Absolute Healing
2 Kings 2:1-18
Sermon Detail
Introduction: Last week we read in 1 Kings 19:15-16, how an exhausted Elijah was sent back to work. He had three specific tasks viz. to anoint Hazael as King of Aram/Syria; Jehu as king of Israel and Elisha as his successor. It was at least 14 years before Jehu became king, whilst Hazael was king of Syria (2 Kings 8), but Elisha’s call to assist Elijah was almost immediate (1 Kings 19:21). In the subsequent passages we read of Ahab’s actions and death, the actions of his son in following his father in turning to other gods, Jehoshaphat becoming a God serving king of Judah and Elijah’s challenges to Ahab and his son re. their behaviour and what God’s punishment would be. Although there is a sense from 1 Kings 19 that Elijah’s time as prophet is coming to an end, subsequent chapters show that there was still walk for him to do. As we come to look at absolute healing, as revealed in this passage, let’s commit to be open to the Spirit, so that we can receive in Jesus’ name what our Father in heaven would want to reveal to us. There is so much in this passage that we will need to look at it again and again to get all that God is saying.
In overview let’s look first at…
The Homeward Journey (vs.1-8, 11): The reading begins with the words…When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind (v.1).
Time known: Thus the Lord knew the time. The writer of the book of Ecclesiastes (3:1-2) wrote…There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die. I am sure that most here will know of people, who had a sense of the timing of their death before hand. In this passage there is a sense that Elijah’s departure was an open secret…known to him, Elisha and the prophets of Bethel and Jericho at least. There are other times where a time of departure is known, e.g. when a minister has been called to pastor a new church (usually 3 months after notice has been given), or giving up a role in church, or another organisation.
When knowing that we are moving on, the question is how…
Time used: It is possible sit back and just while away the time ‘til departure. In some cases what you are able to do can be constricted by those in leadership of the organisation you are leaving. But the challenge to Christians is to use the time being obedient to God and being available for Him to do whatever He wants through us. In the Gospels we see how Jesus’ preparation of the disciples increased in intensity as the cross loomed ever closer. The groups/companies of prophets in Bethel and Jericho suggest that schools where followers of God came together to develop their prophetic gift. It is likely that Gilgal was another site of such schools. Remember God had told Elijah on Mount Horeb that he would keep 7000 followers for himself. Elijah’s unusual last journey from Gilgal, inland to Bethel and then back to Jericho before crossing the Jordan seems bizarre in human terms, but God had a purpose, which was probably in part for Elijah and the prophets to make their farewells and encourage each other. A modern equivalent might be going from Clevedon to Weston to get on a boat – via Bristol.
We have the ultimate example in Jesus and an Old Testament example in Elijah. If we are followers of Jesus then we need to use the time we have for the advance of the kingdom, which involves going where we are told to go, to do what we are told to do and to encourage each other to grow in our knowledge of Jesus’ teaching and equipping power to cope with the future.
Temptation resisted: As the idea of temptation resisted came to mind in preparation. I thought first of Elisha. Before leaving Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho and crossing the Jordan. Elijah encouraged/instructed Elisha to stay in the place. It was a place of safety, with other followers of God. The parameters were clear, but each time Elisha went on with Elijah. He knew the best was still to come. That is how we should journey through life. It is certainly how I try to live.
Of course there is also Elijah’s temptation. He wanted to go on alone. Was he thinking of Elisha’s safety, or was he trying to protect Elisha from the loneliness of leadership, which he had faced, or was he trying to keep the final moments to himself? I have known a number of people who have struggled to hold on to life until loved ones have left the room. Once alone they have let go and died. We need to resist both these temptations, but rather trust God for each moment of every day.
Having looked at The Homeward Journey we come to…
The Succession Secured (vs. 9-10, 14-15): The journey is nearing its end. In human, earthly terms Elijah and Elisha have arrived at God’s appointed place, and a…
Request made (vs.9-10): Elijah’s final act is to ask his student, Elisha what he can do for him. Elisha asks for a double portion of the power that has been at work in Elijah. Other than God, only Elijah knows what this request means. In a way he acknowledges that it is not his gift to give, but if God allows him to see Elijah being taken into the presence of God then his request will be answered. This is the same as Jesus’ response to the request for James and John to sit at his left and right hand. We can plan for a succession, but it is only God who will confirm or otherwise our choice, but He will prepare His people for the next stage.
