“Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. And Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.’ But Elisha said, ‘As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.’ So they went down to Bethel…
“Elijah said to him, ‘Elisha, please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.’ But he said, ‘As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.’ So they came to Jericho…
“Then Elijah said to him, ‘Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.’ But he said, ‘As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.’ So the two of them went on. Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. Then Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up and struck the water, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground.
“When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.’ And Elisha said, ‘Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.’ And he said, ‘You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you…’ And as they went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it and cried, ‘My father, my father!.. And he saw him no more.
“Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them. He took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan… and struck the water, saying, ‘Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?’ And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and the other, and Elisha went over.” 2 Kings 2:1-2,4,6-14
There is great poignancy in these slowly changing scenes. Love is palpable across the miles. A strangely calm urgency spurs the pair on from Bethel- a place of worship that had been corrupted, to Jericho- a city of God’s victory, to the Jordan- where He had miraculously provided. Conversation is intimate, too sacred to be overheard. Elisha, whom Elijah had called under the cover of his cloak, matched his master and mentor’s gait, keenly absorbing all he could from the companion he knew would soon depart. (Joshua 6:2-5; 1 Kings 13:1-4; 17:1-6; 19:19-21)
He wanted his spirit. He desperately needed his cloak to withstand the windy challenges ahead, to plod on for the ministry of the Word, to follow God at whatever cost. Please. Give it, please.
How tenaciously do we follow our Lord? What lengths will we go- in discipline, time set aside, persistence- to have more of His Spirit? (Genesis 32:26; Ephesians 5:18)
Father, teach me from each divine imprint along my daily journey. Cloak me with Your Spirit’s grace and power for every step, for Your glorious sake .
As the rain and snow 