God Empowers His People
God Anoints his leaders.
2 Kings 2
“Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what shall I do for you before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”
In 1 Kings 19:16, we find that Elisha was the appointed successor to Elijah as the next prophetic voice of God to the people of Israel. In verse 19, Elijah symbolizes this succession when he throws his mantle on Elisha, thus symbolizing the transfer of God's anointing power to Elisha. From that day forward, Elisha became a companion to Elijah and served him as he completed his final works of being God’s prophet.
In 2 Kings 2, God revealed to Elijah that God would take Elijah into heaven in a whirlwind. In a remarkable display of grace, Elijah would be one of two individuals in all of history who would not experience death (the other being Enoch, Genesis 5:24). The one who prayed that God would put him to death (1 Kings 19:3-4) would be graciously spared from death. Being aware that Elijah was soon leaving, Elisha was overwhelmed. Feeling the weight of his prophetic role soon to be placed upon him, Elisha recognized he needed the empowerment that Elijah had from God. Because of this, Elisha refused to leave Elijah’s side.
As they were walking together, Elisha refused to leave Elijah’s side. So Elijah asks him what he wants. In response, Elisha asks for the one thing he knows he will need: The empowerment of the Spirit. In the Ancient Near East, the firstborn son received a double portion of a father’s inheritance. Thus, Elisha sought to receive a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Elisha recognized that Elijah had been empowered by God and had a particular relation with God. He recognized that if he was to succeed Elijah as the prophetic leader, he needed that same spiritual empowerment. However, in response, Elijah makes it clear that empowerment does not come from him; instead, it comes from God.
Suddenly, a chariot of fire descends from heaven and separates the two. As Elisha watches in awe, Elijah is taken into heaven in a whirlwind. Elijah, the great prophet, is no more, and Elisha is overwhelmed with grief and apprehension (demonstrated by tearing his clothes). As Elisha stands in the desert's sudden quietness, he sees Elijah's mantle lying on the ground. Picking it up, he walks back towards the Jordan River. The question that is plaguing his mind is, where is God? Where is the God who empowered Elijah, the God who caused the drought and brought the rain, the God who raised the dead and took Elijah? Is the power of God demonstrated through Elijah no longer present?
With a sense of apprehension and fear, he took the mantle of Elijah and struck the waters, and asked, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” With the weight of his role as the new prophet, Elisha is plagued with doubt. Is God with him and empowering him as God had empowered Elijah? Is he the one God has anointed to replace this great prophet?
He received his answer in a powerful display of God. As he struck the waters, the river divided, and Elisha crossed over. While Elijah was gone, the Lord was still present, and just as God had empowered Elijah, now he was empowering Elisha. This empowerment would be further demonstrated in two more miracles in verses 15-25.
When God calls us to perform a task, we often face the same doubt and apprehension as Elisha. We feel overwhelmed and inept in the face of tasks that we seem ill-equipped to perform. Like Elisha, we look at the task and our weaknesses. Instead, we must learn to look to the infinite power of God, who enables us and empowers us to accomplish the ministry he has called us to perform.
The daily devotionals can also be found on the church app (River Christian Church Washington) available for Android and Apple phones.
2 Kings 2
“Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what shall I do for you before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”
In 1 Kings 19:16, we find that Elisha was the appointed successor to Elijah as the next prophetic voice of God to the people of Israel. In verse 19, Elijah symbolizes this succession when he throws his mantle on Elisha, thus symbolizing the transfer of God's anointing power to Elisha. From that day forward, Elisha became a companion to Elijah and served him as he completed his final works of being God’s prophet.
In 2 Kings 2, God revealed to Elijah that God would take Elijah into heaven in a whirlwind. In a remarkable display of grace, Elijah would be one of two individuals in all of history who would not experience death (the other being Enoch, Genesis 5:24). The one who prayed that God would put him to death (1 Kings 19:3-4) would be graciously spared from death. Being aware that Elijah was soon leaving, Elisha was overwhelmed. Feeling the weight of his prophetic role soon to be placed upon him, Elisha recognized he needed the empowerment that Elijah had from God. Because of this, Elisha refused to leave Elijah’s side.
As they were walking together, Elisha refused to leave Elijah’s side. So Elijah asks him what he wants. In response, Elisha asks for the one thing he knows he will need: The empowerment of the Spirit. In the Ancient Near East, the firstborn son received a double portion of a father’s inheritance. Thus, Elisha sought to receive a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Elisha recognized that Elijah had been empowered by God and had a particular relation with God. He recognized that if he was to succeed Elijah as the prophetic leader, he needed that same spiritual empowerment. However, in response, Elijah makes it clear that empowerment does not come from him; instead, it comes from God.
Suddenly, a chariot of fire descends from heaven and separates the two. As Elisha watches in awe, Elijah is taken into heaven in a whirlwind. Elijah, the great prophet, is no more, and Elisha is overwhelmed with grief and apprehension (demonstrated by tearing his clothes). As Elisha stands in the desert's sudden quietness, he sees Elijah's mantle lying on the ground. Picking it up, he walks back towards the Jordan River. The question that is plaguing his mind is, where is God? Where is the God who empowered Elijah, the God who caused the drought and brought the rain, the God who raised the dead and took Elijah? Is the power of God demonstrated through Elijah no longer present?
With a sense of apprehension and fear, he took the mantle of Elijah and struck the waters, and asked, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” With the weight of his role as the new prophet, Elisha is plagued with doubt. Is God with him and empowering him as God had empowered Elijah? Is he the one God has anointed to replace this great prophet?
He received his answer in a powerful display of God. As he struck the waters, the river divided, and Elisha crossed over. While Elijah was gone, the Lord was still present, and just as God had empowered Elijah, now he was empowering Elisha. This empowerment would be further demonstrated in two more miracles in verses 15-25.
When God calls us to perform a task, we often face the same doubt and apprehension as Elisha. We feel overwhelmed and inept in the face of tasks that we seem ill-equipped to perform. Like Elisha, we look at the task and our weaknesses. Instead, we must learn to look to the infinite power of God, who enables us and empowers us to accomplish the ministry he has called us to perform.
The daily devotionals can also be found on the church app (River Christian Church Washington) available for Android and Apple phones.
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