Elijah - Chapter 10

Good morning! It is 6:30 in the morning, and I couldn't sleep any longer knowing we needed to finish this study before I go to the beach! I am the BIGGEST procrastinator you will ever meet. I don't do anything unless it is last minute!!! My sister has been packed for weeks and she even has all of her meals planned out for the week! I call her a big nerd to her face, but I really wish I were more like her!!! I am the one cleaning the house and packing three hours before we walk out the door! I try to never let anyone down, but things are always in the last minute!!! I hate the example I am being to my kids. My husband is also very organized, and I am praying he is the one that rubs off on them!!!
Anyway, enough about me! I don't want to ever make this about me. I just felt like if I didn't start my day off with God, things will probably go down hill all day. So, let's finish up our study on Elijah!!!

The author, Chuck Swindoll, begins his commentary on this Scripture with the recollection of his relationship with his grandfather. He was very close to his grandfather, and they spent a lot of time in conversation. One day, they began talking about death, and his grandfather told him that he wanted "the full load". He wanted to experience death so that he could experience resurrection. He did not want to think about his grandfather dying, but it helped him face his fears to know that resurrection would soon follow! When his grandfather died, he praised God by shouting back his grandfather 1 Thessalonians 4: 13 - 18

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another in these words!

God's plan for Elijah was completely different!!! God used Elijah in so many amazing ways! Elijah was heroic, humble and obedient beyond belief. Now God would bless him with the very ability to dodge death!!! He is one of only two men in the Bible that escaped the jaws of death. Enoch (Genesis 5: 21 - 24) was the first, and Elijah was the second. He was immediately ushered into the presence of God!!! Those who are alive when Christ comes will also bypass death! Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15: 51 - 54 :

Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not sleep, but we shall be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when the perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory!!!

Elijah must have been aware that he would be taken up in a whirlwind. He gives us a wonderful example of how we should live in anticipation of Christ's return. Please note that "the sons of the prophets" also knew of Elijah upcoming departure because they made it known to Elisha. God also revealed where Elijah would be taken up because we see Elijah moving swiftly in Scripture towards the Jordan. Yet, we wonder why Elijah didn't go directly to the Jordan, rather than traveling to Gilgal, Bethel and Jericho first. Remember, I sent the meaning these cities represent to you in last nights Scripture. These cities were also the locations of "seminaries" during this time. Samuel founded these places so that young men could learn how to live the disciplined life of a prophet. Many Historians believe that Elijah made the journey through these cities in order to meet one last time with "the sons of the prophets". Swindoll also believes that Elijah made this journey as a time of reflection over his life and interactions with God. He believes this is why Elisha tells "the sons of the prophets" to "be still or be quiet". He thinks Elisha was trying to protect Elijah from being bombarded with questions that would surely arise from these young prophets.
See, that tells you how much I know. I have always felt like Elisha was telling them to be quiet because he did not want to be reminded of the fact that his mentor would be leaving him soon. It just takes a little commentary to remind me that I still have so much to learn.
Over and over again, we see Elijah try to make the separation from Elisha that was necessary for his departure. Over and over, Elisha refused. Elisha was relentless. He was not going to leave his master....no matter what! Elijah could have been testing his commitment. I do not believe he was trying to get rid of Elisha. That can be one of our questions when we get to heaven!!! Either way, Elisha committed himself to standing by Elijah until he no longer could! If you have an Elisha in your life, take time to thank them for their commitment to you because these friends are a rare breed.
Now let's focus on Elisha request to Elijah to receive a double dose of Elijah's spirit! Wow! What a request, but we are reminded here to always seek bigger things in God. As long as our focus is on God and not our own glory, God wants us to strive for bigger things!!!
Then, it happens!
2 Kings 2: 11
As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind!!!

Wow, again!!! These two intimate friends were just walking together and probably trying to breathe in every ounce of their last moments together. Just like that, Elijah is brought up to heaven in a most powerful way!!! Elisha cried out to his companion and to our God. He saw him no more. Elisha immediately picked up is mantle of power and moved on to do God's work.
I love 2 Kings 2: 15
The company of prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, "The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha." And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.

Can you imagine how this must have felt for Elisha. He was ready to take on the work of God because he knew that when a man of God dies nothing of God dies (which I am referring to Elijah being gone...not physically dying).

Thank you all so much for bearing with me through this study!!! Please overlook any typos this morning...it is early!!!
I love you all, and I am starting a new study the Tuesday after I get back from the beach. It is "Stepping Up" by Beth Moore! I can't wait to share it with you!!!!
Tiff