2 Kings 2 Farewell Elijah
We say farewell to Elijah today. Elijah and Elisha both know that this is Elijah’s last day on earth. Elisha refuses to leave him alone in it.
Elijah is one of only two people who make it out of this life alive. Enoch, who walked with God and then “was not” was the first. Which makes me wonder if they are not the two witnesses of Revelation. It is just my supposition. I don’t have any scripture to back it up.
What we do see today is extreme loyalty. Both KNOW that this was Elijah’s last day on earth. Elisha refused to leave Elijah’s side. He would walk with him wherever he went, until the last moment of his life. I wonder if either of them has any idea what that last moment would look like. Let’s rejoin our story and walk the last day together with them.
♥ ♦ ♥
Elijah and Elisha rise with the morning sun. This morning breaks, like any other morning, but there is an expectancy about this day. The Spirit of the Lord is touching both of their hearts. He speaks to them of the fact that this is Elijah’s last day on earth.
Elijah is not sick or weak in body in the least. He is full of strength. But his spirit is tired. Having Elisha along with him has helped tremendously, but he is longing for an end to his service. He has seen so much and run so long, that he is weary. He WON’T quit though! As long as God keeps calling him, he will keep going.
When he hears the Lord calling him home, he is ready. But he does not want his departure from this life to hurt his young apprentice. “I will find a way to be alone so that I may spare him any pain” thinks Elijah.
Elisha knows in his spirit that this day is his master’s last. He will squeeze every last moment from this day. He will walk with his master until the moment of death and beyond if need be. “I do not know how You will take my master Lord, but I will be by his side when You do” Elisha promises the Lord and himself.
Neither man says to the other that they know what this day will bring. They eat their morning meal as usual. They dress for the day as always. And they step out the door into what awaits.
They are currently staying in Samaria. It has only been a few days since Elijah stood before Ahaziah and told him of his death. Jehoram is now king of Israel. The kingdom is observing their time of mourning of Ahaziah.
As Elijah and Elisha leave Samaria this morning and are traveling to Gilgal when Elijah tries to separate Elisha from the upcoming pain.
“Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel” (2 Kings 2:2a)
Elisha is alarmed that Elijah would try and separate himself. “Does he know what is to happen today” he wonders. No matter. He will NOT abandon his master. “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you” (2 Kings 2:2b).
The two walk on together. They talk of the normal things of the day. They encourage one another in the Lord, without either saying anything about what this day holds. When the reach Bethel, a group of prophets approach Elisha. They have a word for him.
“Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” (2 Kings 2:3a).
Elisha hushes them. He does not want them spreading this information around or upsetting Elijah. “Yes, I know it; keep quiet” (2 Kings 2:3b).
After the prophets drop away, Elijah turns to Elisha again. He tries again to spare Elisha from pain. “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jericho” (2 Kings 2:4a).
Elisha is pretty sure that his master overheard the prophets. He cannot leave him, no matter what. “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you” (2 Kings 2:4b).
Elijah doesn’t press the matter and the two walk on to Jericho. Elijah keeps encouraging Elisha in the Lord along the way. When they get near Jericho, a group of prophets approach Elisha.
“Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” (2 Kings 2:5a).
Elisha, quietly but firmly, answers them. “Yes, I know it; keep quiet” (2 Kings 2:5b).
Shortly after the prophets depart Elijah tries a third time to separate himself from Elijah. “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan” (2 Kings 6a).
Elisha is certain that Elijah heard the prophets this time. No matter. He still will not leave Elijah to face this alone. “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you” (2 Kings 2:6b).
The two walk on to the west side of the Jordan river. Elisha isn’t paying attention to what is going on around them. His eyes are fixed on Elijah, ready to eliminate any pain he feels and be with him in his last moments of life.
As the two of them walk on, fifty prophets watch from a place near Jericho. They are curious to see what is going to happen. They know that Elijah will die, but not how, where, or exactly when. They don’t take their eyes off the two prophets for an instant.
Elisha can feel their eyes on the back of his neck, but he purposefully refuses to turn and look at them. His eyes are fixed on Elijah. When they reach the Jordan, without speaking a word, Elijah takes off his outer robe, rolls it up, and strikes the water with it.
Instantly, the water on either side of them begins to pile up and a path of dry river bottom lays before them. Elisha has seen Elijah do miracles before, but this is the first time he has seen a miracle of old performed before his eyes. His mind immediately goes back to the stories of his youth, about Joshua and the Israelites walking across the Jordan on dry ground. He smiles as he follows Elijah between the water.
