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Elisha Called to Succeed Elijah
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pride and show. Only in this way could they be molded into heaven’s
likeness and work in the ways of the Lord.
Elijah rejoiced as he saw what these schools were accomplishing.
The reformation was not complete, but he could see the truth of the
Lord’s word, “Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose
knees have not bowed to Baal.”
1 Kings 19:18
.
As Elisha accompanied the prophet from school to school, his
faith and commitment were tested once more. The prophet invited
him to turn back: “Stay here, please,” Elijah said, “for the Lord has
sent me on to Bethel.”
2 Kings 2:2
. But Elisha had learned not to
become discouraged, and now he would not leave his master, as long
as opportunity remained to become better qualified for service.
God had revealed to Elijah that he was to be translated, but Elijah
did not know that He had also revealed this to his disciples in the
schools of the prophets and to Elisha. And now Elisha kept close
beside him. As often as Elijah gave the invitation to turn back,
Elisha’s answer was, “I will not leave you!”
Verse 2
.
“So the two of them went on. ... Now Elijah took his mantle,
rolled it up, and struck the water [of the Jordan River]; and it was
divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on
dry ground. And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah
said to Elisha, ‘Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away
from you?’”
Verses 6-9
.
What Elisha craved most was a large measure of the Spirit that
God had bestowed on Elijah, who was about to be honored with
translation. He knew that nothing but the Spirit which had rested on
Elijah could fit him to fill the place in Israel to which God had called
him, and so he asked, “Please let a double portion of your Spirit be
upon me.”
Verse 9
.
In response Elijah said, “‘You have asked a hard thing. Nev-
ertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so
for you; but if not, it shall not be so.’ Then it happened, as they
continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared
with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went
up by a whirlwind into heaven.”
2 Kings 2:10, 11
.
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