2 Kings 2:15-18 – A truth can stand investigation

Elijah had gone up in a whirlwind and what was left behind was his cloak. Inheriting it, Elisha used it to smite the Jordan and the water parted. The rhetorical question “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah” reveals that though Elijah was gone the LORD was not.  Adorning the mantle of his mentor, he then returned to Jericho. Second Kings 2:15-18 describe what happened when he came to Jericho and met the sons of the prophets who earlier had asked if he knew that “…the Lord would be taking his master away today.”

When they saw him, they said “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” Though they bowed down seemingly to acknowledge him, verse 16 suggests that they were not fully convinced that Elijah had gone from earth forever. So they made a request to him.  Apparently with those sons of the prophets at Jericho were 50 strong men. The request they made to Eisha was, “Behold now, there are with your servants fifty strong men, please let them go and search for your master; perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has taken him up and cast him on some mountain or into some valley.” His immediate response to them was not to do it. But as they persisted, he finally gave in. So the 50 men were sent in search of Elijah for three days, but they could not find him. When they returned from their fruitless search, Elisha told them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?”

Elisha's initial refusal for them to search for Elijah was probably because he did not want them to waste their time in a fruitless exercise in futility. But on the part of the sons of the prophets, their insistence to search for Elijah before believing that he was gone forever was an acceptable request. For in his earlier ministry, Elijah had often come and gone without notice. So for them, it was a case of making sure that this was not one of those disappearing acts of the prophet. So as disagreeable as their request might be to Elisha, he allowed it eventually. The point is this, wanting to be sure is a good thing in life, particularly when it comes to the truths of God. Concerning the truths of God, it is needful for us to be very sure so that we will not fall prey to heresy. Truth worth believing can stand thorough investigation. An untried faith is not worth believing, just as an untried, unproven life is not worth living.