Where is the Lord God of Elijah?

In 2 Kings 2:1-14 there is a interesting story. It is the time for Elijah to go into heaven. I don’t know how Elijah nor Elisha nor any of the sons of the prophets knew all this. The Bible is silent on it, but the Lord spoke to all and they knew His voice. He has always had a voice that men can hear when they are tuned. We need to hear God here too. You know nothing in the Bible is put there by chance and everything is in for a purpose. You may not understand it all either, but God’s voice is in it speaking and teaching. This passage is full of the heavenly voice of the Living God. Look at the passage and read it.

Remember that Elijah is a man like us.

James 5:17 - 18 (NASB) ¹⁷Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.  ¹⁸Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and the earth produced its fruit.

He was a man who knew the triumph of a victory that the supernatural God brought forth and He also knew fear and depression as he fled Jezebel’s threats. He was a man of passion who God used mightily. One of the prophets whose name is synonymous with God’s powerful man.

Why did Elijah not see death, but was translated right to heaven in a fiery chariot? Did he please God as Enoch did? Hebrews 11:5. We don’t know. He appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration again and spoke to Jesus about His coming sacrifice. Matthew 17:3. It is said Moses represented the Law and Elijah the Prophets here.

But now Elijah was leaving and Elisha knew it. He wouldn’t leave Elijah’s side. They wander from Gilgal the approximate 23 miles to Bethel where a school of the prophets was. They all knew what was up that day. They went about 15 more miles to Jericho where another group of the sons of the prophets were and they were also in on the secret. Elisha stuck to Elijah’s side and wouldn’t leave.

2 Kings 2:1 - 14 (NASB) ¹And it came about when the LORD was about to take up Elijah by a whirlwind to heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.  ²Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here please, 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.  ³Then the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?” And he said, “Yes, I know; be still.” ⁴Elijah 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.  ⁵The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?” And he answered, “Yes, I know; be still.”  ⁶Then Elijah said to him, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.” And he said, “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. ⁷Now fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan.  ⁸Elijah took his mantle and folded it together and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground. ⁹When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”  ¹⁰He said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” ¹¹As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven.  ¹²Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw Elijah no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.  ¹³He also took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and returned and stood by the bank of the Jordan.  ¹⁴He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over.

Finally Elijah headed to the wilderness across the Jordon about 4 or 5 miles away. I wondered what they talked about? Did Elisha tell Elijah what God had said to him? Did God ask Elisha what he wanted as he followed Elijah, before Elijah asked that question. God sometimes has that habit of asking tough questions and reaching into places in our hearts we don’t even see.

At the Jordon Elijah takes off the prophet’s mantle and rolls it up and strikes the Jordon and it parts. Very powerful and very significant. We will see later.

Finally they get to the place and Elijah pops the question. “What do you want?” or more accurately “What shall I do for you before I am taken from you?” Elisha says “Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” Elijah, probably with raised eyebrows, says: “You have asked a difficult thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you it shall be yours and if not, it shall not be so.”

Then as they walked the fiery horses and chariots of heaven come and separate the two walkers and Elisha sees them and cries out repeatedly: “My father, my father the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” What a sight that must have been! Something to remember all your days! What a ride Elijah must have had!

Then Elisha discards all his clothes and takes up the clothes of Elijah. He took the mantle cried out: “Where is the Lord God of Elijah!” and strikes the mantle to the water of the Jordon and it parts just as it had for Elijah. God answered Elisha!

The Lord is speaking from this account. Today too many don’t ask God for the really big things, the really hard things, the really difficult things. We seem to forget that He is a God of the impossible and wants to perform might miracles even today, just as He did in Elisha’s time. Doesn’t He say just ask?

Luke 11:9 - 13 (NASB) ⁹“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  ¹⁰“For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened.  ¹¹“Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he?  ¹²“Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he?  ¹³“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”

Doesn’t He say that we too will see the same miracles He performed in His day. Won’t we be filled with the same Holy Spirit He was filled with and won’t we hear the same voice He heard that He obeyed?

John 14:12 - 14 (NASB) ¹²“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.  ¹³“Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  ¹⁴“If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

So where is the Lord God of Elijah!? Is He not waiting for Elijah to call out to Him? He awaits the ones today to call out to Him and see His wonders and glory.

So don’t be afraid to ask the really hard things, the ones you may think are impossible. I have and I have seen the miracles only the Living God can do and I know I will see many more as I put my total trust in Him.

God’s richest blessings on all who read this.