Read 2 Kings 2:1-12
The time
came for the Lord to take Elijah
up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elijah and Elisha set out from Gilgal, 2and
on the way Elijah said to Elisha, “Now stay here; the Lord has ordered me to go to Bethel.”
But
Elisha answered, “I swear by my loyalty to the living Lord and to you that I will not leave you.” So they went on
to Bethel.
3 A
group of prophets who lived there went to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know
that the Lord is going to take
your master away from you today?”
“Yes, I
know,” Elisha answered. “But let’s not talk about it.”
4 Then
Elijah said to Elisha, “Now stay here; the Lord
has ordered me to go to Jericho.”
But
Elisha answered, “I swear by my loyalty to the living Lord and to you that I will not leave you.” So they went on
to Jericho.
5 A
group of prophets who lived there went to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know
that the Lord is going to take
your master away from you today?”
“Yes, I
know,” Elisha answered. “But let’s not talk about it.”
6 Then
Elijah said to Elisha, “Now stay here; the Lord
has ordered me to go to the River Jordan.”
But
Elisha answered, “I swear by my loyalty to the living Lord and to you that I will not leave you.” So they went on,
7and 50 of the prophets followed them to the Jordan. Elijah and
Elisha stopped by the river, and the 50 prophets stood a short distance away. 8Then
Elijah took off his cloak, rolled it up, and struck the water with it; the
water divided, and he and Elisha crossed to the other side on dry ground. 9There,
Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what you want me to do for you before I am
taken away.”
“Let me
receive the share of your power that will make me your successor,”d
Elisha answered.
10 “That
is a difficult request to grant,” Elijah replied. “But you will receive it if
you see me as I am being taken away from you; if you don’t see me, you won’t
receive it.”
11 They
kept talking as they walked on; then suddenly a chariot of fire pulled by horses
of fire came between them, and Elijah was taken up to heaven by a whirlwind. 12Elisha
saw it and cried out to Elijah, “My father, my father! Mighty defender of
Israel! You are gone!” And he never saw Elijah again.
Think
Elijah was a powerfully
anointed prophet. The stories of his
miracles and work are recorded in 1 Kings 17-19, 21 and 2 Kings 1-2. Elijah calls the people of Israel to renounce
Baal and worship Yahweh (the God of Israel).
He points Israel to their God.
Pray
Elijah reminds us that you
are God. Purify our worship; help us to
offer our lives to you fully.
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