Lesson 8 - 2 Kings 2:1-14 - ELIJAH TAKEN TO HEAVEN
INTRODUCTION: Last week, in 1 Kings 21:1-10, 15-21, we covered one of the most revolting accounts reported in the OT: the story of how King Ahab acquired the vineyard of Naboth. When Naboth refused to sell or swap the vineyard because it was ancestral land, the king went into a funk and refused to eat. When he reported to problem to Jezebel, she berated him and said she would acquire the vineyard for him. She wrote letters in the king's name telling the elders to proclaim a fast, where she arranged for two tellers of lies to testify that Naboth had cursed the king and God (treason and blasphemy), following which Naboth was executed by being stoned to death. And later, Jezebel ordered Naboth's sons to be murdered so that they could not inherit. By doing this, the king, by association, had committed three crimes: coveting, murder, and theft. When Elijah confronted Ahab with his wrongdoing, it caused Ahab to repent, temporarily. But Ahab was later killed in battle, and later still, King Jehu of Israel killed all who remained of the house of Ahab, plus every other person who had been connected with him. God effectively erased all traces of Ahab from the face of the earth. The two main points of application were: (1) God's people must be very careful about the people they choose to marry. Ahab, already a morally weak man, allowed Jezebel, a despicable woman, to ensnare him in things he probably never would have done by himself. And (2) God's people must be careful about who they associate with, both professionally and socially. If we entangle ourselves with dishonest and immoral people, they will tempt us and try to drag us down to their level.
This week, as we move into 2 Kings, Chapter 2:1-14, it will be our final encounter with the prophet Elijah as God draws him up into heaven in a whirlwind and leaves Elisha with the task of becoming the leading prophet of the LORD God in Israel.
Read 2 Kings 2:1-3 - THE LORD WAS ABOUT TO TAKE UP ELIJAH
1 And it came about when the LORD was about to take up Elijah by a whirlwind to heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here please, 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. 3 Then the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?" And he said, "Yes, I know; be still."
Note-A Scholarly Comparison: Throughout his ministry, Elijah may be seen as a Moses-type, Elisha as a Joshua-type, and king Ahab as a pharaoh-type. Once Ahab's son, Ahaziah, dies (a Passover-type event), Elijah and Elisha depart the land (Northern Kingdom of Israel, an Egypt-type) where the false gods have been defeated (an exodus-type). Then Elijah departs on the far side of the Jordan as Moses did, while Elisha returns to carry out a conquest starting from Jericho.
v. 1: "And it came about when the LORD was about to take up Elijah by a whirlwind to heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal." - At this point, the Lord has decided spare Elijah from dying by taking him up to heaven in a "whirlwind." The journey that Elijah and Elisha take-via Gilgal, Bethel, and Jericho-appears to be circuitous (see map) and begins and ends at the Jordan River. The Jordan river was the barrier that the Children of Israel crossed to enter the Promised Land. By visiting these places, Elijah is reconnecting with the great Joshua narratives of Israel's early history.
v. 2: "Elijah said to Elisha, 'Stay here please, 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." - Bethel was a town in the southern kingdom of Judah eight miles north of Jerusalem. Elijah asks Elisha to remain in Gilgal, but Elisha, Elijah's apprentice for some years by this time, adamantly refuses to leave his side. The text doesn't reveal why Elijah does this. Either he believes the LORD intended him to travel alone or maybe he's simply testing Elisha's faithfulness to him.
v. 3: "Then the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?" And he said, "Yes, I know; be still." - These are presumably the "sons of the prophets" of the LORD whose fathers had been martyred at the order of Queen Jezebel (1 Kings 18:4-19). The question these sons ask Elisha implies that the LORD had revealed Elijah's imminent departure to them. The expression "take away" are the same words used in Enoch's translation to heaven reported in Gen. 5:24. When Elisha orders them to, "be still," he commanding them to keep what they know to themselves.
Synopsis of vv. 4-5: Elijah, departing Bethel, again orders Elisha to stay behind, but once again Elisha refuses as in v. 2, so they arrive together at Jericho. Once there, the sons of the prophets, who were apparently following them, inform Elisha again that the Lord would 'take away' his master (Elijah) that day, and Elisha told them again that he knew this and reminded them again to be quiet about it.
Read 2 Kings 2:6-8 - ELIJAH TOOK HIS MANTLE AND STRUCK THE WATERS
6 Then Elijah said to him, "Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan." And he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So the two of them went on. 7 Now fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. 8 Elijah took his mantle and folded it together and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
v. 6: "Then Elijah said to him, 'Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.' And he said, 'As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.' So the two of them went on. -For the third time, Elijah instructs Elisha to stay behind, and for the third time Elisha refuses, so they arrive at the bank of Jordan River together.
v. 7: "Now fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan." - These 50 "sons of the prophets" are keeping a very close hold on the movements of both Elijah and Elisha, apparently now watching them from the far bank of the river. They were very determined to be first-person, on-the-scene witnesses of Elijah's miraculous ascension to heaven whenever it might happen.
v. 8: "Elijah took his mantle and folded it together and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground." - Elijah's actions have parallels with two previous OT miracles: (1) When Moses, at the LORD's direction at the Red Sea, lifted up his staff to divide the waters so that the Israelites could cross the sea on dry land (Ex: 14:16, 21-22); and (2) with Joshua, when the priests carrying the Ark stepped into the water of the Jordan River, and the waters ceased to flow, allowing the Israelites to walk across dry land to enter the Promised land (Joshua 3:7-17). A "mantle" is an outer garment worn like a cloak.
