ELIJAH: The Translation – 2
The
churches of
Christ Greet You (Romans
TEXT: 2 Kings 2:9-11
Introduction
Second Kings 2:1-11 is the story of the translation of Elijah. This brings to a close his ministry on earth. Elijah's translation and the events that surrounded it became a means of testing for Elisha whom God had called to step into the shoes of the older prophet. So also God works providentially in our lives through the events and lives of others.
In verses 1-6, there was a test of Elisha's commitment. When asked to stay behind while Elijah went on, Elisha each time responded with a double oath to show his "bulldog tenacity" to stay with his teacher to the very last, knowing his master was about to be taken. This demonstrated several things about his character - a teachable spirit, loyalty, and a commitment to God's calling to the very last.
Then, in verses 7-8, Elisha learned a lesson in
the miracle
of the parting of the waters of the
Now, another test follows - perhaps the most
critical of
all. It was the test of his longings, a test to see where his heart was
(cf.
Ps. 26:2; 139:23; Jer.
A Test of Elisha's Desires or Longings (2:9-10)
In verse 9 we are told that immediately following
the
crossing of the
1. It teaches us the principle of timing and discernment. We need to discern the right time to teach, confront, challenge, or even to encourage. Sometimes it is just not the right time and our tendency is to speak when we should be quiet, and to be silent when we should speak. The wise man teaches that there is "A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together; A time to be silent, and a time to speak" (Ecc. 3:7). "Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances" (Prov. 25:11).
2. This also teaches us that a great time to challenge Christians to action is when they have just witnessed the blessing of God and are encouraged by the Lord through His Word or through what He has been doing in their lives.
The statement put to Elisha was, "Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you." The reference to being taken also teaches us several things:
1. None of us are indispensable to God. Sooner or later God is going to remove us or someone whose ministry we are depending on. No matter how important we may think we are or others may think we are to a work, a family, a nation, or the church, the only one who is truly indispensable is the Lord.
2. God always has someone else, or some other way to accomplish His purposes, or He may have a different purpose or purposes. Our need is to rest in God's will and then carefully consider our responsibility in view of the removal of that one on whom we have been depending. When it was time for Elijah to go, there was an Elisha. When it was time for Moses to go, there was a Joshua.
3. Elijah's words show us we should seek to be a blessing to others as long as we are here. Always we must recognize that we are only instruments of God's grace, a sower, a waterer, or a reaper - but it is God who is the indispensable and ultimate cause (cf. 1 Cor. 3:5-10).
4. Primarily, this statement was a test. The Lord, if you recall, made a similar statement to Solomon at the beginning of his ministry and work as king (cf. 2 Chron. 1:7-12).
Why pose such a challenge? Answer: Because our desires and requests show the condition of our hearts. It shows just how ready we are for ministry, responsibility, and sacrifice. It shows if our treasure is primarily here on earth or in heaven. It shows if we really see heaven as home or whether we are trying to make this fallen world our heavenly home. It shows if we are ready to be a servant or still want to be served.
Our desires and requests reveal where our true treasures are. This in turn shows where our hearts are, which will in turn determine our priorities and pursuits and willingness to make the necessary sacrifices to fulfill God's will. Ultimately then, the real issue is the motive behind the request, the deep down longings of the soul. Our requests may be good, but our motive may be evil. It may be an attempt to make this world our home. The request may be born of greed or lust for praise, power, position, applause, prestige, or ease and comfort at the expense of God's purposes. In other words, it becomes an attempt to find happiness apart from the Lord.
Elisha's Reply (2:9)
"Please, let a double portion of your Spirit be upon me." Let's note several things about this reply:
1. Elisha was respectful and courteous. A person who says "please" is usually one who will also say "thank you." He is one who is genuinely appreciative of the loving acts of others. He is usually a person who doesn't take people for granted. Oh, how we need to cultivate the art and heart of appreciation, thankfulness, courteousness, and respectfulness.
2. The words "double portion" do not mean two
portions or twice as much of something. It especially does not mean
twice as
much of the Holy Spirit. Remember that the Holy Spirit is a person and
not a
substance that you can pour in by measure. John
3. The expression "double portion" was used in connection with the firstborn son, who by law inherited two parts of his father's property. He also became the one responsible to be the spiritual head of the family and responsible to perpetuate God's covenant promises.
So Elisha was not asking for more power or more of the Holy Spirit, but simply that he might be the successor of Elijah to carry on Elijah's important ministry. From what we know about Elisha's life and ministry that follows, this clearly was not a request of pride, for personal glory, or selfish gain of any kind. Instead: (1) It was the request of a man responding to the challenge and needs of the day. (2) It was a man wanting to be used of God for God's glory. (3) It was a man showing his willingness by faith to accept the responsibility of God's will for his life. Elisha wanted to be the spiritual firstborn son of Elijah and serve the Lord as God had called him to do.
Above all, it was the request of a man with
longings that
were anchored in eternity. Like Abraham, he was willing to make
sacrifices and
live as an alien and sojourner (Heb. 11:9; 1 Pet.
Application: Are we likewise living as
sojourners?
Where are our treasures? What drives us? What do we want out of this
life -
from our family, from our jobs, from our pleasures, etc.? Scripture
teaches
that "God has given us richly all things to enjoy" (1 Tim.
