2 Kings 2 -- An Ending And A New Beginning

I love this story of Elisha accompanying his mentor Elijah until God separated them and took Elijah alive to heaven.  My commentary had several important thoughts:

 

n  The work of the Lord is always one generation short of extinction and we must be faithful to obey 2 Timothy 2:2, which tells us to “commit [the things you have heard from me] to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

n  The three miracles Elisha invoked have spiritual messages:  1)  By taking Elisha west of the Jordan, Elijah forced him to trust God to get him across the river and back into the land.  2) In healing the bad waters of Jericho, through Elisha God was reminding the people that His blessings were for a nation that was loyal to His covenant.  To disobey His law meant to forfeit His blessings, and Jericho had been under a curse as disobedient people.  3)  In judging the mocking young men, Elisha was doing what we frequently see God doing at the beginning of a new period in Bible history – issuing a warning to His people that the new beginning doesn’t mean that the old rules have been changed.

 

Father, I thank You for new beginnings that remind us of Your grace to cleanse us and bring us back to You.  As changes come in this life, remind me that You make such changes not to harm us, but to strengthen us in our faith.

 

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford