After Elisha committed to following his master Elijah three times in 2 Kings 2:2-6, their journey continued along a somewhat “non-traditional” path.
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. Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
2 Kings 2:7-8 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/2ki.2.7-8.NIV
If these prophets (or “sons of the prophets” [NASB]) were the same ones from Jericho that were mentioned in 2 Kings 2:5, then they were probably standing and watching from the west side of the Jordan River. If so, it sounds like they listened to Elisha’s instructions (see verse 5) to be quiet, because we don’t find them speaking at this point. However, since they had some idea what was going to happen – whether or not they knew all the details – they still came out to watch.
At the Jordan River, we see Elijah using his cloak. I don’t know if he got a new cloak from time to time, but a cloak of his was mentioned back in 1 Kings 19, both covering his face at Mount Horeb, and being thrown over Elisha (apparently as a sign of commissioning).
This time, Elijah hits the waters of the Jordan River with his cloak, and its waters part so that the two men can traverse it. By the way, note that they cross “on dry ground”. God didn’t just give them a little break in the current or a few slippery rocks to step across on. When He provides, he has the power to do so miraculously, completely, and amazingly.
After their river crossing, Elijah and Elisha were on the east side of the Jordan River, perhaps close to the place where the Israelites had camped before crossing over centuries before. Elisha knew that Elijah would be taken that day, leaving Elisha after what had probably been years of working together.
Now, this leaves us with a couple of open questions: Why did Elijah ask Elisha earlier in this chapter (see 2 Kings 2:2-6) to stay at other locations, and why did Elisha insist on continuing to stick with Elijah? I don’t know for sure, but here are some ideas:
- Maybe both men had received direction from God for their part in this day’s events.
- Maybe this was a test, meant to demonstrate both men’s commitment.
- Maybe this was Elijah wanting to save Elisha the heartbreak of separation, and/or Elisha’s commitment to his earthy master.
- A commentator [Long, p.287, citing Kotter], suggests that Elijah was determined “to secure his position as the prophet’s successor”.
I’m not sure of the exact reasons here, but I think that there’s a lesson for us, regardless: Even if we’re waiting for God to take a big step, let’s not stop working for Him just because something else is coming.
After all, there’s no retirement from following Jesus. Just because a Christian is no longer employed at a company – or even officially volunteering in a specific church ministry – doesn’t mean that they are any less a contributing member of God’s kingdom.
Maybe you are planning a move to a new location. Maybe you are making another big change in life. Maybe you are looking ahead to being with Jesus in eternity, with a new body. Even if parts of our life feel like they are “on pause” until the next phase, though, we must not stop doing the important things in our walk with Jesus. We must not abandon our walk with Him.
I think of this like a runner in a race. If we want to win our own race, let’s not stop running when we first spot the finish line up ahead. Instead, let’s make sure that we break the tape – for each of the milestones we experience with Jesus – while running at full speed! If you’re like me, you might not physically move as fast as you used to, but our service and faithfulness to God can continue unabated – at full speed – right up to the final finish line!
So, 2 Kings 2:2-8 (covered here and in the previous article) captures the first “era” of what I look at as a three-part narrative in 2 Kings 2:1-18. Something significant was going to happen, but even though it hadn’t yet occurred, there was still value in the choices that the various parties made, and in their remaining faithful instead of choosing to just “coast” until the big event hit.
If you’re in that situation, where you’re looking forward to something that hasn’t happened yet, don’t forget to make good use of the time that you have until you get there. Even if something better is on the horizon, no opportunity – even if feels like just waiting – needs to be wasted in God’s Kingdom.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for June 1, 2025
References:
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – 1 & 2 Kings, by Jesse C. Long, Jr. © 2002 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 