Read 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14

Tuesday

Read 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14

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.

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.

In grief, Elisha tore his cloak in two. ¹³Then he picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. ¹⁴He struck the water with Elijah’s cloak, and said, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” Then he struck the water again, and it divided, and he walked over to the other side.

Think

Elijah had the difficult task of addressing Ahab and Jezebel, calling them back to Yahweh and away from Baal worship.  Elisha asks for the same power and vigor in his ministry.

Every Christian has a ministry - like Elisha inherited his call from Elijah, we all inherit our call and our power (the Holy Spirit) from Jesus.

Pray

Lord give my heart the same passion and vigor as the heart of Jesus.