Welcome to Week Nineteen of Desiring the Kingdom and 2 Kings chapter 2. This is the story of Elijah’s final day on the earth. Elijah was old by this time and it is plainly evident the Lord had told Elijah what was going to happen. In fact, it appears that everyone in this story knew what was about to happen.
We’ve got plenty to think about, so let’s get started!
Index to Days 2 through 5
Day 1
No Excuses
Observe
In today’s scriptures, we find Elijah journeying from Gilgal to Bethel (a much smaller Gigal than the more famous city of that name, this one located about eight miles from Bethel) and then from Bethel to Jericho. On each leg of the journey, the same three things happen: 1) Elijah offers Elisha permission to stay behind, 2) a group called “the sons of the prophets” come out to greet them, and 3) these sons of the prophets ask Elisha if he knows today is Elijah’s last day, to which Elisha says yes, he knows, and tells them to remain quiet.
2 Kings 2:1-5
2 Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3 And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he said, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.”
4 Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. 5 The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.”
Romans 5:3-5
Hebrews 12:1-2
12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
2 Peter 1:5-8
James 1:2-4
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Everyone involved here knew what was going on. Even though Elijah was old and even though God was going to spare Elijah from having to die (one of only two people in all of history that God carried up to heaven bodily), this was still bittersweet. Elisha was losing his master and mentor, and the sons of the prophets were losing their leader or hero (commentators are divided on the sons of the prophets, with some saying these were groups of prophets affiliated with a more prominent prophet such as Elijah and others saying they were admirers of the prophets who would come out to meet them any time the prophets passed by). Many times in life, like Elisha in this story, we face things that are bittersweet (or far worse!). Will we keep going or will we turn aside at the first opportunity to do so?
Keep this in mind.
Despite Jesus warning Peter in advance that it would happen, Peter still turned away from him on the night when Jesus was arrested. Later, after Peter turned back to the Lord, Jesus personally (and graciously) restored him. Peter would go on to help birth a church that changed the world forever. When we fail, God forgives our weaknesses and wants to see us restored!
- What was (or is) the greatest adversity through which you’ve had to keep going?
- How was (or is) the Lord part of coping with this adversity?
Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us whether we stand or fall. Thank you also for the example of Jesus, who faced more adversity than anyone else ever has, or will. As the Apostle wrote, let us cast aside the things that weigh us down and the sin that won’t let go of us, so we can run the race you have laid before us with endurance, following the example of your Son. For it’s in his name we pray, Amen.
Day 2
Filling Big Shoes
Observe
Elijah and Elisha depart Jericho for the Jordan river, and Elijah offers one more time for Elisha to remain behind; Elisha declines again. Fifty sons of the prophets come along, but when they all arrive at the Jordan, Elijah miraculously parts the waters for himself and Elisha, ensuring they would be alone for what happens next.
2 Kings 2:6-14
9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” 10 And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” 11 And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more.
Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 13 And he took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.
Philippians 2:3-11
Matthew 23:12
Proverbs 18:12
but humility comes before honor.
1 Peter 5:5
Sensing his imminent departure, Elijah asks Elisha what he could do for him. Without hesitation, Elisha asks for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Elisha’s humility is on display here. He knew how important Elijah was and he desperately wanted to continue Elijah’s work, but he believed he would never do that without the same spiritual power the Lord had given Elijah—in fact, without twice as much. Like Elisha, we should look at the people in our lives and the mission God lays before us, and cry out for his Spirit to fill us!
- Do your best to answer this question honestly. We just read Elisha asking for double Elijah’s spirit, but that answer isn’t for everyone and in fact there is no right or wrong answer. So, here goes: If the Lord himself were to ask you what one thing he could give you, what would you answer?
- Of people you know personally, think of someone you consider to be genuinely humble. What is it about them that causes you to regard them this way?
Dear God, thank you that you were willing to humble yourself for us. You are the infinitely holy, glorious Creator of the universe, but you came to live as one of us. The best answer to any question is always Jesus and that is not a cliche. He is our example to follow when it comes to being humble, serving others, and being dedicated to your mission. May we learn from his life and follow his example in our lives. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Day 3
Faithless Search
Observe
When Elisha returns from seeing Elijah taken up, it is immediately apparent to the sons of the prophets that Elisha had assumed Elijah’s position. But then those same sons of the prophets pressure Elisha into letting them search for Elijah, over Elisha’s better judgment.
2 Kings 2:15-18
15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho saw him opposite them, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. 16 And they said to him, “Behold now, there are with your servants fifty strong men. Please let them go and seek your master. It may be that the Spirit of the Lord has caught him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley.” And he said, “You shall not send.” 17 But when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, “Send.” They sent therefore fifty men. And for three days they sought him but did not find him. 18 And they came back to him while he was staying at Jericho, and he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?”
1 Peter 5:1-4
5 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
1 Timothy 4:12
Hebrews 13:17
Mark 10:42-45
As soon as they saw Elisha, the sons of the prophets recognized that the spirit of Elijah was upon Elisha. In other words, the mantle had been passed (as everyone knew it would be). So why did Elisha have to be shamed into the search and why did Elisha seem irritated when the search turned up empty-handed (as he knew it would)? Ahab’s second in command, Obadiah, in 1 Kings 18:12, alluded to the Spirit of the Lord whisking Elijah off to some other location, so it’s not without precedent.
