Follow Me: Elisha
Notes
Transcript
Translation: 1 Kings 19:19-21
Translation: 1 Kings 19:19-21
He went from there and he found Elisha, son of Shaphat, plowing with twelve oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and threw his cloak on him. So he abandoned the cattle and ran after Elijah. He said, “Let me kiss my father and mother, and I will follow you.” He said, “Go to them and return, for what have I done to you?” So he came back from following him and took the yokes of the cattle, slaughtered them, boiled their meat in a pot using the equipment from the oxen, and gave it to the people. They ate, and he rose and went after Elijah and served him.
Translation: 2 Kings 2:1-14
Translation: 2 Kings 2:1-14
Now, when Yahweh was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Please, stay here, because Yahweh is sending me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “I swear, so long as Yaweh lives and as long as you live, I will not abandon you.” So they went down to Bethel.
Now, the prophets who were in Bethel went down to Elishah. They said to him, “Don’t you know that today Yahweh will take your master from you?” He said, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”
Elijah said to him, “Elisha, Please stay here, because Yahweh is sending me to Jericho.” He said, “I swear so long as Yahweh lives and you live, I will not abandon you.” So they entered into Jericho.
The prophets of Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, “Don’t you know that today Yahweh will take your master from you?” He said, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.”
Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, because Yahweh is sending me to the Jordan.” But he said, “I swear, so long as Yahweh lives and you live, I will not abandon you.” So they went together.
Then fifty men from the prophets came and stood at a distance, as the two of them were standing on the banks of the Jordan. Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up, and struck the water, and it split here and there, and the two of them passed through on dry land.
As they were passing through, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask of me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” So Elisha said, “Please, give me a double portion of your spirit!” He responded, “You have asked a hard thing. If you see me taken from you, you will have what you asked, but if not, it will not happen.”
As they were walking and talking, Look: Chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah went up in the whirlwind to Heaven, and Elisha saw. He was crying out, “Father! Father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” But he could not see him any more. He grabbed his garment and tore it in two. He picked up the cloak of Elijah which had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took Elijah’s cloak which had fallen off of him, struck the water, and said, “Where is Yahweh, the God of Elijah?” When he struck the water, it split here and there, and Elisha passed through it.
Elijah’s Legacy
Elijah’s Legacy
Great Prophet of Israel
Elijah’s second coming: John the Baptist
The Grumpy Prophet
We tend to remember some with rose colored glasses
Elijah a great prophet, but not a perfect man
John a great prophet, but not perfect
Nevertheless, a great prophet, and a towering figure to follow
Elisha’s Call to Follow
Elisha’s Call to Follow
“No one who puts their hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)
Called by Elijah
Calling often within community
Mentor figures (Paul/Timothy; Jesus/disciples, etc.)
Does Elisha look back?
Maybe not as instantaneous as Jesus would like, but Elisha does put old life behind him. (burns plow, slaughters oxen, kisses parents, etc.)
Despite the eagerness of Elisha, he takes backseat until 2 Kings 2
Death of the Master
Death of the Master
Then the master dies
Intimate relationship between Elijah/Elisha
“My father! My father!”
“double portion”; i.e. inheritance as first born
Elisha Matures
Elisha Matures
Our Spiritual Inheritance
Our Spiritual Inheritance