46. THE IMPORTANCE OF FRIENDSHIPAre you bringing someone along with you on this spiritual journey?
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It has been said,
"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and sings it back to you when you have forgotten how it goes."
Yes, a good friend lightens our life and lifts our spirit. What is the value of a good friend? Can you put a price on it? Faithful friends are not easy to find. But if you have ever had a close friend, you know what a treasure deep friendship is. Acquaintances are many, but to have someone you deeply love and who understands you is very rare. The highest relationship is to have a friend who not only likes you for who you are, but also inspires you to be better! In Proverbs chapter 18 verse 24, King Solomon wrote,
24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
In this lesson, we will take time to consider how to be just that kind of friend – one that is closer than a brother.
Perhaps the most famous friendship in Turkish history has been that of Jalaludin Rumi and Shams-i-Tabrizi. This Konya friendship of the 13th century changed Turkish history forever. Rumi was already a talented lawyer and a scholar. Shams was a wandering mystic. When the two met, Shams gave something to Rumi that he hadn’t had before: inspiration. The pair were kindred spirits immediately. They were intellectual equals who enjoyed discussing and debating matters of God, man and divine love. Rumi had knowledge, and perhaps too much of it. But Shams seemed to open a window for him that Rumi had never looked through before. He turned the corner from a knowledge based religion to a spiritual encounter. His new friend opened for him what Rumi liked to call the bliss of the divine consciousness.
Their friendship ended with the tragic death of Shams. But for Rumi, his life would never be the same. Rumi, writes most of his poetry as an ode to his dearest friend. It is a friendship that most of us can’t understand. “I am wind, you are fire,” Rumi wrote about Shams.
Some have pondered that if Rumi had never met Shams, likely Turkey would hardly know the name of this laywer of Konya. A good friend does just that. He inspires us, so that we can in turn inspire the world.
Now let's look at an even more ancient friendship. The remarkable partnership of two prophets, Elijah and Elisha. We have already read about Elijah. This time let's read the inspiring story of his closest friend, Elisha.
We pick up the story after Elijah had boldly challenged 850 pagan priests on Mt. Carmel. Fire had reigned down from heaven in re- sponse to Elijah’s prayer. But right on the heels of this great victory came bad news. A messenger raced to Elijah to announce that the devilish queen Jezebel was searching for him. She had only one reason to find him; she wanted to cut off his head! Elijah did exactly what you and I might have done; the Bible tells us he panicked and ed. God allowed him to run and run. For over a month Elijah fear- fully ran in the desert. He was scared of his own boldness against the pagan priests and scared of what Jezebel might do to him. Elijah was emotionally exhausted and in his human weakness he simply wanted to die. Twice the Bible says that the Lord fed him by the hand of angels. Yet, still Elijah was filled with fear. Then God spoke to Elijah. Let's start reading the story in I Kings chapter 19 verses
13 and 14:
13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 14 He said, "I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away."
It seems God wasn’t so interested in Elijah’s CV. Instead, of patting Elijah on the back for his accomplishments, God was about to en- courage Elijah in a different way. He was going to give him a friend, an ally in the prophetic ministry. We continue reading part of verse 15 and 16.
15 “And the LORD said to him, "Go, return on your way. And when you arrive 16 you shall anoint Jehu to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat you shall anoint to be prophet in your place.”
Filled with new courage he got up from the cave where had been hiding, and went immediately to nd this man “Elisha” that God had mentioned by name. It was spring time, so the farmers were working in their elds. As he approached, he could see his successor across the partially plowed eld. Perhaps Elijah paused for a mo- ment to watch Elisha give instructions to the other farm workers that were harnessing the animals. Now, imagine in your mind’s eye this magnetic moment when these two men met for the rst time. The account is recorded in 1 Kings chapter 19 verses 19-21:
19 So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. 20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said,
"Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you." And he said to him, "Go back again, for what have I done to you?" 21 And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacri ced them and boiled their esh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.
