Last week, we considered 2 Kings 2:1-11 and Elijah’s ascension to heaven. Today, I’m curious to get into the aftermath of that incredible event and focus on the rise of Elisha as a prophet of God in Israel.
Picking up in 2 Kings 2:12, we see Elisha’s reaction to the great scene before him. As the fiery chariot and horses separated master from disciple, and as Elijah was lifted up by the tempest, Elisha cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” I suspect that the slight similarities between this and the Lord’s statement on the cross (“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”) is partially why the mockers said of Jesus, “This Man is calling for Elijah!”, and “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him” (Matthew 27:46-49). But the truth behind Elisha’s exclamation is a profound testament to the selfless life of Elijah. Elisha calls Elijah “my father”; this is consistent with Elisha’s refusal to leave Elijah’s side during his last day on earth, as well as his final request to Elijah to receive the “double portion”, i.e. the firstborn son’s inheritance. It becomes clear that Elisha viewed Elijah not just as his master but as his father. And the testimony of his father was not given at his funeral, for how do you have a funeral for someone who didn’t die? But his testimony was given right when Elijah was ascending into heaven, “the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” Pulling from the powerful inspiration of the fiery chariot and horses before him, Elisha cried that Elijah was indeed the very chariot and horsemen for the house of Israel. Elijah was their true guard, helper, and defender, by the side of Almighty God. This one statement beautifully portrays Elijah’s life of tremendous hardship and war against evil, all for the hope of saving the people of Israel from destruction.
As Elisha departs to return to Canaan, he must cross over the Jordan River. Having Elijah’s mantle in his hand, he proceeds to strike the water just as Elijah had done earlier that day. When he strikes the water, he says, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” This he said to call upon the Lord and for God to be with him in the same way that the Lord had been with Elijah. This call was answered quickly by God as the waters of the Jordan were divided before him. God was with him. But inheriting the role of Elijah was no pleasant task, at least not in any earthly sense, and Elisha would immediately be met with challenges that would prove that the way of the prophet was hard. These challenges would also prove that Elisha had the power in spirit to handle the hate and mockery of those he was sent to deliver.
Now, Elisha was met with three challenges that day, the first being the spiritual lack found in the sons of the prophets; the second is the deadly water source; and lastly, Elisha is mocked by a large group of youths. Let’s consider the meaning behind these three obstacles. When Elisha crossed the Jordan, he was met by the “sons of the prophets”. These “sons” are disciples of other prophets of God, much like Elisha had been a son/disciple of Elijah. It appears that they had witnessed from afar the great tempest and Elijah’s ascent into the air, so they want to send out a search party of fifty men to comb the mountains to find Elijah’s body. Elisha’s response is “You shall not send anyone”, but they are adamant about finding Elijah, so “they urged him till he was ashamed”. Elisha knew what happened to Elijah, he went to heaven, but he was surrounded by these unspiritual disciples who had this adverse effect on him, making him feel “ashamed” for not looking for the body of his master. This was wrong and exemplified the worldly-minded religious nation that Elisha would be continually burdened by.
Upon recognizing the power in Elisha, the men of Jericho petition him to do something about the water of the city and the barrenness of the ground. Jericho was a newly established city, having been destroyed by God way back in the days of Joshua. Joshua had cursed the city of Jericho if ever it was rebuilt (Joshua 6:26). Sure enough, under the wickedness of king Ahab, Jericho was rebuilt. Even after the city was built and lives were lost due to the curse, the curse still seemed to be affecting the water and unfruitfulness of the land. Elisha tells them to bring him salt in a new bowl. He went to the water source and cast the salt over it, and said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.’” And the water was healed from that day forward. Notice how God is willing to reverse a curse He had previously given because of the wickedness of the people. Blessings will now proceed from the same place that once was cursed. This is Elisha’s task exemplified; he must turn the cursedness of a sinful Israel around to a blessed state. The gospel accounts will later show Jericho to be a very fruitful and lovely place.
Lastly, Elisha leaves Jericho and is on his way to Bethel. While traveling, a large group of youths came from the city and mocked him, saying, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” This situation usually strikes people as both humorous and strange; further, Elisha’s reaction to this bullying is startling, for he “pronounced a curse on them in the name of the LORD.” A death curse. “And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths.” What is the meaning of this bewildering scene? The meaning is found in their message to Elisha, “Go up, you baldhead!” There are two elements to their saying, first, “Go up”, meaning, go up like Elijah, leave us, be taken away from us by the wind, we don’t want you here and we don’t care to hear your message. Secondly, the “baldhead” reference is clearly due to Elisha’s lack of hair. His predecessor, Elijah, was a very hairy man, and the youths are using this to mock Elisha, as if to say that Elisha is no Elijah. The youths are chanting that Elijah went up and disappeared, and Elisha is no Elijah, so he should just go up and disappear, too. This is an early example given to Elisha that he will surely be met with contention, faithlessness, and rejection. it is a sorrowful reality. What makes it worse is that it is young folks who are doing this. This is a sign of the next generation of Israelites who will continue to follow in the wicked footsteps of their fathers. However, Elisha meets the contempt with extraordinary power of spirit, and sends these youths to their death. Elisha’s struggle with Israel has only just begun.
Article by Tanner Campbell