Well, imagine being Elisha. You’re taking the place of someone who was arguably the most important, best known prophet in the history of Israel up to that moment. You already worry you’re not up to the task. The ones who should be the very best at recognizing that Elijah’s ministry had passed to you were, in effect, saying “Ooooookay, we’ll accept you, but we’d like to make doubly sure that Elijah’s not around, first.” It’s an inauspicious first interaction for Israel’s new top prophet and, frankly, shows a lack of faith on the part of the sons of the prophets.
- What makes you feel disrespected?
- What is it about someone that makes them a good leader (in the church specifically)? Does that differ from what makes someone a good leader outside of the church (and if so, how)?
Dear Lord, you are in control of who is called to lead. For those who are so called, may they lead with humility and compassion. For those of us who number ourselves among the led, may we follow with patience and grace. We pray for those who are not shown the respect they deserve. Encourage them by your Spirit that they might not grow weary in doing well. Let all of us, those who lead and those who follow, build each other up in love. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Day 4
Reversing the Curse
Observe
Joshua had cursed the city of Jericho (Joshua 6:26), specifically saying that any attempt to rebuild the city would result in the death of children. Elisha’s first miracle is to reverse that curse (note how Elisha specifically said there would be no more miscarriages).
2 Kings 2:19-22
Deuteronomy 7:6-9
Isaiah 54:10
and the hills be removed,
but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,
and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,”
says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
Jeremiah 31:31-34
31 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. 33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
It was customary to use new items, such as a new bowl, in religious ritual, so Elisha calling for a new bowl would have been seen as Elisha calling on his God. Likewise salt was associated in Leviticus and Numbers with the everlasting covenant of God. By this miracle, Elisha authenticated himself as Elijah’s successor, who could reverse the curse of Joshua and demonstrate a renewal of God’s covenant with his people. God is a covenant-keeping God, which should be of great security and comfort to us. Because we could not do our part, we could not keep all God’s commandments and statutes. But God remained faithful to the covenant even when we were not. He sent Jesus, who did keep all God’s commandments and statutes, and allowed him to be crucified in our place, that God’s covenant with his people could be preserved and fulfilled.
- When someone keeps up their end of a bargain even though you have not been able to keep yours, how does that make you feel?
- How would you have to feel about someone else in order to do the same thing for them?
Heavenly Father, you truly have made an everlasting covenant with your people, and one day we will be able to keep that covenant perfectly because we will be perfected by you, and you will write your covenant in our hearts. But until that glorious day when peace reigns over us, we remain under the secure seal and promise of your Son, whose sacrifice forever establishes and secures your covenant with us. What blessed comfort there is in knowing that. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
Day 5
Of Bears and Boys
Observe
Elisha leaves, returning to Samaria, and as he does he is accosted by a group of young men who hurl some very specific insults at him. He curses them in the name of the Lord, who causes two bears to appear and maul them (possibly killing them, but that isn’t clear from the text).
2 Kings 2:23-25
This story makes some people uncomfortable. “How could God do that to children? Just for calling someone names?” It’s understandable how you would feel this way. But there is more happening here than is clear from the English translations, particularly the ESV. (Bible nerd stuff incoming!) In verse 23, the ESV reads “some small boys” and again in verse 24 it refers to them as boys, but they are two different words, and that’s significant. Also, the word translated as small doesn’t necessarily mean younger. In fact, in 72 out of the 101 occurrences when it’s used in the Old Testament, it means “small, lesser, or less significant.” And the word translated “boys” in verse 23 doesn’t always mean children, even though it does mean someone young. But the Hebrew word that the ESV translates as “boys” in verse 24 is very frequently used for young men. In fact, it’s the same word used in 1 Kings 12:8, where Solomon’s son Rehoboam was said to have turned from the old men who advised his father to the young men who had been raised with him in court. Remember that Rehoboam was FORTY at the time, yet the word used for young men there is the same word the ESV translates as boys in verse 24. Other major translations (KJV, NKJV, and NASB) shade this by calling them youths rather than boys. These were almost certainly not young children, but young men.
Also keep in mind the numbers involved here. The text reveals that forty-two of these young men were mauled, which implies there were more than forty-two of them present. A crowd of fifty or so young men old enough to be running around outside the city would constitute an actual threat to Elisha.
Now, with regard to the insults themselves, to call someone bald-headed would have been generally insulting to anyone in those times, but Elijah was specifically known to be a hairy man, not to mention that a prophet’s cloak was made from camel hair, so these young men were perhaps suggesting Elisha was just a pale imitation of Elijah. Furthermore, if Elisha was in the same league as Elijah, then why didn’t God take Elisha up to heaven also? That’s likely what the “go up” portion of the insult was suggesting.
It’s perfectly okay to be uncomfortable with unusual Bible stories, and sometimes there is no way to see details that help us process them, but in this case it doesn’t appear that God sent bears to maul little children. That he would send them to maul young men for threatening and taunting his prophet is still strong stuff (God will not be mocked), but hopefully less distressing than picturing bears attacking ten year olds.
- Which is more shocking, that God would send bears to defend one of his prophets, or that the young men of Israel would have fallen so far away from fearing the Lord that they would not fear taunting one of his prophets?
- How is it good when God judges sin?
Lord, I admit that some stories from the Bible make me uncomfortable. When you pronounce judgment on a nation and command they all be killed, that’s hard for my modern day Western sensibilities to process. How terrible is it that we’ve become so used to sin and so accustomed to judging everything through the lens of our so-called enlightened sense of right and wrong that we find ourselves shocked when you judge sin. Apart from your mercy and forgiveness, I should be expecting bears to be sent after me as well. Forgive my warped perceptions. All your judgments are right. I rest in your grace and in that alone do I find safety and peace. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.