Over these two events we may write, “Consider the goodness and severity of God” (Rom 11:22). The concluding section of 2 Kings 2 presents two very different scenarios. Elisha’s first miracle demonstrates his ministry—he’s always adding something to provide solutions to life’s challenges! In this case, it’s dealing with the problem of bitterness. “The situation […]
“Passing the mantle,” used now as a common idiom, has its origin in this chapter of the Bible. “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” (2 Ki 2:12). So cried out Elisha as Elijah was swept home to glory. He considered him to be his spiritual father, and so asked for […]
Was John the Baptizer Elijah? John said No; Jesus said Yes. How could they both be right? The influence of Elijah spreads far beyond his lifetime, at least into New Testament days, if not to the end of human history. Malachi concludes with the cryptic words: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before […]
Jesus was “carried up” (Lk 24:51), “taken up” (Acts 1:9), “received up” (1 Tim 3:16). It makes me want to go up! Two Old Testament characters and two from the New were caught up into heaven without dying: Enoch and Elijah, Paul and John. Of course, Paul and John returned to earth and later passed […]
God loves boldness in faith. Have you “asked a hard thing” of Him lately? He specializes in the impossible. Having journeyed from Gilgal to Bethel, and from Bethel to Jericho, Elijah and Elisha came to the fords of the Jordan River, in sight of “fifty men of the sons of the prophets” who “stood facing […]
The towns that Elijah and Elisha visited were rich with memories and with life lessons as well. “So Ahaziah died according to the word of the Lord which Elijah had spoken. Because he had no son, Jehoram became king in his place, in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah” […]
Don’t trifle with a God who “makes His messengers winds and His servants flames of fire” (Ps 104:4, WEB). Back so soon? the king wondered aloud. There wasn’t nearly enough time for his messengers to make the round trip to Ekron in Philistia. No, they responded. The trip had been aborted. “A man came up […]
The world’s governments have experts on everything. But who seeks the Wonderful Counselor? As we transition between the books of 1 and 2 Kings, we see a continuation of the same saga. What is the overall lesson from these books? It is certainly one of great significance to the nations of the West, encapsulated by […]
The highlights of a life can be expressed in a few lines—not what I say but whether I walk with God. About the time that Jehoshaphat was wonderfully delivered from the Syrian assault, a “man drew a bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor” (1 Ki 22:34). […]