2Ki 2:8 | KingComments | STEP | Elijah was sent by the LORD to a different place each time and Elisha was again advised by Elijah not to go along. By saying this to him, Elijah put Elisha to the test every time. Each time Elisha had to consider what he was doing and make his decision. He was not forced to go with Elijah. That he went with him was his own choice. Happily, Elisha persisted until the end. He certainly did not regret that. From Jericho the journey moves to the Jordan, to go outside God’s land which had become idolatrous. They passed through the Jordan, after Elijah had struck it with his mantle. The power of Elijah lay in his conduct, his walk – of which his mantle speaks – to the glory of God. After they had passed through the Jordan, Elijah could speak of blessing for Elisha. They were, as it were, outside the camp, like Moses and Joshua were once ( ). The blessing in connection with the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus – of which the Jordan is a picture – lies outside the land. Fifty student prophets did go along a part of the journey, but then did not pass through the Jordan. Thus the people gazed after Moses when he went outside the camp to the tent he had put up, where Joshua stayed ( ). Some Christians have an eye for what the different places represent, but have no knowledge of having died and risen with Christ. They do not enjoy the heavenly blessings that result from being placed in Christ in the heavenly places ( ).

‏ 2 Kings 2:8

The Lesson of the Jordan

Elijah was sent by the LORD to a different place each time and Elisha was again advised by Elijah not to go along. By saying this to him, Elijah put Elisha to the test every time. Each time Elisha had to consider what he was doing and make his decision. He was not forced to go with Elijah. That he went with him was his own choice. Happily, Elisha persisted until the end. He certainly did not regret that.

From Jericho the journey moves to the Jordan, to go outside God’s land which had become idolatrous. They passed through the Jordan, after Elijah had struck it with his mantle. The power of Elijah lay in his conduct, his walk – of which his mantle speaks – to the glory of God. After they had passed through the Jordan, Elijah could speak of blessing for Elisha. They were, as it were, outside the camp, like Moses and Joshua were once (Exo 33:7-11). The blessing in connection with the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus – of which the Jordan is a picture – lies outside the land.

Fifty student prophets did go along a part of the journey, but then did not pass through the Jordan. Thus the people gazed after Moses when he went outside the camp to the tent he had put up, where Joshua stayed (Exo 33:8). Some Christians have an eye for what the different places represent, but have no knowledge of having died and risen with Christ. They do not enjoy the heavenly blessings that result from being placed in Christ in the heavenly places (Eph 1:3).