It appears to have been widely known, at least among the prophets, that Elijah was going to be taken to heaven. We don't know when or how the Lord revealed this information to Elijah. He may have told Elijah only or He may have told Elijah and several of the other prophets---or all of the other prophets. But as we begin 2 Kings 2 it seems clear that this was an expected event and that the timing of it was not a surprise.
This makes sense to me because the Lord usually prepares His people for taking big steps and being caught up to heaven is a very big step! Imagine how terrifying this would have been for Elijah, for his successor Elisha, and for all the other prophets if the Lord had suddenly reached down and plucked Elijah from the earth. These people had to be prepared for such an event, not only to spare them from terror but to soften the blow of losing the prophet they all looked up to as a father figure in the faith.
The Apostle Paul, to whom many looked as a father figure in the faith, announced to those he had mentored that his departure from the earth was coming soon. He had to prepare them for his execution so they would stay strong in the faith even when they could no longer see him. The Lord Jesus did the same thing for His disciples. He prepared them for His crucifixion and then, after His resurrection, He prepared them for His ascension to heaven. His disciples needed encouragement in the faith so they could carry on with sharing the gospel fearlessly even though they could no longer see Him in person.
Earlier in the Bible we found the Lord telling Elijah that Elisha would be his successor. We found Elijah going to Elisha and throwing his prophet's cloak over him as a symbolic gesture that he was chosen to carry on Elijah's ministry. Elisha accepted this calling upon his life and has been accompanying Elijah on his travels and learning from him. "When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal." (2 Kings 2:1) There was probably a school of prophets located at Gilgal and the two men had been there to fellowship with the prophets and encourage them in the faith. I think Elijah said his goodbyes to them and instructed them to show Elisha the respect due him as Elijah's successor.
Elijah prepares to move on to the next city after meeting with the prophets at Gilgal. "Elijah said to Elisha, 'Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel.' But Elisha said, 'As surely as the Lord lives and you live, I will not leave you.' So they went down to Bethel. 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 said, 'so be quiet.'" (2 Kings 2:2-3)
Elijah will tell Elisha more than once that he can remain behind but Elisha will refuse each time. Some scholars think this is a test of Elisha's faith to see if he has what it takes to see things through. Others think Elijah is just trying to spare his feelings, for Elisha is so heartbroken at the prospect of losing his master that he can't even talk about it. But Elisha will go with him all the way. Elisha will witness his ascent into heaven, even though he can't bear to think about it, because he is a man faithful not only to the Lord but also to his loved ones. He is a man who sees things through even when seeing things through takes all the strength he has.
"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. 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 said, 'so be quiet.'" (2 Kings 2:4-5) I believe all the prophets who ask Elisha this question are asking it in a sympathetic tone. They want to make sure he's fully aware of what's about to happen. They are helping him to brace himself for it. In reply he says something like, "Yes, I know what's going to happen today. I don't feel like talking about it but I know about it."
Have you ever received such sad news or been so grief-stricken that you find it almost impossible to talk about it? I recall the morning my mom passed away, having to call her sisters and her friends and the funeral home and the preacher and the musicians and the floral shop. Those were some of the hardest calls I've ever made in my life! Announcing my mother's death made it seem too real---too final. I think that's why Elisha doesn't want to talk about the imminent departure of Elijah. Saying the words out loud makes Elijah's departure seem too permanent.
After meeting with the prophets at Jericho, Elijah prepares to move on down to the Jordan River. This is the location from which the Lord will call him up to heaven. "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." (2 Kings 2:6)
It's important to us to go as far as we can go with our loved ones, isn't it? We can't cross the Jordan with them, so to speak, when they pass on. But we can go to the banks of the river with them and witness their departure. I was with both of my parents when they died and it's important to me that I was there. When it was time for each of my five dogs to pass over (dogs that I treated as if they were my little babies), I was with them. That's important to me. When our loved ones pass, we want ours to be the last faces they see and the last voices they hear. We want them to know we were by their side to the end and that what Elisha wants Elijah to know. Elijah isn't going to experience the death of his body but his departure from Elisha is just as permanent as if he had died. Elisha intends to be with him until his last second on earth. That's the love of a faithful friend!
Join us tomorrow as we study Elijah's ascension into heaven.
awesome very powerful,
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