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1 When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the LORD has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3 The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so be quiet.” 4 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the LORD has sent me to Jericho.” And he replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho. 5 The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” he replied, “so be quiet.” 6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.” And he replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on. 7 Fifty men from the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. 8 Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground. 9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. 10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.” 11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two. (2 Kings 2:1-12 NIV)
Good day dear Friend! Welcome Wednesday to your life and mission! May the Lord bless you and guide you in all that you will face and overcome with His grace and peace!
The Reverend José Galindo was my mentor and father in ministry. It was his faith and grace that helped a questioning seminarian intern realize that perhaps I could "make it" in ministry. I learned many wonderful things about ministry and about myself through his tutelage. His love and focus was on Jesus and His ministry. It was he who showed me that when working on a church budget we be honest and bold about the ministerial line item. Instead of salary he would put Ministry of Christ which helped remind the church that the person serving as pastor was also there representing Jesus. He also taught me the greatest lesson about preaching; that people hear better when they know you love them and care for them. Not all of them respond in kind, but because of them you preach even more loving and kinder. He helped introduce me to Nellie and he married us, and he was our oldest daughter's godfather; such was his impact on my life. He also knew how to put things into perspective and how to balance things; and all things he did blessed me.
I can only imagine the impact that Elijah had on Elisha. This passage says a lot about the younger one's devotion to the ministry of Elijah. We just studied that moment of fear and uncertainty that Elijah had on Mount Horeb and how he asked God to take him home, but it was not yet time. And after his moment of doubting, he anointed a new king and anointed Elisha as his successor and it is believed he spent about 6-10 years under his supervision. I spent an academic year with Rev. Galindo, but stayed close to him during my early ministry both personally and geographically. Rev. Galindo asked me to bury him whenever he died, a sad thing that I was out ot state doing a wedding when Rev. Galindo died and could not get home in time to do his funeral, a sorrow I still carry to this day. Elisha had a special blessing, albeit a tough one, in being by the side of the old prophet when it came time for Elijah to return home. The goodbye was difficult for Elisha for Elijah wanted, I believe, some time to himself, but the younger prophet would not have it. "Stay here.." "No way!" And what makes it more interesting and a bit humorous is that Elisha kept getting reminded by several of the impending departure. "Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?" Yes and shut up! The older prophet kept saying just stay here, and Elisha would say, "Ain't no way!" Another group again asks, You know your losing your master today, don't you? Yes, shut up!
More travel and a miracle of crossing the Jordan River with Elijah's cloak serving to divide the water. And that famous exchange where the older asks the younger, "What would you have me do for you before I go?" And the ever famous, "Give me a double portion of your spirit." Elisha was well aware of the power of the Spirit at work in Elijah's ministry; he had heard the stories both from the old man himself and from those who were witnesses; yes, give me double what he has! God honors those who follow Him with steadfast hearts. Like Elisha, we may not always know what lies ahead, but when we stay close, remain faithful, and ask boldly, God equips us for the next chapter. The mantle of purpose may fall at our feet when we least expect it—but only those who are watching, waiting, and walking in step with God will recognize it and pick it up.
PRAYER: Lord God, give us hearts like Elisha—steadfast, courageous, and hungry for more of You. Help us to remain faithful when the journey is hard and the future uncertain. Teach us to stay close to You and to the people You’ve placed in our lives to guide us. When the time comes, give us the strength to pick up the mantle and walk boldly in Your calling. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Stay close to God today and be ready. Watch with expectation and follow with faith—He may be preparing you for something greater than you imagined.
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