Now to really understand this passage, we must remember a few facts from the last lesson. You remember, that it had not rained in Israel for three and half years. Now by God’s grace the rains had begun to fall again. The ground was moist and fertile. This was the time a farmer lived for and Elisha was a farmer. Not only that, a talented one. We see him managing twelve yoke of oxen.
Elisha was doing what he loved to do and at a time of great opportunity. The steady thumping rhythm of the plow cutting the earth and the side to side motion of the oxen plodding forward had an almost hypnotic power. Elisha was likely thinking about the wonderful harvest which he was certain to reap.
Suddenly, a hand was laid on his shoulder, Elisha turned and was surprised to see a man he had heard about all of his life. The prophet Elijah! He knew that when Elijah covered him with his cloak it was a sign that he was being called. He could sense the Holy Spirit’s presence. His respect for Elijah was great and he knew he could entrust his future into God’s care by serving Elijah wherever their relationship would lead. However, just in case there was still a doubt in Elisha's mind, Elijah gave him one more opportunity to make a different choice by saying, "Go back again, for what have I done to you?" But for Elisha, there was no other choice. He was going to accept God's call.
Before leaving home, he showed honor and respect to his parents. He kissed them and told them goodbye, but that wasn't all he did. He also sacri ced his work equipment. He burned his plow and roasted his oxen. It was his way of severing his ties to his old job. There was no turning back. God had called him to something more important. From that time on he and Elijah would be allies, partners, and
friends in the service of God.
Here we learn a key fact of leadership for quali cation in doing God’s work. Elisha was a hard worker. And because he did his farm work well, he had become quali ed to do prophetic work well. So too, whether you nd yourself washing dishes at a restaurant, sewing clothes in a factory, or managing accounts for your employer, work hard. Do your work to the glory of God so that when God calls you to a higher position you will be ready.
Elisha’s work was to simply help Elijah as an assistant. The Bible says he was “pouring water on the hands of his master.” He was willing to do anything that would bless Elijah. At every step he was growing the most important character trait for useful service to God: humility.
Leadership training in the school of the prophets was far different from the power hungry style of today’s businessmen. As the proph- et's personal attendant, Elisha watched how Elijah served others and imitated his behavior. Elisha continued to prove faithful in little things, while daily he devoted himself to spiritual growth. We can be sure he did this by sharing in Elijah’s passion for prayer, rising early to meditate on the Tevrat and Zebur, and listening to God as one would listen to a friend.
Elijah’s work was not that of a philosopher, nor mystic, nor poet. No, he was a prophet! His duty was to call people back to the Law of God. He had a dif cult work among the people to raise up the laws that had been torn down. Elijah had literally raised the dead. He had called re down from heaven and performed other miracles. This was not dreamy philosophy nor the life of a whirling dervish. No Elijah was counteracting the power of sin and ghting spiritual battles by God's power! This direct confrontation against Satan and his agents was the work Elisha needed to learn. But miracle working can’t be taught by apprenticeship. Spiritual power isn’t a skill. It is a living relationship with the Divine!
The relationship that Elijah had with God was what inspired Elisha. He wanted strongly to be the kind of man that Elijah was. Elisha loved Elijah because of his devotion and resolute determination to stand for God’s truth. Elisha yearned in his heart to be able to live in the presence of heaven just like his master. God had honored him to be a team with this great prophet. Now he aspired to stand up to the honor.
Many years before, during the time of David, the Prophet Samuel had created, “Schools of Prophets.” These schools had closed dur- ing the long period of Israel’s idolatry. Elijah made it his last work to restore these training centers so that youth could be taught the truths from the Tevrat and thus rightly now how to become spiritual leaders in their families and country. At these schools they could learn the deep meaning of the lamb sacri ce and how to lead their nation into God’s glorious forgiveness.
Elijah was growing old and was making one last round to visit these schools. God was about to take Elijah to heaven. Here is what the Bible says in 2 Kings chapter 2 verses 1 and 2 :
1 Now when the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 And Elijah said to Elisha, "Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.
