2Ki 2:11 | KingComments | STEP | The statement that they were “going along and talking” shows that they’d got to know each other’s thoughts and had confidence to share with each other. Over the years, a close relationship will have developed between the two men. “The slave does not know what his master is doing” ( ), but Elisha was well aware of what would happen to his “master” ( ). Elisha was also not at a distance like the student prophets ( ), who were not even mentioned as having personally spoken to Elijah that day ( ). He therefore emphatically called Elijah “my father”, when he said: “My father, my father! ( ). We can learn a practical lesson from the way Elijah and Elisha treated each other. This is an example of how older and younger believers could and should interact with each other. Although Elisha’s faithfulness was put to the test by his older companion, we also see here the harmonious union of an older servant of the Lord with a younger servant of the Lord. Elijah was Elisha’s spiritual father ( ), as Paul was of Timothy, whom he called his “child” ( ; ). In this way young men of God are prepared for the task that awaits them. So Elisha became an eyewitness to the ascension of Elijah, and then his eyes were opened by God Himself for the miracle that took place. And indeed Elisha was allowed to see the taking up of his master and thus to look into the invisible world ( ; cf. ). He saw how God sent a chariot from heaven, “a chariot of fire and horses of fire”, when He took Elijah – the faithful and lonely warrior for God’s glory on earth – in His glory. Thus we also know that “while they were looking on” ( ) the Lord Jesus was taken up into heaven and “sat down at the right hand of God” ( ).

‏ 2 Kings 2:11

Elijah Goes Up to Heaven

The statement that they were “going along and talking” shows that they’d got to know each other’s thoughts and had confidence to share with each other. Over the years, a close relationship will have developed between the two men. “The slave does not know what his master is doing” (Jn 15:15), but Elisha was well aware of what would happen to his “master” (2Kgs 2:3 ; 5). Elisha was also not at a distance like the student prophets (2Kgs 2:7), who were not even mentioned as having personally spoken to Elijah that day (2Kgs 2:3 ; 5). He therefore emphatically called Elijah “my father”, when he said: “My father, my father! (2Kgs 2:12).

We can learn a practical lesson from the way Elijah and Elisha treated each other. This is an example of how older and younger believers could and should interact with each other. Although Elisha’s faithfulness was put to the test by his older companion, we also see here the harmonious union of an older servant of the Lord with a younger servant of the Lord. Elijah was Elisha’s spiritual father (2Kgs 2:12), as Paul was of Timothy, whom he called his “child” (1Tim 1:2; 2Tim 1:2). In this way young men of God are prepared for the task that awaits them.

So Elisha became an eyewitness to the ascension of Elijah, and then his eyes were opened by God Himself for the miracle that took place. And indeed Elisha was allowed to see the taking up of his master and thus to look into the invisible world (2Kgs 2:11-12; cf. 2Kgs 6:17). He saw how God sent a chariot from heaven, “a chariot of fire and horses of fire”, when He took Elijah – the faithful and lonely warrior for God’s glory on earth – in His glory. Thus we also know that “while they were looking on” (Acts 1:9) the Lord Jesus was taken up into heaven and “sat down at the right hand of God” (Mk 16:19).