2Ki 2:11-14 | 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 2:11-14

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).

Reaction of Elisha

After his rapture, Elijah’s service ends and Elisha’s service begins. After his calling, Elisha first stayed for a while in the shade, in the school of exercise of God. Elisha’s task began with the question of the double portion, the question of birthright. He was given this, because the condition was met that he would see Elijah go to heaven. It says emphatically here: “Elisha saw [it]”.

Elisha called Elijah “my father” and “the chariot of Israel and its horsemen”. In doing so, he acknowledges that he was the spiritual child of Elijah, and that he saw in Elijah, the whole power of the army of Israel concentrated. The spiritual power of God’s people rests in times of decay, in the last days, not with the masses, but is present in the individual who is a man of God, man or woman. The Lord Jesus is in every way, the true Man of God, the true Israel. He went to heaven. Who, in His power, now bear witness before God in the midst of an apostate Christianity?

Elisha “saw Elijah no more”, just as we no longer see the Lord Jesus on earth. The Lord Jesus is now at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Paul also did not know Him any more according to the flesh (2Cor 5:16). Like Elisha, the (spiritual) Christian walks in the Spirit of the glorified Lord (Gal 5:25). Elisha is a picture of Christ coming to His people in the Spirit. The Lord Jesus said that after His going away He would come to His disciples: “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (Jn 14:18). This happened when the Holy Spirit came to earth (Jn 14:16-17).

Then Elisha ripped his clothes into two pieces. He was the man of grace, but he only could be because he radically dealt to the old. We have already seen this, when after his calling by Elijah, he left his oxen and slaughtered a pair and cooked their flesh on the wood from their yoke (1Kgs 19:20-21). The tearing of his clothes meant that Elisha had put aside the old in order to put on the new (2Cor 5:17).

Elijah’s Mantle

Elijah could not take his mantle to heaven. Thus the Lord Jesus could not continue to do the service in heaven that He had done on earth. He had surrendered it in the hands of His servants. That service would be greater, just as the service of Elisha was also greater than that of Elijah (cf. Jn 14:12). This service, however, was carried out in the character of the one who went to heaven. This also applies to us as servants who do the work of the Lord on earth. Our service should bear the features of Him Who is in heaven.

Elisha took up the mantle. With this he actually stepped into the service of the LORD instead of Elijah. He took up, so to speak, the challenge of his calling to fulfill the service associated with it. With the mantle taken up, he stood near the Jordan. Previously he was there with Elijah. Now he was alone. Each servant can be directed by another servant to the starting point of service: the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. The moment comes when he must stand alone there and realize that his service is only meaningful if it is connected to what the Jordan speaks of: a dead, risen and glorified Lord in heaven. The servant must always remain aware of this.

The mantle of Elijah has the same function in this history as the staff of Moses with his passage through the Red Sea (Exo 14:16) and the ark of the covenant on his entry into Canaan (Jos 3:13). With the staff, the ark and the mantle, the water had to give way to the power of the God of Israel, who created a path for those who belong to Him.

Elisha called upon the name of the LORD here, with the words “where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” He knew that the miracle of dividing the waters when he went through them, together with Elijah (2Kgs 2:8), did not occur by the power of Elijah. If he wanted the waters to divide again, it would not be by his own strength, but by the mighty working of their God. In His power, these men of God could go where a man by nature cannot go.

Elisha did not compare himself with Elijah, but called upon the LORD, the God of Elijah. That God had not changed. Elisha called upon the God who was with Elijah, that this same God may be with him. God also wants to support us with His power in the service we may do for Him. The God Who has given men of God strength, will also give us strength.