News was going around that Elijah’s time was about to end. Elisha didn't want to say goodbye to his friend. He didn't even want him to go. So he was not about to let his master out of his sight. He wanted to be near him. Let's continue by reading verse 3:
3 And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that today the LORD will take away your master from over you?" And he said, "Yes, I know it; keep quiet."
It wasn't easy for one prophet to keep a secret from another prophet! Elijah was having a hard time getting out from under the spiritual radar of his friend! In fact, there is a bit of humor here, because as they visited the “schools of the prophets” the young students had also been shown in their prayer times that Elijah was going to be taken. They immediately began to tell what they knew.
The incident happened similarly three times. We can read about them in verses 4-6:
4 Elijah said to him, "Elisha, please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to Jericho." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they came to Jericho. 5 The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that today the LORD will take away your master from over you?" And he answered, "Yes, I know it; keep quiet." 6 Then Elijah said to him, "Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So the two of them went on.
And so this powerful pair walked on. They had covered many dusty miles together talking, praying, and praising God. Now the training was complete. The Bible says that they went down to the Jordan River where the young men of the prophets were standing. Let's continue with 2 Kings chapter 2 verses 7 and 8:
7 Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8 Then Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up and struck the water, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground.
No, this wasn’t a wandering poet nor a bookish scholar! This was a man lled with the power of God. Elisha must have smiled to him- self as they walked across that dry river bed. This was his friend, the man of God. Suddenly the smile faded and tears lled his eyes as he realized this was the last time they would see one another for a long time. Elijah turned and looked at his friend and gave him a great gift: a wish. Let's read verses 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 be- ing 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 re and horses of re 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.
Why did Elisha tear his clothes? Wasn't this a victory moment? Yes, but there was sorrow too as Elisha saw his friend vanishing! Their bond had been severed. His heart felt empty. In a moment his mentor was gone!
It was a scene better than any that Spielberg or any Hollywood producer could have created. With a crack of lightning, a ball of fire roared close. Four blazing white horses came down from heaven, manes like silver tinsel and eyes like molten metal. The horses came in with rippling muscles and tails ying like banners. Elijah climbed aboard the golden chariot and in an instant, with a gust of hot wind, they were gone. Elijah had gone to heaven without seeing death! Only one other prophet, Enoch, had that privilege. Even Moses had died. It was as if God had sent his own chaufeur for Elijah! Would you like to be taken to heaven the same way?
While Elisha was still kneeling on the ground, suddenly out of the clear blue sky, something came drifting down to earth. It landed in the grass with a “Pfooom.” It was Elijah’s camel skin cloak. It was the very same cloak that his friend had laid on him years before when he was plowing the eld and had received his calling. Can you imagine the scene? Elisha has his head down on the ground crying for the loss of his friend. Suddenly, his sobs are interrupted by his own thoughts.
“What did I ask Elisha for?” He thought to himself. The words of his request come rolling back into his mind,
“Please let a double portion of your spirit rest on me.”
A double portion of the prophetic spirit. With that Elisha lifted up his head, stood up, and took a rm grasp on the cloak. We can nish the story by reading I Kings chapter 2 verses 13-15:
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.
God had granted Elisha’s request. In fact if you study the Bible carefully you will nd the prophet Elijah performed seven miracles. If you trace the work and ministry of the prophet Elisha, you will discover that fourteen miracles were recorded! Exactly double. He had recieved the double portion that he had asked for.
The two had a very different emphasis in their ministry. Elijah was a rey reformer. Elisha was one who brought reconcilliation. Both important, both prophets, yet different. Oddly, though Elisha had "double the spirit" of his mentor, ultimately he died and was buried. Both of their destinations was heaven, but they would get there at different times. The first to go was Elijah who went to heaven by special transport, never experiencing death. The second, Elisha, died and is still waiting for the great resurection at the end of time to enjoy paradise. Even though they were both prophets, why God chose to take one person and allow another to die isn't explained
right here. However, we will explore that subject in a future lesson.
We close this lesson with a short story from history. Italian composer Puccini was famous for composing the operas La Boheme and Madame Butter y. It was during his battle with cancer in 1922 that he began to write Turandot, which many now consider his best work. He worked on the score day and night, despite his friends' advice to rest and to save his energy. When his sickness worsened, Puccini said to his students, "If I don't finish Turandot, I want you to nish it." He died in 1924, leaving the work unfinished. Students gathered all that was written of Turandot, studied it in great detail, and then proceeded to write the remainder of the opera. The world premier was performed in Milan in 1926, conducted by Toscanini, Puccini's favorite student. The opera went beautifully until Toscanini came to the end of the part written by Puccini. He stopped the music, put down the baton, turned to the audience, and announced,
"Thus far the master wrote, until he died."
There was a long pause; no one moved. Then Toscanini picked up the baton, turned to the audience, and with tears in his eyes an- nounced, "But his disciples finished his work."
The opera concluded with thunderous applause and a permanent place in the world's greatest compositions.
Likely Elijah's greatest work as a prophet was to mentor Elisha to continue his own spiritual work. Each of us has an ability to inspire another. All of us are given a certain responsibility to help one another to be their best. Parents are given the job of inspiring children and teachers to inspire students. As we have seen in this lesson, the right friendships can push us towards peak performance. You have come a long way in these lessons. Are you bringing someone along side you on this spiritual journey? Perhaps it's time you prayerfully laid your "coat" on the shoulders of an honest person and invite them to become a spiritual friend.
Discussion Questions
1. What do you think is the key ingredient to a good friendship?
2. Elisha and Elijah weren’t friends until God introduced them. Why do you think God put the two of them together?
3. Why do you think Elijah put his energies toward organizing schools?
4. Elijah went straight to heaven. Elisha died and is in the grave waiting the resurrection. Why do you think prophets are subject to
death?
"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and sings it back to you when you have forgotten how it goes."
Yes, a good friend lightens our life and lifts our spirit. What is the value of a good friend? Can you put a price on it? Faithful friends are not easy to find. But if you have ever had a close friend, you know what a treasure deep friendship is. Acquaintances are many, but to have someone you deeply love and who understands you is very rare. The highest relationship is to have a friend who not only likes you for who you are, but also inspires you to be better! In Proverbs chapter 18 verse 24, King Solomon wrote,
24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
In this lesson, we will take time to consider how to be just that kind of friend – one that is closer than a brother.
Perhaps the most famous friendship in Turkish history has been that of Jalaludin Rumi and Shams-i-Tabrizi. This Konya friendship of the 13th century changed Turkish history forever. Rumi was already a talented lawyer and a scholar. Shams was a wandering mystic. When the two met, Shams gave something to Rumi that he hadn’t had before: inspiration. The pair were kindred spirits immediately. They were intellectual equals who enjoyed discussing and debating matters of God, man and divine love. Rumi had knowledge, and perhaps too much of it. But Shams seemed to open a window for him that Rumi had never looked through before. He turned the corner from a knowledge based religion to a spiritual encounter. His new friend opened for him what Rumi liked to call the bliss of the divine consciousness.
Their friendship ended with the tragic death of Shams. But for Rumi, his life would never be the same. Rumi, writes most of his poetry as an ode to his dearest friend. It is a friendship that most of us can’t understand. “I am wind, you are fire,” Rumi wrote about Shams.
Some have pondered that if Rumi had never met Shams, likely Turkey would hardly know the name of this laywer of Konya. A good friend does just that. He inspires us, so that we can in turn inspire the world.
Now let's look at an even more ancient friendship. The remarkable partnership of two prophets, Elijah and Elisha. We have already read about Elijah. This time let's read the inspiring story of his closest friend, Elisha.
