ELISHA'S SPIRITUAL AMBITION

Passage: 2 Kings 2:1-11

Key verse: 9

NIV

Elijah Taken Up to Heaven

2 When the Lord was about to take(A) Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind,(B) Elijah and Elisha(C) were on their way from Gilgal.(D) 2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here;(E) the Lord has sent me to Bethel.”

But Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.”(F) So they went down to Bethel.

3 The company(G) of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”

“Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so be quiet.”

4 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the Lord has sent me to Jericho.(H)”

And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.

5 The company(I) of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”

“Yes, I know,” he replied, “so be quiet.”

6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here;(J) the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.”(K)

And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.”(L) So the two of them walked on.

7 Fifty men from the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. 8 Elijah took his cloak,(M) rolled it up and struck(N) the water with it. The water divided(O) to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry(P) ground.

9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”

“Let me inherit a double(Q) portion of your spirit,”(R) Elisha replied.

10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.”

11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire(S) and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven(T) in a whirlwind.(U)

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ESV

Elijah Taken to Heaven

2 Now when the Lord was about to (A)take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and (B)Elisha were on their way from (C)Gilgal. 2 And Elijah said to Elisha, (D)“Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, (E)“As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3 And (F)the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he said, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.”

4 Elijah said to him, “Elisha, (G)please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to (H)Jericho.” But he said, (I)“As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. 5 (J)The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.”

6 Then Elijah said to him, (K)“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. 7 Fifty men of (L)the sons of the prophets also went and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8 Then Elijah (M)took his cloak and rolled it up and struck the water, (N)and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground.

9 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.” 10 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, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” 11 And as they still went on and talked, behold, (O)chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Elijah tries to leave without Elisha (1-6) Elijah tried twice to leave Elisha as he went to Bethel and Jericho, to see the companies of prophets before his departure. But Elisha followed him anyway. The prophets in each place foretold that Elijah would be taken by the Lord that day. Elisha was determined to stay with Elijah to the last moment. When Elijah tries to leave him a third time, Elisha swears, "As surely as the Lord lives, I will not leave you." His devotion to his mentor is commendable. 2. Elisha asks for a double portion of Elijah's spirit (7-11). At the Jordan, Elijah divides the water with his cloak, and the two walk across. Finally, Elijah asks Elisha what he wants from him? Elisha asks for a double portion of his spirit, meaning that he wanted to be his successor. Elijah tells him that this is a hard thing, meaning it is God's will. Elijah said that if he sees him leave the earth, he will receive it. Then a chariot of fire and horses divide them, and Elijah rises up to heaven in a whirlwind, while Elisha watches on. Elisha never gives up his spiritual ambition and devotion to be raised as a spiritual leader.

Prayer: Lord, help me to have spiritual ambition to grow as a spiritual leader and keep my focus.

One Word: To become a successor by faith and devotion