When they reach the other side of the Jordan, the water falls back into its place, as if it had never been disturbed. Elijah and Elisha keep walking, without turning to inspect it. After a moment though, Elisha has to say something. “Master…”
“I know my son” Elijah smiles at Elisha. Elisha shakes his head and they walk on a little further.
Elisha is feeling the weight of Elijah’s impending departure. He knows it can be any time now. He is pretty certain that Elijah heard the prophets. And absolutely certain that Elijah knows as much as they do. He is thinking of the best way to address the subject when Elijah takes it out of his hands.
Elijah stops and looks Elisha square in the eye. No more talking and walking. No more small talk. No more simple encouragement. Down to the subject they have both been avoiding all day.
“Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you” (2 Kings 2:9a).
Elisha already knows what he wants. It burns within him, and he is grateful for this opportunity to ask for it.
“Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me” (2 Kings 2:9b).
Elijah looks at Elisha with new eyes. Eyes of admiration, as well as eyes that understand the cost of what Elisha is asking. “Who am I to deny him this request, even though I know it will be costly to him” thinks Elijah. To Elisha he agrees to his request, with one condition.
“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” (2 Kings 2:10).
Elisha’s eyes are glued to Elijah. NOTHING could make him look away now! Elijah turns and they resume walking. Elijah points out places he has visited in his youth, they talk of the kings that are currently on the throne, they discuss what life might look like for Elisha up ahead, and they share their deep abiding love for one another.
“I know you will be with the Lord, my father, but I will miss you terribly. I’m sure there will be times when I want to tell you about something exciting that happened in my day, or to ask your advice regarding some issue…”
“You can speak to the Lord of these things. He is always ready to listen. I know it won’t be the same, but I know you won’t be alone either. I have no doubt that he will send others alongside you to help you when you need it. To lift you when you are discouraged. To talk over concerns that may arise. And to give you the opportunity to share of the Lord. Some of those opportunities will not be easy. There will be those who persecute you for speaking the truth. Do not let the stop you!”
As Elijah is finishing his words to Elisha a sound begins in the heavens. The two men look up and a fiery chariot and flaming horses swoop down. Their presence separates the two men as cleanly as any sword could, and Elijah is swept up into the center of the chariot. Two angels stand on either side of him, keeping him safe as they ascend towards the heavens.
Elisha’s eyes are wide and his heart is beating as fast as a humming bird. In his excitement he calls out; “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” (2 Kings 2:12).
As the chariot begins to rise, Elijah holds his hand over the side and drops his outer robe. Elijah is passing his anointing to Elisha in this act. Elisha watches it fall for a second before turning his eyes back to Elijah and the chariot. In moments they are gone.
Elisha walks over to the place where Elijah’s robe landed. He fingers the fabric for a moment. Then he grabs hold of his own outer robe and tears it in two. He makes certain to tear it completely in two. To him, this is a symbol of leaving behind the life he knew before Elijah. Of stepping out of the role of student. That role is now behind him.
Elisha then retrieves Elijah’s robe from where it fell and wraps it around himself. The feeling of it is unlike anything else he has ever experienced. His spirit receives comfort and strength. And the robe fits as though it was made just for him.
Elijah is ready to return home. He turns around and retraces his footsteps. He thinks about how there were two sets going one way and there is only one going back. But he does not feel alone. He knows his master is safe, and that God will be with him wherever he goes.
Elisha reaches the Jordan while he is still thinking things over. As he looks at the Jordan, he knows what he is going to do. “I will do the same thing Elijah did to bring us here. Elisha takes Elijah’s robe from his own back, rolls it up, and prepares to strike the water with it. As he is swinging the robe towards the water’s edge, he calls out; “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” (2 Kings 2:14).
The water reacts exactly like it did when Elijah struck it with the robe. Elisha’s eyes open wide in excitement. He watches the hand of God move on his behalf. As he walks between the halves of the water, he again thinks of Joshua and the people of Israel. “As they walked into a new land, I am walking into a new life. Lead me Lord God where I must go.”
The prophets who had been watching from Jericho see Elisha part the waters and walk back through them. Excitement bubbles up in each of them. One says what they are all thinking. “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha” (2 Kings 2:15).
These words were like a band around them. As soon as they are released into the air, the whole group hurries to meet up with Elisha. When they reach him, they all start talking at once. Elisha holds up his hand and they quiet down.
They had all witnessed a portion of Elijah being drawn up in the fiery chariot, for they had watched the two men as best as they could. Now that they are all quiet, one man speaks of their concern for Elijah.
