Elisha the prophet that walked in the footsteps of Elijah.

Let us read together his calling and his reactions.

1Ki 19:16B Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.

19 So he (Elijah) departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. 

20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, "Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you."And he said to him, "Go back again, for what have I done to you?"

21 So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen's equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.

The man burns all the bridges behind him.  He has a solemn commitment of his life and time to the cherished purpose of serving God.

From the very start he is sold out to God. His actions speak louder than words. He offers the oxen, he destroys the yoke, he uses that for fire and he cooks the meal and gives it to the people.

The old prophet know that he is to be retired, because the Lord said "a prophet in your place". In his own way he is testing the young man. He asks in verse 20 "what have I done to you?" Does he really know what happened? Does he know he will be in my place?

Notice that Elisha does not ask for an excuse, not to follow, like many of Jesus followers to go greed his parents, but asks for permission. It was according to the law to have respect for the parents. The moment he was anointed he had the ability to listen from God.

2Ki 2:1 And it came to pass, when the Lord was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

2 Then Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Bethel."But Elisha said, "As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So they went down to Bethel.

What does Elijah do? Does he want to delay his replacement? Does he want to test Elisha's faithfulness?

3 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?"And he said, "Yes, I know; keep silent!"

Have in mind that those people are sons of the prophets. Maybe they thought they were supposed to take Elijah's place and not this farmer. Just the fact that he says "I know" speaks volumes. God has told him. 

4 Then Elijah said to him, "Elisha, stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Jericho."But he said, "As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So they came to Jericho.

5 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?"So he answered, "Yes, I know; keep silent!"

6 Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to the Jordan."But he said, "As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So the two of them went on.

Three more times he has tested, but he is faithful. He does not leave his master and he knows his calling.

Once they cross Jordan, he has the opportunity to ask whatever he wants from Elijah. Look at his response. It reveals his heart. He has a single eye to the accomplishement of the work of God on this earth. He does not trust in his own power neither to Elijah's. He knows that it is only via the spirit of God that power is manifested. He has the realization of the vasteness and the scope of the ministry. He has a frank evaluation of himself, of his own limitations, his shortcomings and his capabilities. He asks for one thing and one thing only. The reason he wants more is because he has a glimpse of what will be expected of him and he knows that whatever God calls us to do, God has to provide the means too.  

 
2Ki 2:9 And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you? "Elisha said, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me."

The young man reached for the top; he asked what he could have and more. He understands that he cannot have more than the provision of the Almighty God and as Paul says it centuries later "If God is for us, who can be against us?" He understands that only the spirit is needed. He will have a means to communicate with God and use His power. If only we had the same wish! Stop and think for a while how much more is avaliable for a Christian today. Happy is the man who sees this, and acts accordingly. Ask and it shall be given unto you. No man can drain the resources of God and Elisha knew this.

10 So he said, "You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so."

Now the prophet understands that the responsibility for the receiving rests upon Elisha's own shoulders. He has to have his eyes open to see. He never doubts  God's willingness to give, he just manifests a way for Elisha to receive. Unfortunately many people today do not know if they have received the holy spirit (God's gift) because of a lack of manifestation and they just guess or doubt or try to figure it out from "good works".

11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

Close your eyes and try to picture this. The suddenness of the entire affair; the sweep of the horses, with their chariot, swept between the two men, seperating them by the violence of their power. Feel the scene, note that they were both parted asunder. What would you do? What would the average man do? Would you have lost sight of the main objective? Would you just stare at the horses of fire? Would you be afraid? Would you just kneel and pray? think about it... 'cause Elisha, the Son of Shaphat, the man whose name means "the salvation of God" did not! He had his eyes "on the ball", to see Elijah.

12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!" So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces.

He saw it! he kept his objective in sight, he watched for the main thing.  

13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan.

14 Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.

He then puts his faith in action, he bereft himself of his own rament, ready to envelope himself in the mantle of Elijah. With the falling of the cape to the ground he immediately availed himself of it.  

15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha." And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him.

He has turned the hearts of his former discouragers. Now, they bow in subjection to their new master. Elisha has moved to his rightful position and already has the prestige essential to the occasion. He is now The Prophet of God to the nation Israel.

In all this man is seen. He is a man of decision and determination. A man of keen intellect. He is sharp and alert. He will make a good leader.  The new prophet of the nation has all the qualifications of a great man of the Book.