a double portion, but only God does.