2 Kings 2:1-12 (NRSV)
Read 2 Kings 2:1-12 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 2Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Verse 2Elijah said to Elisha, "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. Verse 3The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?" And he said, "Yes, I know; keep silent." Verse 4Elijah said to him, "Elisha, 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. Verse 5The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?" And he answered, "Yes, I know; be silent." Verse 6Then Elijah said to him, "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. Verse 7Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. Verse 8Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.
Verse 9When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you." Elisha said, "Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit." Verse 10He responded, "You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not." Verse 11As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. Verse 12Elisha kept watching and crying out, "Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
Devotion
This story is as much about Elisha as it is about Elijah. Have you ever followed someone who had a mission, and thought what an honor it would be to carry on that same mission? Elijah takes Elisha on a pointless journey. He seems to want to shake Elisha and face the future alone. But Elisha is loyal and says, “I will not leave you.” He follows wherever Elijah takes him. In the end, Elisha is authorized to complete Elijah’s mission.
God is the author of change. God’s mission transcends change, even uses change. There is a continuation of God’s divine purpose. As individuals, and as a church, we have been given the mantle to continue the mission of proclaiming Christ.
Prayer
Lord, fill us with the desire “not to leave you.” The mantle of your mission has passed on to us. Amen!