2 Kings 2:1-12a
August 17, 2021
Elijah Taken to Heaven
Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he said, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.”
Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.”
Then Elijah said to him, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. Then Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up and struck the water, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground.
When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” And he said, “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.” And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more.
One cannot read this account without some conviction of how little is our faith, and examine how different life would be if we had the faith of Elijah or Elisha. It is easy to dismiss with that was a special time of the prophets and God calls special men, men very different than you and me. The last part is on spot, but how many of the men God called was not what one would pick as leadership material, some had weak faith, but all had this in common; they fear God more than men of standing. And it did not end with the prophets, just take a look at the men Jesus pick to be his disciples. One might also wonder where have the George Muller, and the Hudson Taylors of our time gone.
God has not changed, and I am sure and without doubt, He is still speaking and calling men all over the world, but is He speaking to you at this time and if so will you fear Him like Elijah?
When Elijah got to the Jordan River, he did not have any doubt about God parting the river so he and Elijah could cross over, for his ride home. Do you understand that Elijah and Enoch were taken by God into His glory with a live earth suit?
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
No comments:
Post a Comment