2 Kings 2:11-14 – How much has God got a grip on us?

Elisha’s journey with Elijah from Gilgal to Jordan revealed how fit he was to be the latter’s successor. He showed himself to be a person of distinct character. He not only started well but also had the desire to finish well. Committed and focused, Elisha was so single-minded that nothing could distract him from his mission. Even up to the final moment when Elijah was about to be taken up by the whirlwind, he refused to be presumptuous. He asked to have a double portion of his spirit, a request that we have established was for authentication that he would be his successor.

Now in 2 Kings 2:11-14, we see how he stayed through and received Elijah’s prophetic mantle. As the senior prophet had told him that he could be granted his mantle, if he could wait up to the very moment when the former would be taken up. Notice that even in Elijah’s response to him, there was a sense of uncertainty. He was not exactly guaranteed that he would be receiving what he had asked for, yet he did not budge. Up to the final moment he was still walking and talking with his mentor. That was an indication that he had the hunger to know more. He was not an idle, but one who was keen to absorb as much as he could from his master.

Elijah, we are told, did not go up to heaven in a chariot of fire. He went up by a whirlwind. When Elijah was taken up, he was in the middle of his conversation with Elisha. Verse 11 made clear that “As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them.” The chariot and horses of fire were expressions of the glorious angelic visitation of God. In Hebrews 1:7 we are told by the author that God made “His angels winds and ministers of the flame of fire.” For a moment his sight of Elijah was covered by the glorious visitation such that he exclaimed, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” Even before he could finish his exclamation, Elijah was already taken up.

Verse 12 said that when that happened, he tore up his own garments into two pieces, took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and stood by the bank of Jordan. Taking Elijah’s mantle, he smote the water of Jordan, asking rhetorically, “where is the Lord, God of Elijah?” It was a loaded question. He was not expressing ignorance but confidently proclaiming that the Lord was with him, and he was ready to carry on the prophetic ministry that Elijah had so passionately demonstrated. As he smote the water of Jordan with the mantle, the water parted so that he could cross over the Jordan.

One key lesson we take away from this experience of Elisha is this: our desire to serve God and our desire for godliness are determined by the degree that God and the glories of heaven have a grip on our soul. Are these our motivations in life and ministry? If they are, they will determine the quality of our walk with God and our work for Him. O that every child of God is like Elisha, whole hearted devotion to walk with Jesus!