Elijah Anoints Elisha and
Goes to Heaven
1 Kings 19, 2 Kings 2:1-17
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There came a time when Elijah went and hid himself in a cave, because of Jezebel. And there came a very great wind, but the LORD was not in the wind. And there came an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And there came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a still, quiet voice, and the LORD was in that voice. And he told Elijah to go and anoint Elisha to be prophet in Elijah's place.
And so Elijah found Elisha plowing in his father's field, and Elijah put his cloak around Elisha. Elisha wanted to go and kiss his father and mother. He took some oxen, and cooked them and gave them to the people, and then he followed Elijah.
Now after a time of speaking the words of the LORD to the people of Israel, there came a time Elijah knew that he was going to be taken by the LORD. And so he told Elisha to stay behind while he went to Bethel. But Elisha would not leave Elijah. Then Elijah told Elisha to stay behind while he went to Jericho, but Elisha said "As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." and they went on together. And then Elijah told Elisha to stay behind while he went to Jordan, (that was the Jordan river) but again Elisha said "As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." and they went together.
And 50 men who were sons of the prophets came and stood watching Elijah and Elisha. Elijah took his cloak and wrapped it together and stuck the water (of the Jordan river), and it was divided, and Elijah and Elisha crossed the river on dry ground. Elijah said "Ask what I should do for you, before I am taken away from you." And Elisha said "I pray you, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." Elijah said "You have asked a difficult thing, but if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be so, but if you don't see me taken, it will not be so."
And as they went on together, and talked, all of a sudden a chariot of fire appeared, and horses of fire, and they were separated, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven! Elisha saw it, and he cried "My Father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen" And he saw Elijah no more. Then Elisha took hold of his own clothes, and tore them in two pieces. And he took up the cloak of Elijah, and went and stood by the bank of the Jordan river. And he took the cloak of Elijah and struck the water and said "Where is the LORD God of Elijah?" and the water parted, and Elisha went over. Elisha became prophet in Elijah's place.
Now the men who were watching wanted to look for Elijah, because they saw him taken up and thought he might be in a mountain or in a valley. First Elijah said no, but finally he agreed. And they sent 50 men to look for Elijah for 3 days, but they did not find him.
Memory Verse: 2 Kings 2:4 "...as the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you."
Questions:
1. When Elijah was in the cave, how did he hear the voice of the LORD?
2. Where did Elijah find Elisha?
3. How did Elisha know that Elijah had chosen him?
4. What miracle happened when they came to the Jordan River?
5. How did Elijah go to heaven?
6. Why do you think Elisha agreed to let the people look for Elijah?
Answers:
1. Not in the wind, not in the earthquake, not in the fire, but a still,
quiet voice.
2. In a field plowing with his father's oxen
3. Elijah put his cloak around him.
4. Elijah struck the water with his cloak, and it parted and they crossed
on dry ground.
5. In a chariot of fire, drawn by horses of fire, he was taken up in a
whirlwind.
6. Because he knew they would not find him, and would realize that God
took Elijah to heaven.
Vicki C. Gross/Jan'03