2 Kings 2:1-25
Q.1. How did Elisha distinguish himself from all the other trainee prophets? What was Elisha’s driving passion? – (2 Kgs.2:1-9)
As did Samuel, Elijah and Elisha developed schools for training prophets of the Lord. These were at Gilgal, Bethel, Mizpah and Jericho (2 Kgs.2:2, 4; 4:1, 38; 5:22 c.f. 1 Sam.7:15-17). They all knew that Elijah was about to go to be with the Lord. They and Elijah tried to dissuade Elisha from following him. However, Elisha would let neither the prophet nor the sons of the prophets keep them apart – As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you (2 Kgs.2:2, 4, & 6). Elisha had been recruited by Elijah and commissioned by God. He was determined to receive every blessing he could from the prophet and the Lord (2 Kgs.2:9-10 c.f. 1 Kgs.19:16, 19-21). Elisha wanted to be the best that he could be for his God.
Q.2. What made the departure of Elijah so unusual? How did Elisha and the sons of the prophets respond to Elijah’s parting? – (2 Kgs.2:10-18)
As with the taking of Enoch prior to death, Elijah was the only other man to be taken to Heaven without seeing death. The sons of the prophets missed out on the main event, but Elisha saw the prophet join the hosts of heaven’s armies – 11 As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven. 12 Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw Elijah no more (2 Kgs.2:11-12 c.f. Jos.5:14. Under pressure from the doubting prophets, Elisha sent out a search party for three days, to look for Elijah. They struggled to believe the circumstances of Elijah’s departure (c.f. 1 Thes.4:17; Heb.11:5)
Q.3. How did God confirm that Elisha was to be revered as the replacement prophet of the Lord? – (2 Kgs.2:19-25)
The prophets had seen Elijah part the waters of the Jordan River with his mantle. Elisha soon returned alone. With the mantle of Elijah, he parted those same waters and walked across on dry land. Upon seeing this same miracle, the other prophets concluded – … the spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha (2 Kgs.2:15). In Elisha’s own city, God confirmed that authority had been granted to him, when he restored their water and irrigation supply (c.f. 2 Kgs.2:19-22). Bethel was a key centre. A lack of regard for Elisha was taken up by the young men of the city. They disrespectfully mocked the baldness of Elisha, causing him to place a curse on them in the name of the Lord. As a result, forty-two of them were torn by two female bears (c.f. 2Kgs.2:24). One way or another, the reputation of the prophet of the Lord was being built up.