2 Kings 2.
Elisha will not leave his master, either at Elijah’s bidding, or upon the remarks of the sons of the prophets, and they now approach the Jordan. It was the river that divided the land of earthly promise from the regions outside; in it was seen the memorial and figure of death ever flowing by, separating the people of God from their former estate, from the world; it had been passed in the power of Christ’s victory upon the cross, as set out for faith in the ark carried to the lowest depth of the river’s channel which thereby established a highway for the people to pass over (Joshua 4). In the dark depths of the river, unseen to mortal eye, and on its western bank, stood the memorials of the victory there won over death for the believer. Elijah crossed the Jordan dry of foot. Typically, he passed through death, though he presently ascended without dying.
And now in the wilderness, having withdrawn from the land of Israel which has given up its God, —the land of law and of sin ever rising to a fuller measure, —Elijah can propose blessing to Elisha according as he may ask. The latter realizing that the parting moment has come, and attached to Elijah and to the ministry he had just withdrawn from, could ask only for a double portion of his spirit. His request was granted, as he viewed Elijah in his heavenly condition, heavenward bound. For Elijah, the days of labor amid the ruined people, disobedient and stiff-necked as they had been in Moses’ time; the ignored or rejected appeals to this nation to return to their God, were over. His work was done. But from that home in heaven he came to earth with Moses for a brief visit to speak to our blessed Lord about His death (Luke 9:30, 3130And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: 31Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. (Luke 9:30‑31)), —event of supreme interest we may be sure, in the glory.
Spared then the circumstances of illness and death, Elijah is conveyed to God’s presence in the sight of his successor.
Elisha’s own mantle will do for him no more; henceforth he, as we may say, thinking of Elijah and Elisha’s blessed Saviour, and not of the failing servant who was now translated, who faintly pictures the Lord, will carry the mantle of the rejected and ascended One, Him Who has passed into the heavens (Heb. 4:1414Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (Hebrews 4:14)) in the power of His own blood (Heb. 9:1212Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (Hebrews 9:12)).
Elisha returned to Jericho, where he found the characteristic of the natural man, unbelief, yet now as the messenger of grace (law, as represented in Elijah having failed) removed the curse that was upon the place. Going on to Beth-el where judgment falls upon the mockers; and thence to Carmel where judgment had been executed upon Baal the god of this world, Elisha finally retraces his steps to Samaria, there to take up his ministry for God.
ML 10/09/1927