Read 2 Kings 2:9-12 - LET A DOUBLE PORTION OF YOUR SPIRIT BE ON ME
9 When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you before I am takenfrom you." And Elisha said, "Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." 10 He said, "You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so." 11 As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven. 12 Elisha saw it and cried out, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw Elijah no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
v. 9a: "When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, 'Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you.'" - Notice that Elijah does not promise to give Elisha everything he asks for, but simply invites him to ask. The phrase "before I am taken from you," indicates that Elijah obviously knew that the Lord planned to take him away in some manner. The text doesn't reveal how Elijah learned of this or whether he knows the manner in which he's to be taken away.
b. 9b: "And Elisha said, 'Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.'" - In Hebrew usage, the term "double portion" pertained to the division of a father's estate at death. If the father had four sons, his estate would be divided into five shares, and the eldest son would receive a double portion consisting of two shares. In this instance, Elisha isn't asking for a material inheritance but a "double portion of your spirit" as a spiritual inheritance. And this is no small thing: Elijah's "spirit" would effectively give him the power over life and death.
v. 10a: "He said, 'You have asked a hard thing." - This request is "a hard thing" because Elijah doesn't possess the intrinsic power to transfer his spiritual powers to Elisha. Only the LORD God can bestow such a gift. While Elijah realizes that God has designated Elisha as his successor, he cannot dictate to God the terms of Elisha's succession.
v. 10b: "Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.'" - Here, Elijah gives Elisha a sign by which he will know whether the LORD has granted his request: If he sees Elijah being 'taken away,' the gift will be granted; otherwise, if he does not see him, it will not.
v. 11a: "As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them." -Chariots are presented as images of power of might, and in a nation corrupted by Baal worship, they refute any claim the Baal is the rider of the clouds (i.e., the god of weather), and that the LORD alone rides in the heavens (Deut. 33:26). And "fire" has often been linked with God's presence (Ex. 3:2; 13:21): In Elijah's ministry, he called down God's fire to consume the sacrifice at Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18ff), then and to incinerate a captain and his soldiers (2 Kings 1:9-12). Up to this point, Elisha has steadfastly persisted in being near Elijah but now the fiery chariot and horses separates them and prevents him from staying close.
v. 11b: "And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven." - We usually imagine Elijah to have ridden the chariot of fire into heaven, while the text describes him ascending in a "whirlwind," though it still seems possible that Elijah might have ridden in the chariot as he ascended in the whirlwind. Elijah is the second man in the Bible to be honored by escaping death. Enoch was the first (Gen. 5:24).
v. 12a: "Elisha saw it and cried out, 'My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!' And he saw Elijah no more." - Like all magnificent visions, this one comes to an end. Up to this point, Elijah and Elisha have enjoyed an extremely strong bond as prophet and disciple, as close as that of a father and son, which caused him to cry out, "my father, my father!"
v. 12b: "Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces." - In an expression of his grief, Elisha tears his clothes into two pieces. He has lost his mentor and closest friend. And Elisha also realized that the burden for prophecy had just fallen squarely on his shoulders.
Read 2 Kings 2:13-14 - HE ALSO TOOK UP THE MANTLE OF ELIJAH
13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and returned and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14 He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, "Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" And when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over.
v. 13: "He also took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and returned and stood by the bank of the Jordan." -Elijah left nothing material behind except the "mantle." Yet, at the same time, the mantle represents his authority as the LORD God's prophet; and that is the real legacy that Elijah left to him, and by donning it, Elisha demonstrates his acceptance of God's call.
v. 14a: "He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, 'Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?'" - Elisha boldly steps forward to now call on God to empower him to perform the same miracle that the "God of Elijah" performed previously in v. 8.
v. 14b: "And when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over." - God's response to Elisha's actions not only confirmed that he had received the great powers that God gave to Elijah, but also signified his elevation as Elijah's successor.
APPLICATION-The Importance of Mentoring and Being Mentored:
1. Like Elisha, we need to seek out and stay close to those who will be our mentors and examples in our faith walk. In Elisha's case, Elijah chose him (1 Kings 19:20-21). And we are very blessed when a godly person chooses us. But sometimes, it's necessary for us to seek out a godly mentor, and if you make the right choice, you can be sure that God will confirm it. And at some later time, you will be obligated to find someone-a young or new Christian-to come alongside to be his or her mentor. That's God's system-the way it works.
2. Like Elisha, God faithfully gives people what they need in order to perform His will. God loves us and has a plan for every one of us. As NT Christians, God can use you and me to tell others about what Jesus did to free people from sin and offer them eternal life by believing in Him. Moreover, God does not expect us to do this in our own strength but gives us gifts of the spirit to accomplish His will. He will give us everything we need to do His work.
