Elijah is taken to heaven in a whirlwind

II Kings Chapter 2

Just before the Lord was about to take Elijah to heaven in a whirlwind, he and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal. Elijah told Elisha to stay there because the Lord was sending Elijah to Bethel. But Elisha said he would never leave Elijah, so they went on together. As they traveled, a group of prophets from Bethel asked Elisha if he knew the Lord was going to take his master (Elijah) away this day? But Elisha told them to be quiet, that he knew it. Then again Elijah told him to stay there because he was going on to Jericho. Still Elisha would not leave Elijah. Then a group of prophets from Jericho asked Elisha if he knew the Lord was going to take his master away today? Again, he told them to be quiet.

Then Elijah told Elisha to stay back because the Lord was sending him to the Jordan River. But Elisha still would not be left behind. Fifty men from the group of prophets also went and watched from a distance as Elijah and Elisha stopped beside the Jordan River. Then Elijah folded his cloak together and struck the water with it. The river divided and the two of them walked across on dry land. On the other side, Elijah asked Elisha what more he could do for him before he was taken away. And Elisha asked that he become Elijah's successor. Elijah said this was a difficult thing and that if Elisha saw Elijah taken, he would get his request. If he did not see him when taken, then he would not get his request. The decision was to be made by the Lord.

As they walked, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared drawn by horses of fire. It drove between them, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha saw it and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariots and charioteers of Israel!" And as they disappeared, he tore his robe in two.

Then Elisha picked up Elijah's cloak and cried out, "Where is the Lord, God of Elijah?" And the river divided and he went across. When the group of prophets saw what happened, they knew that Elisha was Elijah's successor and they bowed before him and asked if their men should search for Elijah. At first Elisha said no, but they kept urging and so he agreed to the search, but after three days Elijah was not found.

The leaders of Jericho visited Elisha and told him the location of the town was beautiful, but the water was bad and land unproductive. Elisha asked for a new bowl with salt in it. Then he went out to the spring that supplied the town with water and he threw the salt into it. He told the people that the Lord had made the water wholesome and would no longer cause death or infertility. Then Elisha left and went to Bethel and as he walked a group of boys from the town mocked and made fun of him. He turned and looked at them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of them. From there Elisha went to Mount Carmel and then to Samaria.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: A group of prophets was like a school who gathered round a recognized prophet. These groups helped stem the tide of spiritual and moral decline in the nation under Jeroboam and this particular group were eyewitnesses to the succession of Elijah to Elisha. God granted Elisha's request because his motives were pure. He did not ask to be better or have more power than Elijah, but to accomplish more for God.

Elijah was taken to heaven without dying. He is the second person mentioned in Scripture to do so.Enoch was the first (Genesis 5:21-24). And of course Jesus was taken to heaven in bodily form after his resurrection.

The mob of youths who taunted Elisha were probably from Bethel the center of idolatry in the northern kingdom. They showed disrespect for Elisha's message and God's power. Elisha did not call out the bears himself, God sent them as judgment for the youth's callous unbelief.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? We learn that Elijah was taken to heaven alive and we learn that his successor was taunted. Don't you think that making fun of religious leaders continues today? It does. And can happen to us when we take a stand for God. When you make your stand for God, you put yourself in a situation where others may show disrespect for your spirituality and mock you. But though we do not condone these sins, we need to pray for those who make these mistakes. Mocking the spiritual message is a grave sin that God judges harshly.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents. especially her mother whose cancer has returned, and Arlene’s nephew David. Pray for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life. Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer. Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS. Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who was given 14 months to live with cancer, but has made it six years. The pain has returned and she needs our prayers.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has 90 percent of her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. She will require long therapy and insurance may soon be a problem since her job was not held for her.
Pray for Robert Sargent with lung cancer and Marthaline Sargent with serious health issues. Update on Stella: She has shed the feeding tube and is taking formula on her own! But breathing problems are still with her, though improving all the time. She continues to have a long road, so prayers are still needed. She has been moved to a St. Louis hospital.
Pray for Carolyn’s friend Margaret and her husband who were in a car accident. As elderly drivers they may face a life change which may cost them their independence. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
Pray for Brian and Ashley, as they lost the expected baby boy. It was so sad because she was 4 months and we had seen the sonogram of him moving and sucking his thumb.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.