After his mentor Elijah was taken to heaven with a fiery entourage (see 2 Kings 2:11-12), Elisha was apparently left alone. However, he didn’t just walk away. When someone talks about “picking up the mantle” (a.k.a., “cloak”) of another leader, here is the likely source of that phrase.
Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.
2 Kings 2:13-14 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/2ki.2.13-14.NIV
I think that I mentioned this in a previous article, but Elijah’s cloak wasn’t magic. (This is not a Harry Potter story, although I admit that I haven’t read or seen any of them.) Elijah’s cloak was used both practically and symbolically as part of God’s work through Elijah (and here, also through Elisha), but that’s how God works: sometimes He uses symbolism for our benefit.
Although Elijah had told Elisha that the requested “double portion” (of the spirit that was in Elijah) would be granted to Elisha if he saw Elijah being taken (2 Kings 2:9-10), and that had indeed happened (2 Kings 2:12), it seems that Elijah was now testing out that prophecy. He also acknowledged the power of God, referring to God by name.
Sure enough, God parted the waters for Elisha in the same way that He had done for Elijah. So, Elisha crossed back over to the west side of the Jordan River (perhaps becoming the only person to have done so twice in one day with God parting its waters each time).
The group of watching prophets (2 Kings 2:7) probably saw all of this happen from a distance. Even if it was too far to make out details, it seems unlikely that those watching would miss horses and a chariot of fire or a whirlwind!
Seeing Elisha walking back across the Jordan River (crossing in the same way that he and Elijah had originally traversed it) was a verification that God was with Elisha, too. So, the observers showed Elisha respect (see verses 15-18).
However, despite it being clear to Elisha that his master was gone from this earth, others wanted to go out looking for him (see verses 15-18). Their logic wasn’t unreasonable: they suggested that maybe God just picked up Elijah and put him somewhere else.
Elisha knew better, though, and told them – basically – to save their effort. Apparently, the would-be searchers were persistent, though, so Elisha – despite knowing that they wouldn’t find Elijah – finally gave in and let them search. Then, when their search was predictably fruitless, Elisha gave them an, “I told you so”. Maybe they listened to Elisha better after that.
So, what about you? Have you been separated from someone who you looked up to, maybe in a ministry role (whether they moved on or passed on)? If you’re feeling like you’re on your own, with a river in your way, I encourage you to have a heart-to-heart conversation with God about whether it’s time for you to pick up the “mantle” of that work for God’s kingdom, and carry it forward: not because of skills that you’ve learned from your mentor, but because you know that God’s power didn’t leave when they did!
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.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – 1 & 2 Kings, by Jesse C. Long, Jr. © 2002 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 