We pick up the story after Elijah had boldly challenged 850 pagan priests on Mt. Carmel. Fire had reigned down from heaven in re- sponse to Elijah’s prayer. But right on the heels of this great victory came bad news. A messenger raced to Elijah to announce that the devilish queen Jezebel was searching for him. She had only one reason to find him; she wanted to cut off his head! Elijah did exactly what you and I might have done; the Bible tells us he panicked and ed. God allowed him to run and run. For over a month Elijah fear- fully ran in the desert. He was scared of his own boldness against the pagan priests and scared of what Jezebel might do to him. Elijah was emotionally exhausted and in his human weakness he simply wanted to die. Twice the Bible says that the Lord fed him by the hand of angels. Yet, still Elijah was filled with fear. Then God spoke to Elijah. Let's start reading the story in I Kings chapter 19 verses
13 and 14:
13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 14 He said, "I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away."
It seems God wasn’t so interested in Elijah’s CV. Instead, of patting Elijah on the back for his accomplishments, God was about to en- courage Elijah in a different way. He was going to give him a friend, an ally in the prophetic ministry. We continue reading part of verse 15 and 16.
15 “And the LORD said to him, "Go, return on your way. And when you arrive 16 you shall anoint Jehu to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat you shall anoint to be prophet in your place.”
Filled with new courage he got up from the cave where had been hiding, and went immediately to nd this man “Elisha” that God had mentioned by name. It was spring time, so the farmers were working in their elds. As he approached, he could see his successor across the partially plowed eld. Perhaps Elijah paused for a mo- ment to watch Elisha give instructions to the other farm workers that were harnessing the animals. Now, imagine in your mind’s eye this magnetic moment when these two men met for the rst time. The account is recorded in 1 Kings chapter 19 verses 19-21:
19 So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. 20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said,
"Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you." And he said to him, "Go back again, for what have I done to you?" 21 And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacri ced them and boiled their esh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.
Now to really understand this passage, we must remember a few facts from the last lesson. You remember, that it had not rained in Israel for three and half years. Now by God’s grace the rains had begun to fall again. The ground was moist and fertile. This was the time a farmer lived for and Elisha was a farmer. Not only that, a talented one. We see him managing twelve yoke of oxen.
Elisha was doing what he loved to do and at a time of great opportunity. The steady thumping rhythm of the plow cutting the earth and the side to side motion of the oxen plodding forward had an almost hypnotic power. Elisha was likely thinking about the wonderful harvest which he was certain to reap.
Suddenly, a hand was laid on his shoulder, Elisha turned and was surprised to see a man he had heard about all of his life. The prophet Elijah! He knew that when Elijah covered him with his cloak it was a sign that he was being called. He could sense the Holy Spirit’s presence. His respect for Elijah was great and he knew he could entrust his future into God’s care by serving Elijah wherever their relationship would lead. However, just in case there was still a doubt in Elisha's mind, Elijah gave him one more opportunity to make a different choice by saying, "Go back again, for what have I done to you?" But for Elisha, there was no other choice. He was going to accept God's call.
Before leaving home, he showed honor and respect to his parents. He kissed them and told them goodbye, but that wasn't all he did. He also sacri ced his work equipment. He burned his plow and roasted his oxen. It was his way of severing his ties to his old job. There was no turning back. God had called him to something more important. From that time on he and Elijah would be allies, partners, and
friends in the service of God.
Here we learn a key fact of leadership for quali cation in doing God’s work. Elisha was a hard worker. And because he did his farm work well, he had become quali ed to do prophetic work well. So too, whether you nd yourself washing dishes at a restaurant, sewing clothes in a factory, or managing accounts for your employer, work hard. Do your work to the glory of God so that when God calls you to a higher position you will be ready.
Elisha’s work was to simply help Elijah as an assistant. The Bible says he was “pouring water on the hands of his master.” He was willing to do anything that would bless Elijah. At every step he was growing the most important character trait for useful service to God: humility.
