Learning from Elijah and Elisha

Probably, no other men in the Bible are as often confused as Elijah and Elisha. This is initially due to their names: They sound very similar. There are also some similarities: They lived in the same century, they worked similar miracles... and yet they were quite different. In this article, we want to look at what and how the younger one (Elisha) learned from the older one (Elijah).

How it All Began

Elisha's call to be a prophet was prompted by the prophet Elijah's culpable behavior. Elijah was firmly convinced that he alone was the last faithful one left in Israel (cf. 1 Ki. 19:10 ff.). All had deviated – only he alone was faithful. That is how he thought. Elijah no longer had an eye for what God's grace was doing in Israel; he only saw the evil in God's people and wished for judgment. God had to tell Elijah that there were still 7,000 people "who had not bowed down to BaalThe name means "ruler, owner," and, in the Bible, mostly refers to a deity of the Canaanites and Phoenicians. Unfortunately, the people of Israel also worshipped idols of Baal at... More."

One of the 7,000 was Elisha, the son of Shaphat. Elijah was to anoint him as a prophet in his place. God thus announced the end of Elijah's prophetic ministry because he had "pleaded with God against Israel" (Rom. 11: 2).

God has always had faithful people whom He can and wants to use. Sometimes, we don't recognize them because we only see ourselves – like Elijah back then. On the other hand, it may be that God has us in mind and wants to use us – and we don't (yet) realize it.

Called to Ministry – Surprising?

Elisha was certainly surprised when the great prophetA prophet is someone who receives a message from God and passes it on to a specific group in the Old Testament, very often Israel. Prophets are, therefore, in close... More Elijah came to him one day and threw his mantle on him while he was working in the fields (1 Ki. 19:19). Had Elijah said nothing else about it? Obviously not. So Elisha left everything and ran after Elijah to coordinate the next steps with him.

Elisha immediately understood what Elijah wanted to tell him with the cloak. He was also immediately ready to leave home to follow Elijah. From this, we can conclude that God had already prepared Elisha inwardly for his new task. In this respect, the time and manner of Elisha's calling may have come as a surprise to him, but the matter as such did not.

Even today, it happens that an older person approaches a younger person and asks them if they can take on a task. The same applies to sisters, of course. If everything happens under the guidance of the Lord, the young believer will not be unpleasantly surprised. Neither will he be startled out of his laziness (Elisha pursued his profession!), nor will he be unable to do anything with the older man's request. No, the Lord prepares His servants. And this happens in fellowship with the Lord and amidst of the general challenges of life.

Motivation for Service

When Elisha asked to be allowed to say goodbye to his family at home, Elijah replied: "Go back again, for what have I done to you?" (1 Ki. 19:20). At first glance, this is incomprehensible. Elijah knew full well that God had appointed Elisha as his successor. Nevertheless, Elijah did not want to exert any pressure. He placed the responsibility of becoming God's prophetA prophet is someone who receives a message from God and passes it on to a specific group in the Old Testament, very often Israel. Prophets are, therefore, in close... More in Israel entirely on Elisha. He now had to decide personally before God what he wanted to do.

This still applies in a similar form today. Others can make a wish or a recommendation. But no one can take away a servant's personal decision to serve. He is not responsible to his brothers or sisters in faith but to the Lord. Accordingly, every assignment or ministry must be "from above."

Start Small

We would have liked to know what tasks Elisha took on as a servant of Elijah before he finally took on the office of the elderThe word sometimes refers to an older person who is endowed with wisdom and dignity. It often also refers to an office (both in Israel and the early church). In... More prophetA prophet is someone who receives a message from God and passes it on to a specific group in the Old Testament, very often Israel. Prophets are, therefore, in close... More.. Apart from the final stretch shortly before Elijah's ascension, which is reported in detail in 2 Kings 2, there is only one witness account from this time. One of the servants of Jehoram, king of Israel, knew that Elisha had poured water on Elijah's hands (2 Ki. 3:11).

Washing the hands and feet of others – that is nothing other than servitude. Were there not any greater tasks for Elisha at first? We do not know. One thing was certainly very important for Elisha: that he observed Elijah closely in everything.

Today's young generation is generally highly educated. They want to take on as much responsibility as possible; they want to make a difference. In spiritual matters, however, listening and watching is very important. Timothy is a good example of this. He had closely followed the teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance of the elderThe word sometimes refers to an older person who is endowed with wisdom and dignity. It often also refers to an office (both in Israel and the early church). In... More Paul (2 Tim. 3:10, 11).

Serving the Lord is not primarily about being clever. In addition to studying the Word of God, spiritual character development is very important. Humility, love, and faithfulness – everything that Timothy could see in Paul – are good prerequisites for being useful to the Lord. Only those who are faithful in small things can (later) take on larger tasks. And let us never forget: we are and remain servants.

Old and Young Together

The last part of Elijah's journey is particularly impressive. Elisha knew that the Lord would "take away your master from over you today" (2 Ki. 2:3). We can imagine how focused he was on Elijah. The Lord had commissioned Elijah to visit several places in Israel. Before he set off in each case, his recommendation to Elisha was: "Stay here" (2 Ki. 2:2, 4, 6). It was like a final test to see whether Elisha was ready to continue Elijah's difficult ministry. Each time, Elisha replied unwaveringly: "As the Lord lives and as your soul lives, if I leave you!" In other words, there is no way I will leave you!

Elijah was like a father to Elisha (cf. 2 Ki. 2:12). And losing a good father is extremely painful. That is why Elisha wanted to be with Elijah for as long as possible and accompany him. "So the two of them went on." (v. 6). A little later, it says: "Then it happened, as they continued and talked ..." (V .11). How Elisha must have listened attentively to Elijah's last words! Perhaps he had still asked him questions ... In any case, there was obviously an intensive exchange.

We, too, are traveling together, old and young – on the way to heaven. And what do we do while we wait for the Rapture? "We have fellowship with one another" (1 Jn. 1:7). Christian fellowship – even between older and younger people – is a foretaste of heaven.

A Heavy Inheritance

Elijah's last request to Elisha is: "Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?" (2 Ki. 2:9). Elisha felt like a spiritual son who was to inherit his father. Hence his request: "Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." Elisha felt very strongly that his "father" had been a great man of God. He did not dare to ask for the same spirit. But he desired a double portion of this "inheritance."

If we have met brothers and sisters in faith who are spiritual fathers or spiritual mothers to us, then we would also like to inherit something of their spirit. But it's not that simple. Elijah says: "You have asked a hard thing." The spirit and strength of such heroes of faith do not fall into our laps. God does not duplicate a spiritual brother or sister. And we cannot simply copy them. But what we can do is imitate their faith. This means being in a close relationship of faith with our Lord in heaven and thus living and acting in His power.

When Elisha stood before the Jordan after Elijah's ascension and held Elija's mantle in his hands, he said: "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" – We do not ask: Where are Paul, Peter, and John? Or: Where are our "elders"? But rather: Where is the God of these witnesses of faith? He is still there, and He has remained the same. He is also our God! We can walk in the power of the same Spirit that has worked mightily in past generations.

"The spirit of Elisha rests on Elisha!" the sons of the prophets remark. What a blessingA blessing is something good, in the Old Testament, usually associated with possessions, prosperity, and health, and is usually pronounced over someone. In principle, the lesser is blessed by the... More it would be if this spirit of determination and zeal for our Lord could also be seen in us.