“Behold now, there are with your servants fifty strong men. Please let them go and seek your master. It may be that the Spirit of the Lord has caught him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley” (2 Kings 2:16a).
Elisha KNOWS that Elijah is gone. That he is safe with the Lord. “You shall not send” (2 Kings 2:17a), he tells them.
But they keep urging him. “What if he is hurt somewhere, waiting for you?”
Elisha knows Elijah is nowhere on this earth, but their pleas keep coming. To show them that he was listening to their concerns he finally relents and says; “Send” (2 Kings 2:17b).
All fifty men set out searching for Elijah. They are determined to find him; dead or alive. While they search, Elijah goes to Jericho and waits for their return. It would not do to have them searching and him walk away. That would look callous, and Elisha is anything but that.
While Elisha waits in the city. While he is drawing water from the well for a drink, some of the men of the city come to him. They know he has been with Elijah and is a man of God. Maybe he can help.
Elisha takes a sip of the water and notices a strange taste. The men see his face and are quick with their request for help.
“Behold, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees, but the water is bad, and the land is unfruitful” (2 Kings 2:19), they say wile looking at the dipper in his hand.
Elisha nods and says; “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it” (2 Kings 2:20).
The men rush off to do exactly as directed. They are back in minutes with the new bowl containing salt. Elisha reaches a hand towards them and they place the bowl in his hand. Then they stand back to watch.
Elisha begins walking. He goes to the mouth of the spring where their water comes from and throws the salt into the water. He turns to them to address them.
“Thus says the Lord, I have healed this water; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it” (2 Kings 2:21).
The men are excited. One of them hurries to the well to draw a dipper of water. He brings it to his lips and tastes the sweet clean water. He refills it and carefully brings it back to Elisha to drink. Elisha smiles, tastes the water, smacks his lips, then drains the dipper. A cheer erupts from the men and they walk back to the city with Elisha. After arriving, they part company. Elisha goes to the home of a man in the city whom he and Elijah know. Here he will wait until the men come back from their futile search.
After three days of searching, the fifty men return empty handed. They are discouraged and sorrowful. “I’m sorry, my lord. We could not find Elijah.”
Elijah shakes his head. “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?” (2 Kings 2:18). He turns and walks away. He is free now to leave the city.
Elisha continues his journey home. As he nears the city of Bethel a rowdy group of young boys begin to taunt him. “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” (2 Kings 2:23) they cry out. Elisha tires to ignore them. At one point he tells them to leave. But nothing stops them from taunting him and following right behind him as he walks along.
Elisha finally has enough. He turns back to them. With fierceness in his eyes and voice, Elisha calls down a curse on the boys. “May the Lord repay you for your evil treatment of me. I have done you no wrong, yet you torment me. May the Lord judge between you and me.”
Elisha turns back and continues on his way home. The boys stop following him and begin laughing. A minute later, two mamma bears come out of the forest. They strike down all of the boys. They will torment no one ever again.
Elisha finally makes it home to Samaria. Several people come and ask him what happened to Elijah. After he tells them, no one needs ask again. The word flies through to town. Within a week, everyone knows the story of Elijah’s disappearance. Those who loved Elijah mourned him for thirty days.
(to be continued)
Elisha’s dedication to Elijah was amazing. Many people will stay with their family members as they are dying. But those are family and almost expected to make this sacrifice. Some do it willingly, some grudgingly, and others refuse to participate at all.
The person that is receiving the service is sick and ill. Elijah was neither. He was physically healthy. He was spiritually tired. He had rallied, but he was done. He happily went home. He didn’t resist the journey at all. He did try to make his transition alone, but Elisha loved him too much to leave him at this time in his life. THAT’S LOVE.
How do we treat those we say we love? Sick or well? Do we stand beside them, no matter what comes? Do we give of ourselves, knowing that they have nothing to give in return? Do we wait quietly as they work through their own struggle? Do we lend whatever comfort we can?
Or do we walk away and let them do it on their own? Do we get so wrapped up in our own lives that there isn’t room for anyone else? Do we care more about how we look than how we love? Do we say “It’s a normal part of aging that I don’t need to be there for.”
Father God, give me strength as I exhibit true love in my life. Strengthen me as I hold others up. There are days when I have nothing more to give. On those days especially Lord, let me show Your love. Give me patience in those times Lord. Don’t allow me to become angry or short, even when my body and spirit call out for relief.
I used to have trouble remembering who came first, Elijah or Elisha. I don’t know if you have that trouble or not. But here is what fixed it for me. I realized that they appear in the bible in alphabetical order. EliJah, then EliSha. Just thought some might be interested.