Leadership training in the school of the prophets was far different from the power hungry style of today’s businessmen. As the proph- et's personal attendant, Elisha watched how Elijah served others and imitated his behavior. Elisha continued to prove faithful in little things, while daily he devoted himself to spiritual growth. We can be sure he did this by sharing in Elijah’s passion for prayer, rising early to meditate on the Tevrat and Zebur, and listening to God as one would listen to a friend.
Elijah’s work was not that of a philosopher, nor mystic, nor poet. No, he was a prophet! His duty was to call people back to the Law of God. He had a dif cult work among the people to raise up the laws that had been torn down. Elijah had literally raised the dead. He had called re down from heaven and performed other miracles. This was not dreamy philosophy nor the life of a whirling dervish. No Elijah was counteracting the power of sin and ghting spiritual battles by God's power! This direct confrontation against Satan and his agents was the work Elisha needed to learn. But miracle working can’t be taught by apprenticeship. Spiritual power isn’t a skill. It is a living relationship with the Divine!
The relationship that Elijah had with God was what inspired Elisha. He wanted strongly to be the kind of man that Elijah was. Elisha loved Elijah because of his devotion and resolute determination to stand for God’s truth. Elisha yearned in his heart to be able to live in the presence of heaven just like his master. God had honored him to be a team with this great prophet. Now he aspired to stand up to the honor.
Many years before, during the time of David, the Prophet Samuel had created, “Schools of Prophets.” These schools had closed dur- ing the long period of Israel’s idolatry. Elijah made it his last work to restore these training centers so that youth could be taught the truths from the Tevrat and thus rightly now how to become spiritual leaders in their families and country. At these schools they could learn the deep meaning of the lamb sacri ce and how to lead their nation into God’s glorious forgiveness.
Elijah was growing old and was making one last round to visit these schools. God was about to take Elijah to heaven. Here is what the Bible says in 2 Kings chapter 2 verses 1 and 2 :
1 Now when the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 And Elijah said to Elisha, "Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.
News was going around that Elijah’s time was about to end. Elisha didn't want to say goodbye to his friend. He didn't even want him to go. So he was not about to let his master out of his sight. He wanted to be near him. Let's continue by reading verse 3:
3 And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that today the LORD will take away your master from over you?" And he said, "Yes, I know it; keep quiet."
It wasn't easy for one prophet to keep a secret from another prophet! Elijah was having a hard time getting out from under the spiritual radar of his friend! In fact, there is a bit of humor here, because as they visited the “schools of the prophets” the young students had also been shown in their prayer times that Elijah was going to be taken. They immediately began to tell what they knew.
The incident happened similarly three times. We can read about them in verses 4-6:
4 Elijah said to him, "Elisha, please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to Jericho." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they came to Jericho. 5 The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that today the LORD will take away your master from over you?" And he answered, "Yes, I know it; keep quiet." 6 Then Elijah said to him, "Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So the two of them went on.
And so this powerful pair walked on. They had covered many dusty miles together talking, praying, and praising God. Now the training was complete. The Bible says that they went down to the Jordan River where the young men of the prophets were standing. Let's continue with 2 Kings chapter 2 verses 7 and 8:
7 Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8 Then Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up and struck the water, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground.
No, this wasn’t a wandering poet nor a bookish scholar! This was a man lled with the power of God. Elisha must have smiled to him- self as they walked across that dry river bed. This was his friend, the man of God. Suddenly the smile faded and tears lled his eyes as he realized this was the last time they would see one another for a long time. Elijah turned and looked at his friend and gave him a great gift: a wish. Let's read verses 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 be- ing 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 re and horses of re 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.
Why did Elisha tear his clothes? Wasn't this a victory moment? Yes, but there was sorrow too as Elisha saw his friend vanishing! Their bond had been severed. His heart felt empty. In a moment his mentor was gone!
