There are different elevations among the saints: Lot did not stand on a level with Abraham, nor did the “seven thousand” hidden ones with Elijah. But all were equally the elect of God, known to Him, and preserved by Him .It is so here: Elisha and the sons of the prophets illustrate the same thing. We have just seen the one pressing through all hindrances after heavenly honors, but now we are to see others with a mind too sadly formed by the earth.
These sons of the prophets were, Nicodemus-like, slow-hearted to believe. Their thoughts do not rise above the mountains and valleys of the earth. They had never seen a heavenly chariot. They cannot think but that Elijah is still somewhere here—and they search for him here. Elisha would have led them at once to his place of light and elevation; but they must be taught through their own mistakes and unbelief.
Elisha can, however, own them. Weak and inapprehensive as they may be, they share, however, his company and his blessing. The city where they dwelt had been under a curse (Josh. 6). But he brings healing to it. “There shall be no more curse” was the language of the prophet over Jericho, as it will be the language of the Lord over the inheritance (Rom. 8; Rev. 22). And this is comforting, while it is humbling to us, consciously weak ones—to us who, from what we know of our poor souls, stand more with the sons of the prophets around Jericho than travel in the strength of the Holy Spirit with Elisha through the Jordan. It should humble us to think that we are not on his level, while it may blessedly comfort us to know that the Lord is still ours. The small and the great stand before Him.
But here I would observe that from the moment when our prophet took up the mantle of his master, God was all he had; but he found Him enough for all he needed. This need, however, like that of Jesus, was not his own. It was for others he used his resources and strength in God. He was rich, but not for himself. Thus he meets the inconveniences of nature: Without a purse, he relieves the poor; without a commissariat, he supplies armies; the deadly thing, he makes harmless; without bread, he gives food to a multitude, and gathers fragments; without medicine, he heals disease; without arms or soldiers, he defeats enemies; in famine, he supplies a nation; though dead, he communicates life.
All this tells us of Jesus. For Jesus had nothing, yet He made He many rich. He had the worlds of nature and of grace for the needy children of men. And His ways are reflected in His servant Elisha.