The Call Tested

The time had come for the Lord to take Elijah up to Heaven in a whirlwind.  Elijah and Elisha  were traveling from Gilgal,  and Elijah said to Elisha,  “Stay here;  the Lord is sending me on to Bethel.” 

But Elisha replied, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.”  So they went down to Bethel. Then the sons of the prophets  who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today? ”  He said, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.” Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here; the Lord is sending me to Jericho.” 

But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho. Then the sons of the prophets who were in Jericho came up to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today?” He said, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.” Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the Lord is sending me to the Jordan.” 

But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. Fifty men from the sons of the prophets came and stood observing them at a distance while the two of them stood by the Jordan. Elijah took his mantle,  rolled it up, and struck the water, which parted to the right and left. Then the two of them crossed over on dry ground.  When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken from you.”

So Elisha answered, “Please, let me inherit two shares of your spirit.” Elijah replied, “You have asked for something difficult. If you see me being taken from you,  you will have it. If not, you won’t.”

As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire with horses of fire  suddenly appeared and separated the two of them. Then Elijah went up into heaven in the whirlwind.  As Elisha watched, he kept crying out, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel! ” 

When he could see him no longer, he took hold of his own clothes, tore them in two,  picked up the mantle  that had fallen off Elijah, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the mantle Elijah had dropped, and he struck the water. “Where is the Lord God of Elijah? ” he asked. He struck the water himself, and it parted to the right and the left, and Elisha crossed over.

2 Kings 2: 1-14 CSB

The Test of Endurance

• The time had come for the Lord to take Elijah up to heaven  in a whirlwind.  Elijah and Elisha  were traveling from Gilgal,  and Elijah said to Elisha,  “Stay here;  the Lord is sending me on to Bethel.”  But Elisha replied, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.”  So they went down to Bethel. 2 Kings 2: 1–2 CSB

• Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials,  because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. James 1: 2–4 CSB

The Test of Distractions

• Then the sons of the prophets  who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today? ” He said, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.” 2 Kings 2:3 CSB

• Then the sons of the prophets who were in Jericho came up to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the Lord will take your master away from you today?” He said, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.” 2 Kings 2:5 CSB

• Fifty men from the sons of the prophets came and stood observing them at a distance while the two of them stood by the Jordan. 2 Kings 2:7 CSB

• For am I now trying to persuade people, or God?  Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10 CSB

The Test of Obedience

• Elijah took his mantle,  rolled it up, and struck the water, which parted to the right and left. Then the two of them crossed over on dry ground. 2 Kings 2:8 CSB

• I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit,  because you can do nothing without me. John 15:5 CSB

The Test of Asking Boldly

•  When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken from you.” So Elisha answered, “Please, let me inherit two shares of your spirit.”  2 Kings 2:9 CSB

•  Jabez called out to the God of Israel, “If only you would bless me, extend my border, let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm, so that I will not experience pain.”  And God granted his request. 1 Chronicles 4:10 CSB

The Test of Watching and Waiting

•  Elijah replied, “You have asked for something difficult. If you see me being taken from you,  you will have it. If not, you won’t.” 2 Kings 2:10 CSB

• Let us not get tired  of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. Galatians 6:9 CSB

The Tested Receive the Mantle

• As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire with horses of fire  suddenly appeared and separated the two of them. Then Elijah went up into heaven in the whirlwind.  As Elisha watched, he kept crying out, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel! ” 

  When he could see him no longer, he took hold of his own clothes, tore them in two,  picked up the mantle  that had fallen off Elijah, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the mantle Elijah had dropped, and he struck the water. “Where is the Lord God of Elijah? ” he asked. He struck the water himself, and it parted to the right and the left, and Elisha crossed over. 2 Kings 2: 11–14 CSB

• Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much. Luke 16:10 CSB