In the order of things established by Jehovah for Israel, there was no place for a prophet when normal conditions prevailed. At the close of the ministry of Moses, the high priest was the link between Jehovah and His people, and the civil leader was directed to walk under his guidance (Num. 27:18-23). When the priesthood failed, the king became the link, and the high priest fell into the second place (1 Sam. 2:35); then, when royalty failed, prophets were raised up, for our God will have some means whereby He can reach His people for their instruction and blessing. But prophets were brought forward intermittently as God saw the need; there was no line of them, as of priests and kings. Each prophet stood in his own responsibility; he fulfilled his mission, and then he passed away.
A Successor
But there was an exception to this in the case of Elijah; he had a successor. “Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.” Elisha was thus supplementary to Elijah. The contrast between the two was remarkable. The one terrible in his bearing, the other gracious; the one an ascetic, the other homely and accessible to all. Elijah’s miracles were characterized by judgment; those of Elisha, with one exception, were marked by mercy. The very manner in which each is introduced shows the contrast: The Tishbite bursts upon the scene abruptly, like a bolt from the blue (1 Kings 17:1); the son of Shaphat is seen peacefully plowing a field (1 Kings 19:19).
Elijah and Elisha remind us of John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus. The stern ministry of Elijah was akin to that of the forerunner (Luke 1:17); the gracious ministry of Elisha is suggestive of that of the Saviour Himself (Luke 7:33-34). The name, too, is eloquent in its meaning — “God is salvation.”
The Right Spirit
Elijah’s intercession to God against Israel (Rom. 11:2) led to the anointing of Elisha to be prophet in his room. His deeply tried spirit burst forth into sore complaint against God’s people, recounting their sins before Jehovah. Let us take warning from Elijah’s failure. Our own times are deplorably evil, and the apostasy hastens on. God appreciates those who, like Elijah, take a firm stand against the evil, at whatever cost to themselves in the way of ease and honor here. But let none of these entertain a thought of their own faithfulness in contrast to others. Humility becomes us, as does extreme tenderness of spirit towards those who, however strange their associations, in their hearts really value Christ. All such are very precious to God, and however gravely He may Himself rebuke in them what is not well-pleasing in His sight, He will never tolerate in us a censorious spirit towards them. To fall into this is to sacrifice our own usefulness at this critical moment in the history of the church of God. If so excellent a witness as Elijah failed in this particular, the danger for ourselves is also very great. The spirit and character of Elisha becomes us.
W. W. Fereday, adapted