Request answered (v.14): God responded in the positive to Elisha’s request, because his motivation was to see God, .not himself, glorified. Leadership in God’s team/people should always be about seeking God’s purpose and not personal goals. I can remember being shocked the one and only time I stood for the diaconate of a church, when an older member of the church coma up and said something like ‘you’re aiming at great things’. In fact I couldn’t have felt less like his words. God’s answer on that occasion was not to allow my election, for which I have always been grateful.
But back to Elisha. He took Elijah’s cloak, which he had put on after the latter’s departure, and struck the water with it. Even now, Elisha is seen as someone who takes nothing for granted as seen by his question, “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?”. God answered by parting the water for Elisha to walk across on dry land.
Return witnessed (v.15): The prophets from Jericho, who had stood watching noted that God had parted the water through Elisha’ use of the cloak in the same way that he had through Elijah and said “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha” and they submitted to him. The succession of Elisha was confirmed by both God and the prophets from Jericho. It was secure.
Having looked at The Homeward Journey and the Succession Secured let’s look briefly at…
The Passing of Elijah (v.11):
Desire fulfilled: In the passing Elijah’s desire to be free from the responsibilities of this world was fulfilled. He was now in the presence of the living God, and his earthly responsibilities had been discharged and passed on to Elisha. Elisha’s desire to see the departure of Elijah was fulfilled suggesting that he did have a double measure of the Spirit which empowered Elijah.
Departure supernatural: The chariot and horses of fire certainly point to a dramatic intervention of God in a meeting place between heaven and earth. There was a suspension of the rules of this world as Elijah was taken away in the chariot. In the same way that these same rules were suspended in the ministry, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, or in the salvation that followers of Jesus have in him. We may not be taken up in a chariot of fire for all to see when we die, but we can look forward to being covered by Jesus and presented not guilty before the Father in heaven.
Of course the Passing of Elijah leads to…
The Response to the Passing (vs.12-18): When a person dies, there are many ways in which others can react, both at the time and in the future. But there are lessons to learn from this passage.
There is the
Grief of Elisha (v.12): The tearing of clothes suggests the deep emotional response common in the Middle East even today. Elisha was affected by his mentor’s death and he lets his emotions out. This is an important facet of grieving.
Then,
Gauntlet picked up by Elisha (vs. 13, 16, 18): He puts on Elijah’s cloak to show he is ready to step into Elijah’s shoes as God’s spokesman and leader of God’s followers. He advises against the action proposed by the other prophets, but allows them to grieve in their way. On their return he points out that they may have been better off listening to him in the first place, or at least helping them to see where they went wrong.
Grief of the prophets (vs.16-18): The prophets needed to do something for Elisha and I suspect Elijah. They wanted closure and could only see that in terms of finding the body and performing the last rites. They spent three days looking for the body, but found nothing. We too can spend time looking for closure and ways to tidy up loose ends, whereas Elisha did his grieving and left the detail to God…the God who had called him, confirmed his calling privately and publically, and was leading him forward.
Conclusion: We don’t know how long it was between Elijah anointing his replacement and his receiving the absolute healing for which he craved, but we do know that in between he was available for God to use. We do know that he was called home in God’s time and God’s way. We also know that God’s work carried on through Elisha and the other prophets. We do know that the power for God’s people to do his work comes from Him and that the spirit, whom equipped Elijah and Elisha is available to and lives in each one of us who follow Jesus Christ. In grief, the solution is to look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2).
Questions for further consideration
- What would you want to do (if anything) if you knew when you were going to die?
- Why do you think Elijah repeatedly asked Elisha to stay where he was (vs.2,4&6)?
- Why did Elisha ask Elijah for a double portion of the spirit (v.9)? Look up Genesis 25:31 and Deuteronomy 21:17 as these verses might help. Is there any significance in Elisha’s words, ‘My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel’ (v.12), in this regard? What do you think he meant? Have you had any similar experiences?
- What lies behind the conversations between the different prophetic schools and Elisha regarding the time of Elijah’s departure?
- Discuss any similarities between Moses and Elijah, e.g. sign of office and death (Exodus 4:2ff and Deuteronomy 34).
- For Christians, is each person’s death ‘supernatural’? Discuss why or why not.
- If you had been in this story, would you have responded like Elisha, the prophets from Jericho, or in some other way? Share.
- The prophets from Jericho recognised Elisha’s leadership. Why? How? What characteristics would you look for in a potential leader? How would you show your recognition of someone as a leader? In reality, is this theoretical, or real?
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