READ: 2 Kin. 2:1–25: … My father, my father …
Elisha, despite Elijah’s repeated urging to go on alone, wants to remain with Elijah when the LORD intends to end the ministry of the old Elijah by taking him from the earth. Elijah will depart as Enoch once did, without dying.
Both pass through the deep Jordan on dry ground, leaving the prophet-disciples behind, just as had once happened in the opposite direction under Joshua. That Elijah uses his prophetic mantle for this indicates that the call to repentance will have power (compare John the Baptist).
With Elijah’s being taken up, the prophetic Word will not disappear; Elisha will be allowed to take it over, symbolically, through Elijah’s mantle. Elisha desires this and asks for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit, that is, the working of the Spirit in Elijah. Elijah himself cannot give this, but if Elisha sees Elijah taken to heaven, that will be proof of the gift.
While speaking about the prophetic office, it happens that a fiery chariot with fiery horses comes between them and takes Elijah up from the earth in a whirlwind to heaven. It is a great miracle of God, for the strengthening of Elisha’s faith.
Elisha, left behind, tears his own clothes as a sign of mourning, takes Elijah’s mantle, departs, and strikes the Jordan with it. Calling upon the name of the LORD as the God of Elijah, he crosses over on the dry ground. Elisha is now recognized as prophet of the LORD and successor of Elijah.
Yet the prophet-disciples do not immediately obey Elisha’s word not to search for Elijah. Their search proves fruitless. To their shame, they must acknowledge their disobedience.
In Jericho, Elisha is asked to bring deliverance in a situation of need in the name of the LORD. The polluted water is purified by the LORD with a symbolic handful of salt, so that death no longer prevails. The pollution must have been punishment for their ungodliness. The call of this miracle is: repent to the LORD!
How often do we need a call to repentance?
Singing: Ps. 46:2