Scripture has a lot to say about man's longings, though the word used in our translations is usually the word "lust." Basically, lust is the strong desire for something caused by longing for satisfaction, security, significance, etc., apart from dependence on God and His righteous plan for one's life.
Elijah's Response (
Elijah's answer is given in verse 10. Knowing that
he was
only an instrument and that such a thing was only in God's sovereign
control,
he said, "You have asked a hard thing." This could mean, "This
isn't mine to give. Only God can give it." Elijah, however, knew Elisha
was to be his replacement (1 Kings
The Translation of Elijah (
Our text says, "Then it came about as they were going along and talking, that behold . . ." The Hebrew text is more like, "And it came to pass, they were going along, walking and talking, and behold . . ." The text highlights the fact that this glorious event occurred in the midst of their conversation and fellowship. They were no doubt talking about the things of God, about the nation and its condition, about ministry and the teaching of the Word.
Can we learn anything from this? We think so. Let us suggest a couple of applications.
1. We see Elijah's continued commitment to minister to his young student. We also see Elisha learning all he could while he could - soaking up truth and the fellowship of his dear friend. This scene gives us a beautiful example of the importance of discipling among Christians.
2. We see Elijah involved in ministry right up to the moment the Lord took him. Isn't this the way we should all want to go - in fellowship and serving the Lord, redeeming the time for eternity? This doesn't mean we don't take time out for fishing, golf or gardening or other leisurely activity, but such is never to be our reason for living. WE SHOULD NEVER RETIRE FROM MINISTRY!
Next we read, "That behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire . . ." We are sure Elijah had more he wanted to say to Elisha and certainly Elisha was not ready to lose Elijah. The implication here is that, suddenly, in the middle of their conversation, this manifestation of the Lord's presence appeared, separated the two, and took Elijah away.
This is the way the Lord works; it's the way life is. We are never ready to lose a loved one, a good friend or teacher. There is always more to say more to teach and learn; more times we would like to enjoy together. But God, who alone is the indispensable one, suddenly breaks into our lives and takes our friend or loved one home to be with Him or moves them somewhere else. This hurts and causes pain for us, but it should never neutralize us. Rather, it should thrust us in another direction or into a new responsibility while trusting in the Lord and moving out for God. Life must go on. We must pick up the baton and keep moving toward the goal. Often it is a new goal God has set before us.
Please note that the prophet was not taken to heaven in a fiery chariot. He was taken up in a whirlwind. The chariot and horses of fire were manifestations of God's divine presence or a manifestation of His angelic forces that came to get Elijah and accompany Him to heaven. The same is undoubtedly true for us in death. Elijah, like Enoch, was translated without seeing death. He was taken up into heaven, which represents the paradise of God. He was removed from the pain of this fallen world into the bliss and joy of paradise.
Moses, the great prophet and giver of the Law,
died and was
buried. Elijah was translated without seeing death. So today, because
of the
imminent hope of the coming of the Lord, we too have the prospect of
not seeing
death, but suddenly being changed into glorified bodies and caught up
into
heaven to ever be with the Lord (cf. 1 Thess. 4:13-18). This is the
blessed
hope of the body of Christ. Should it not occur in our lifetime, we
still have the
confidence that death means to be absent from the body and present with
the
Lord (cf. Phil.
It is right here that we have one of the most important principles of the Christian life. It is a principle that was surely a dominating, driving, life-changing force in the lives of these two prophets - the hope of heaven and eternity and all that it holds. Our ability to live godly, to serve God rather than self, to forgive and love others, and find real peace and stability is directly proportionate to the degree that the glories of heaven grip our souls and become the motive and anchor of our lives.
What gave these two prophets the courage to do what they did? What gives us the courage to be the people God has called us to be and make the necessary sacrifices in order to love and serve God and others? One man has defined courage as "the willingness to sacrifice for a better day." Until the refrain in the old hymn, "this world is not my home, I'm just a passing through" becomes real to us, we will not be truly free from those forces that dominate us and keep us from being more available to God and able to love and serve people.
Abraham never saw his vision turn into reality. Though he found the country he was looking for, he never possessed it. His descendants did. But hundreds of years were to pass before even they inherited the promise. Meanwhile Abraham remained a wandering stranger in the country he had intended to settle. He is described variously as 'pilgrim,' 'sojourner,' 'stranger.' Were he a child of the twenty-first century, we might call him a 'displaced person.'
Abraham is thus the prototype of the follower of Jesus. We do not live in tents as Abraham the sojourner did. We may not even be called to 'live out of a suitcase' as some of our modern brothers and sisters. Yet if we are serious about following Christ we share Abraham's outlook. We do not 'belong.' We are temporary residents only. Our real home is not immediately available, but we refuse to settle permanently anywhere else. We are 'pilgrims and strangers.'
We have not chosen impermanence as a preferred lifestyle. We are not nomadic. A nomad thinks only of the next temporary pasture. Deep within us, however, is a longing for our true home. It is this longing that characterizes the people of God. We do not belong to this world because we do belong somewhere else. HOW BEAUTIFUL HEAVEN MUST BE!