186. ELIJAH AND ELISHA

"The Spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha"

During the reign of Ahab, Israel's behaviour deserved God's judg­ment, and Elijah the prophet was the means by which this was ad­ministered to a wicked king and a rebellious nation. However, Elijah needed to be taught that the work of God involved not only the judgment of the wicked and the destruction of idolatry, but also the education and strengthening of men and women in Divine ways. It was this aspect of en­couraging and building up a faithful remnant of believers that formed the basis of Elisha's merciful mission. When viewed together, the work of these two mighty prophets presents a beautifully balanced picture of Yahweh's character. It should be our endeavour now to manifest those same characteristics.

1 Kings 19 & 2 Kings 2.

ELIJAH AND THE STILL SMALL VOICE

On Mt. Carmel, before an audience of the people of Israel, the king and the false worshippers of Baal, Elijah was able to dramatically demonstrate that Yahweh was the true and living God.

But Elijah fled from the violent anger of Jezebel (1 Kings 19:1-3), while the weak King Ahab sat by. In these circumstances Elijah was depressed, feeling that his life was in danger because of his stand for the Truth, and was convinced that he alone was left in Israel to serve Yahweh (1 Kings 19:9-10). He was re-assured by God's demonstration of the fact that He would work through those who would quietly submit to His ways (c.p. 1 Kings 19:10-12; Job 4:16), for 7,000 had also stood aside in Israel anck had not worshipped Baal (v.18).

Elijah was humbled by what God had revealed to him at Mt. Horeb. God then directed Elijah to return and perform 3 tasks:

1. He was to anoint Hazael to be king of Syria.

2. He was to anoint Jehu to be king over Israel.

3. He was to anoint Elisha to be his successor (v. 15-18).

ELISHA SUCCEEDS ELIJAH. 1 Kings 19:19-21.

Only the last command was carried out by Elijah, the other two were performed by Elisha.

Elijah returned from Mt. Horeb and found Elisha the son of Shaphat ploughing in the fields. Elijah threw his mantle upon Elisha, indicating that God wanted him to be his successor. Elisha "left his oxen and ran after him, and said Let me I pray thee, kiss my father and mother and then I will follow thee" (v.20). So Elisha willingly separated himself from his old way of life and "went after Elijah, and ministered unto him" (v.21).

During the next few years Elijah and Elisha devoted much of their time restoring the school of the prophets which Jezebel tried to destroy. Peo­ple gathered together to learn of God under Elijah's teaching. The still small voice of God's word was quietly building up a body of men and women to act as centres of strength within the nation.

In our classes, we too can gather together with others of like precious faith to hear the still small voice of God's Word. We can thereby be glorifying God in our study and meditation and thus be an example of the believers who love His word and keep his commandments.

ELIJAH TAKEN UP INTO HEAVEN. 2 Kings 2.

As they were journeying together from Gilgal, Elijah told Elisha to tarry in a certain place because God had directed him to go to Bethel. Elisha refused to leave Elijah's side, so they went on together. At Bethel, the sons of the prophets came to Elisha and asked if he knew that God would take Elijah away that day. A similar incident occurred twice after this, once on the way to Jericho and again 1on the way to Jordan but as before Elisha refused to separate from his master. When they reached the banks of the river Jordan, Elijah smote the water with his mantle, which caused the river to divide. After they had passed over, Elijah asked Elisha to name just one thing which he would like him to do before he departed, and Elisha said, "I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me". He did not mean that he wanted twice the power of Elijah, but rather was he asking to be the successor of Elijah (as is indicated by the original Hebrew). Although Elisha had asked "an hard thing" (because only God could grant such a request) he was assured by Elijah that he would receive it on the condition that he saw him depart. A little later, the two men were separated by a flaming fiery chariot, and Elijah was taken up into the clouds of heaven out of sight by a whirlwind. The great pro­phet Elijah thus finished his mission — and it was now time for Elisha, the "man of God", to take up the work where his master had left off.

