Podcast 75, Story if Elisha, “Pt 1”

We are introduced to Elisha in 1 Kings when he is called by Elijah.

1 Kings 19:19-21

So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee? And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.

The mantle of Elijah is symbolic of what is to come. Elijah is at the end of his first mission on earth. He is passing his mantel to Elisha. It is a symbol not only to Elisha but to all the House of Israel that they are to consider Elisha as the successor to Elijah. It is a witness that only God can call prophets, but that he does his work through prophets. No greater tragedy can occur in Christendom than to turn away from God’s true prophets. Their primary mission on earth is to bring us to Christ. We are to study the words of the prophets for they lead us to Christ.

The second time the mantle falls upon Elisha is far more dramatic.

2 Kings 2: 8-13

And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;

As a witness to the sons of the prophets that Elisha truly has the mantle of Elijah, he performs the same miracle as Elijah by parting the waters of the Jordan River.

2 Kings 2:14-15

And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over. And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

As with Elijah, Elisha performs many miracles. In fact, he doubles the number of miracles of Elijah suggesting to some that it is a witness that a double portion of Elijah’s spirit really did fall upon Elisha.

Elisha, recognized now as the successor to Elijah, is called upon to perform miracles.

2 Kings 2:19

And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren.