Sat 15th August – 2 Kings chapter 2:1-3:

Sat 15^th August  –  Read 2 Kings chapter 2:1-3:

V1:  We come to the last scene in Elijah’s earthly life and ministry. Here is the remarkable revelation of God’s Sovereign purpose to take Elijah directly to heaven. Only he and Enoch in all Scripture have such a departure from this world to the next, though we know no details of Enoch’s – save that he “walked with God.. and God took him” ( Genesis 5:24.) This speaks of a life of obedience and close fellowship with the Lord, which surely marked Elijah’s life too. Yet why these 2 and no others with similar walks of faith and obedience were taken direct to heaven, we cannot say and should not speculate.God is Sovereign, and does not reveal all His purposes to us. ( See Deuteronomy 29:29; Ephesians 1:11.) Elisha is with Elijah as his servant to this point, and they are journeying together.

V2:  They come to Gilgal, and Elijah tells Elisha to stay there, while he himself goes on to Bethel at God’s command.It seems that this is, in fact, a test of the younger man’s resolve, so that when he says he will not leave his master this is not disobedience but a deeper ( surely God-given ) awareness, and Elijah accepts this.

V3:  ” The sons of the prophets” here and in the next verses, appear to be companies of faithful men being taught and trained for his service, perhaps largely by Elijah and Elisha themselves up to this point. ( Some have suggested we glimpse here  a kind of ” OT Bible College “) One such group is, it seems, based at Bethel, and they come to Elisha and ask him if he realises God is to take Elijah away this day. Yes, he does. Clearly, then the Lord has revealed something of his purpose both to these men and to Elisha himself.This confirms that the request he stay at Gilgal – and soon again, at Bethel – was indeed a test of his steadfastness. Our own may be tested in various ways, may we like Elisha remain faithful to our Lord, and His revealed will.