ELIJAH'S FUTURE WORK. Malachi 4:5-6; Mark 9:11-12.

Elijah was taken in the middle of his work — but he will resume his work once again in the future. God tells us in Malachi 4:5 "Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord". At the second coming of Christ, God will send Elijah to the people of Israel scattered throughout the world to advise them that their Messiah has returned.

THE MAN ELISHA AND HIS MISSION.

Elisha picked up the fallen mantle of Elijah and turned to retrace his steps, wondering about what he had seen. Would he receive "the double portion" of Elijah's spirit? He tore his own garment into two pieces and took up Elijah's mantle which had fallen to the ground as Elijah was taken away. Returning to the river Jordan, he took the mantle and smote the river just as Elijah had done, saying, "Where is Yahweh God of Eli­jah?" In answer to this cry, God parted the river, not because the mantle had any power, but because Elisha had asked for a miracle. So, with this great sign that God's spirit was with him, Elisha walked back over the dry river bed. Then the sons of the prophets who had been watching, said, "The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha" (2:15).

The unyeilding, outspoken, determined voice of Elijah demanding reform, denouncing sin, proclaiming coming judgment stirred all Israel. It made the labour and teaching of the quieter, more gentle Elisha more effective. Elijah performed eight miracles during his ministry, most of which spoke of judgment; for example, drought and fire from heaven. On the other hand Elisha's sixteen miracles basically spoke of mercy, of healing, of God's providence, of encouragement in the life of faith, and of God's determination to save those who trust in Him. However, when necessary, Elisha did not fail to reveal Yahweh as a God of judgment. On one particular occasion, early in his ministry, he was on his way to Bethel when a group of children or young men (see use of the same Hebrew word in Genesis 21:12; 41:12; 1 Kings 20:14) began to mock him saying, "Go up thou bald head!" Elisha turned and cursed them in the name of Yahweh, upon which two she bears emerged from the wood and killed 42 of them. Here is an important lesson for us in respect for elders, especial­ly God's servants in the ecclesia. God will not be mocked, nor may His word be counted as a little thing. Elijah's and Elisha's ministry demonstrated that.

God will show His mercy to all who are prepared to turn their hearts to Him, but He will also bring judgment upon those who turn aside from His precepts and disregard Him.

No one today has God's gift of holy spirit power to perform miracles, but we all have God's spirit word which was given by inspiration of the spirit of God (2 Timothy 3:16). Jesus claimed in many places that the words he spoke were God's and not his own (John 12:49, 50); and in John 6:63 he said, "the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." So we can, by believing God's word, obtain from the record of these miracles and the example of so many faithful people, the same certainty that the God we worship is the true and living God.

LESSON FOR US:

God provided carefully and well for the instruction of His people. To­day also God carefully provides instruction for us, for He has preserved his word for us all to use. Let us take an example from Elisha and the "sons of the Prophets" who eagerly followed after Elijah and learnt/all they could from this man who spoke God's word (2 Timothy 3:14-17).

Elisha, though only young when called to follow Elijah, did so willing­ly and eagerly. He became a faithful servant and was chosen by God to follow on Elijah's work. Though we are young, we too can cooperate willingly and eagerly in learning the Truth and working for Christ (1 Timothy 4:12-16).

REFERENCE LIBRARY:

"The Visible Hand of God" (R. Roberts)—Chapters 28-30.

"The Story of the Bible" (H.P. Mansfield)—Vo. 5, No. 4.

"Elijah the Tishbile" (J. Martin)—Chapters 7-10.

PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:

1. How did Elijah apply the lesson of the ' 'still small voice'' of instruc­tion in the word of God?

2. Elijah has a work to do in the future — what is it?

3. What request did Elisha make to Elijah before Elijah was taken away in a whirlwind?

4. In what ways did the missions of Elijah and Elisha differ?

ESSAY QUESTIONS:

1. Describe how Elijah was taken up and how the ''spirit of Elijah" rested upon Elisha.

THE EIGHT MIRACLES OF ELIJAH