It was a scene better than any that Spielberg or any Hollywood producer could have created. With a crack of lightning, a ball of fire roared close. Four blazing white horses came down from heaven, manes like silver tinsel and eyes like molten metal. The horses came in with rippling muscles and tails ying like banners. Elijah climbed aboard the golden chariot and in an instant, with a gust of hot wind, they were gone. Elijah had gone to heaven without seeing death! Only one other prophet, Enoch, had that privilege. Even Moses had died. It was as if God had sent his own chaufeur for Elijah! Would you like to be taken to heaven the same way?
While Elisha was still kneeling on the ground, suddenly out of the clear blue sky, something came drifting down to earth. It landed in the grass with a “Pfooom.” It was Elijah’s camel skin cloak. It was the very same cloak that his friend had laid on him years before when he was plowing the eld and had received his calling. Can you imagine the scene? Elisha has his head down on the ground crying for the loss of his friend. Suddenly, his sobs are interrupted by his own thoughts.
“What did I ask Elisha for?” He thought to himself. The words of his request come rolling back into his mind,
“Please let a double portion of your spirit rest on me.”
A double portion of the prophetic spirit. With that Elisha lifted up his head, stood up, and took a rm grasp on the cloak. We can nish the story by reading I Kings chapter 2 verses 13-15:
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.
God had granted Elisha’s request. In fact if you study the Bible carefully you will nd the prophet Elijah performed seven miracles. If you trace the work and ministry of the prophet Elisha, you will discover that fourteen miracles were recorded! Exactly double. He had recieved the double portion that he had asked for.
The two had a very different emphasis in their ministry. Elijah was a rey reformer. Elisha was one who brought reconcilliation. Both important, both prophets, yet different. Oddly, though Elisha had "double the spirit" of his mentor, ultimately he died and was buried. Both of their destinations was heaven, but they would get there at different times. The first to go was Elijah who went to heaven by special transport, never experiencing death. The second, Elisha, died and is still waiting for the great resurection at the end of time to enjoy paradise. Even though they were both prophets, why God chose to take one person and allow another to die isn't explained
right here. However, we will explore that subject in a future lesson.
We close this lesson with a short story from history. Italian composer Puccini was famous for composing the operas La Boheme and Madame Butter y. It was during his battle with cancer in 1922 that he began to write Turandot, which many now consider his best work. He worked on the score day and night, despite his friends' advice to rest and to save his energy. When his sickness worsened, Puccini said to his students, "If I don't finish Turandot, I want you to nish it." He died in 1924, leaving the work unfinished. Students gathered all that was written of Turandot, studied it in great detail, and then proceeded to write the remainder of the opera. The world premier was performed in Milan in 1926, conducted by Toscanini, Puccini's favorite student. The opera went beautifully until Toscanini came to the end of the part written by Puccini. He stopped the music, put down the baton, turned to the audience, and announced,
"Thus far the master wrote, until he died."
There was a long pause; no one moved. Then Toscanini picked up the baton, turned to the audience, and with tears in his eyes an- nounced, "But his disciples finished his work."
The opera concluded with thunderous applause and a permanent place in the world's greatest compositions.
Likely Elijah's greatest work as a prophet was to mentor Elisha to continue his own spiritual work. Each of us has an ability to inspire another. All of us are given a certain responsibility to help one another to be their best. Parents are given the job of inspiring children and teachers to inspire students. As we have seen in this lesson, the right friendships can push us towards peak performance. You have come a long way in these lessons. Are you bringing someone along side you on this spiritual journey? Perhaps it's time you prayerfully laid your "coat" on the shoulders of an honest person and invite them to become a spiritual friend.
Discussion Questions
1. What do you think is the key ingredient to a good friendship?
2. Elisha and Elijah weren’t friends until God introduced them. Why do you think God put the two of them together?
3. Why do you think Elijah put his energies toward organizing schools?
4. Elijah went straight to heaven. Elisha died and is in the grave waiting the resurrection. Why do you think prophets are subject to
death?