The Chariot of Israel and Its Horsemen!

In 2 Kings 2:1-15 we have what might be called the changing of the guard. It speaks of faith. It shows faith in action. God leads and we follow by faith. As we walk by faith and do everything out of faith, we are also blessed by faith. In Hebrews 11:1 faith is defined: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (NASB). Faith is not dead or idle; faith is living and active.

In our text here, we see this “faith principle” at work in the relationship between Elijah and his understudy Elisha. In this time of transition, as the torch is passed from Elijah to Elisha, we see how our faith is built.

Elisha’s faith is tested as he and Elijah make their way to the Jordan. The text says simply, “When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal” (v. 1).

As they walked along, “Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.’ But Elisha said, ‘As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.’ So they went down to Bethel” (v. 2). Elijah was following the path the Lord set for him and Elisha followed Elijah's lead. The faithful do not turn back from following the Lord.

Twice more the same scenario was repeated. Elisha responded the same each time. At every turn, Elijah and Elisha passed the test. Would you turn back, given the chance? Is God testing your faith? When He directs your path, do you follow and go where He leads and do what He says? Or do you tend to turn back and stay put? Do you stick with the familiar, even though you know that God is leading you to step out for him? Perhaps He wants you to talk with a neighbor about Jesus. Are you faithful to do so? Do you pass the test?

At each city they met with “the sons of the prophets.” They met with them at Bethel (v. 3) and at Jericho (v. 5). Note verse 5: “Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, ‘Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?’ So he answered, ‘Yes, I know; keep silent!’”

Twice these students challenged Elisha, both at Bethel and twelve miles downhill from there at Jericho, about a half day’s journey. So these challenges from “the sons of the prophets” likely occurred on consecutive days. Twice Elisha responded positively. He fully accepted God’s challenge for him.

Elijah, who is still our main character in this study, was also tested. And he, likewise, accepted God’s challenge. “And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan. Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground” (vs. 7-8).

Elijah stepped out in faith and God acted. When you step out in faith and follow His lead, God acts. He may even perform a miracle to accomplish His will. He just wants you to accept His challenge, step out in faith, and follow His lead.

“And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?’ Elisha said, ‘Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.’ So he said, ‘You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so’” (vs. 9-10). His request runs deep. It came straight from the heart. What Elisha wanted more than anything else in life was to serve the Lord with all of his heart.

By asking for a double portion of the spirit of Elijah, he was not asking for twice as much of the Holy Spirit or for a ministry that was twice as great as Elijah’s. He was asking for a greater measure of the inner spirit that Elijah had. What he felt he needed above all else was more of the inner strength, courage, and faithfulness that Elijah had.

Suddenly Elijah found himself looking straight into the face of Jesus. He was taken up into heaven in a whirlwind being accompanied by chariots and horses of fire. “Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven” (v. 11). Elijah’s faith was rewarded.

Elijah was transported to heaven without seeing physical death. Only Enoch had a similar experience: “And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him” (Gen. 5:24); no one else either before or since. It is a picture of the rapture spoken of by Paul when many more believers will be “caught up…in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thess. 4:17).

What an exciting time that will be! Enoch “walked with God” and received this reward. Elijah was faithful and he received this reward. If you believe in the Lord and walk with him, you too will be raptured one day and “be caught up…in the clouds” to see Jesus face to face. Oh how marvelous!

Elijah was raptured and saw Jesus face to face. Elisha saw him go and was rewarded with a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. “And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, ‘My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!’ So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces” (v. 12). One day he too would see Jesus. For now he is empowered for his work in the Lord.

Rending his clothes (v. 12) is a way of acknowledging that he is a new man. “He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan” (v. 13). To receive Elijah’s mantle or his cloak was a sign of adoption. Elisha was the heir to Elijah’s ministry and he was endowed with a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. He went on to perform twice as many miracles as did Elijah.

Taking up Elijah’s mantle, Elisha showed that he was ready to take up Elijah’s ministry as well. He began by using Elijah’s mantle in performing his first miracle—parting the waters of the Jordan to cross over again on dry land: “Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, ‘Where is the Lord God of Elijah?’ And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over” (v. 14).

This is the fourth time God parted the waters—the second time that day! And the point was not missed. The God of Elijah still lives. God is not dead. Those who say He is have simply got it wrong. The God of Elijah still lives and the parting of the water proved it. It also proved that God rested in Elisha.

God’s people recognize when God is with you and they acknowledge it. “Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, ‘The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.’ And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him” (v. 15).

The faithful walk with God. Elijah walked with God and he was raptured to meet Jesus in the air. Elisha has taken up Elijah’s mantle and he is walking with God, as seen in his parting of the Jordan. “The sons of the prophets” follow their lead and they are walking with God. So we too must follow after Elijah and walk with God, all the while looking to the sky as we go in anticipation of that great and glorious day when we will be raptured, when we will be “caught up…in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” Amen.