Slices
Prepare
Pray for Christian leaders you know, that they will walk with God and serve him faithfully.
Bible passage
Elijah taken up to heaven
2 When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel.’
But Elisha said, ‘As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.’ So they went down to Bethel.
3 The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, ‘Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?’
‘Yes, I know,’ Elisha replied, ‘so be quiet.’
4 Then Elijah said to him, ‘Stay here, Elisha; the Lord has sent me to Jericho.’
And he replied, ‘As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.’ So they went to Jericho.
5 The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, ‘Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?’
‘Yes, I know,’ he replied, ‘so be quiet.’
6 Then Elijah said to him, ‘Stay here; the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.’
And he replied, ‘As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.’ So the two of them walked on.
7 Fifty men from the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. 8 Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?’
‘Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,’ Elisha replied.
10 ‘You have asked a difficult thing,’ Elijah said, ‘yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours – otherwise, it will not.’
11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, ‘My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!’ And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.
13 Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. ‘Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?’ he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.
15 The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, ‘The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.’ And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. 16 ‘Look,’ they said, ‘we your servants have fifty able men. Let them go and look for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has picked him up and set him down on some mountain or in some valley.’
‘No,’ Elisha replied, ‘do not send them.’
17 But they persisted until he was too embarrassed to refuse. So he said, ‘Send them.’ And they sent fifty men, who searched for three days but did not find him. 18 When they returned to Elisha, who was staying in Jericho, he said to them, ‘Didn’t I tell you not to go?’
Healing of the water
19 The people of the city said to Elisha, ‘Look, our lord, this town is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive.’
20 ‘Bring me a new bowl,’ he said, ‘and put salt in it.’ So they brought it to him.
21 Then he went out to the spring and threw the salt into it, saying, ‘This is what the Lord says: “I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.”’ 22 And the water has remained pure to this day, according to the word Elisha had spoken.
Elisha is jeered
23 From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some boys came out of the town and jeered at him. ‘Get out of here, baldy!’ they said. ‘Get out of here, baldy!’ 24 He turned round, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys. 25 And he went on to Mount Carmel and from there returned to Samaria.
Explore
Although Elijah had been commanded by God to anoint Elisha as his successor (1 Kings 19:16–21), he seems determined to get rid of him on this final journey. Three times (vs 2,4,6) he gives Elisha the opportunity to stay behind. Elijah knew first-hand the cost of being the chief prophet: he knew that it would not be easy for Elisha to pick up his cloak and his calling. Three times Elisha insists on staying faithful.
When Elisha requests a ‘double portion’ of Elijah’s spirit (v 9), he isn’t saying that he wants to be greater than Elijah: he is asking to be considered Elijah’s first son. Traditionally, the first-born son would receive a double portion of the father’s inheritance (Deuteronomy 21:17). When Elisha was first called, he literally burned his former life (1 Kings 19:21) in order to become Elijah’s assistant. In today’s passage he reasserts this whole-hearted commitment.
Elisha then demonstrates his new God-given authority by preserving life (vs 19–22) and taking life (vs 23–25). In approaching Elisha (v 19), the people of the city were seeking God. The youths (v 23), on the other hand, rejected God when they rejected Elisha.
Respond
Read John 21:15–17 and imagine yourself in Peter’s place, having that conversation with Jesus.
Deeper Bible study
Dear God, please help me to develop the gifts you have given me and to use them wisely, discerningly, responsibly and sensitively.
There are puzzling aspects in this well-known passage, where the mantle of Elijah literally passes to Elisha. Why does Elisha tell the company of the prophets to be quiet? Why does the company of prophets look for Elijah (vs 16,17) when they know he is being taken from Elisha that day? There are issues with the two bears mauling the 42 boys.
God had given foreknowledge to the prophets. Perhaps they felt the need to inform Elisha of Elijah’s imminent departure. Maybe they wanted to test whether he already knew, as an indicator of how worthy a successor he would be. Either way, it seems insensitive. Elisha is about to lose someone close to him (tearing his cloak later probably indicates mourning) and it would be natural for him to require quiet. Until Elijah is taken from him, Elisha does not initiate conversation – he simply answers questions and insists on sticking close to his master. Despite their foreknowledge and witnessing of the seamless transition of prophetic role from the hairy Elijah to the bald Elisha with the Moses-like parting of the waters, the prophets want to search for Elijah. They appear not to have pondered the significance of their God-given knowledge nor how best to use it.
Having demonstrated that he has received the requested ‘double portion’ of God’s spirit (vs 9–12,15), Elisha brings life by purifying waters. When God gives gifts, however, he does not take away free will and one can misuse God-given gifts. Elisha’s anger, and perhaps fear, flares when he is mocked, and he responds with a destructive curse. His actions are open to various understandings, as is the verb sometimes translated ‘maul’. It means ‘cleave, break open, through, into’ and since two bears are unlikely to maul 42 boys, might best be translated ‘break into/scatter.’
Employ well the gifts God has given you. Repent for times you have wielded them as weapons, been lazy in developing them, or insensitive in using them.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Isaiah 57,58; Hebrews 11
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray for Local Mission Partner Ignite in Alnwick, a Growing Faith hub for the Church of England, as they develop new and innovative ways to connect with children, young people and their families. Pray for strengthening relationships, wisdom and more hands to deliver the work.
Mission Possible
This Autumn, take the time to be envisioned, equipped and encouraged as you discover how, together, we can make mission possible in your context!
Your local SU team will be at a venue near you and will be hosting a free event for anyone looking to overcome the challenges of mission. So, whether you're a volunteer, an employed children's and youth worker, a church leader, or anyone else passionate about reaching the 95, come and join us to consider how, together, we can make effective mission possible.
With over 30 venues confirmed across England and Wales, discover your local venue today.
