2 Kings 2:9-12
9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” 10 And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” 11 And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 13 And he took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over. 15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho saw him opposite them, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.
The prophet Elijah was going to leave Elisha, and Elisha wanted to receive "a double portion of your spirit" from Elijah (verse 9). So Elijah makes a seemingly strange pronouncement: "You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so" (verse 10). What follows is that a heavenly "chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them" (verse 11). Elisha saw Elijah go up by the whirlwind (verse 12), so he succeeded in receiving God's spirit (verse 15). What is interesting is the test that Elisha had to go through. If a chariot and horses of fire came down, I would certainly be awestruck and want to look at it. But that was a distraction from the real action, which was Elijah going up in the whirlwind. Elisha had the presence of mind to focus on Elijah despite the glorious distraction, so he was rewarded. But all too often I find myself distracted, often by good things even, such that I miss the deeper good that God wants to do. Fantasies and escapism, even when not overtly sinful, can still be a hindrance if they distract our focus from what God is doing. If we keep our eyes fixed on the prize, then we will receive our reward.
Lord, help me to keep my focus on the things that matter.
9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” 10 And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” 11 And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 13 And he took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over. 15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho saw him opposite them, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.
The prophet Elijah was going to leave Elisha, and Elisha wanted to receive "a double portion of your spirit" from Elijah (verse 9). So Elijah makes a seemingly strange pronouncement: "You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so" (verse 10). What follows is that a heavenly "chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them" (verse 11). Elisha saw Elijah go up by the whirlwind (verse 12), so he succeeded in receiving God's spirit (verse 15). What is interesting is the test that Elisha had to go through. If a chariot and horses of fire came down, I would certainly be awestruck and want to look at it. But that was a distraction from the real action, which was Elijah going up in the whirlwind. Elisha had the presence of mind to focus on Elijah despite the glorious distraction, so he was rewarded. But all too often I find myself distracted, often by good things even, such that I miss the deeper good that God wants to do. Fantasies and escapism, even when not overtly sinful, can still be a hindrance if they distract our focus from what God is doing. If we keep our eyes fixed on the prize, then we will receive our reward.
Lord, help me to keep my focus on the things that matter.