Following Hard
After God
2Kings
2:1-14
INTRODUCTION:
This passage tells of the translation of Elijah to heaven, but
the real story is about Elisha. He is determined to follow his
master to the end and he desires a double portion of Elijah�s
blessing. We see that he gets the blessing and begins to perform
some of the miracles for which he is known. O, that we might
follow hard after God (Psalm 63:8)
as Elisha followed hard after the spirit of Elijah!
I. GILGAL
- ROLLING AWAY OUR REPROACH (2:1)
A. At
the time when God was to take Elijah
B. Elijah
was found in Gilgal
C. Typology
1. Gilgal
is the place of beginning for this journey
2. Gilgal
means rolling and is the place where the reproach of Egypt
was rolled away from the Israelites. (Joshua
5:9)
3. In
our approach to God, we must all begin with the rolling away of
the reproach of Egypt. This is a picture of salvation,
the place where all spiritual growth must begin.
II. BETHEL
- MAKING OUR APPROACH TO GOD (2:2-3)
A. Elijah
asked Elisha to tarry at Gilgal (v.2)
B. Elisha
refused to tarry at Gilgal (v.2)
C. They
both went down to Bethel (v.2)
D. The
sons of the prophets reported to Elisha (v.3)
� the spectators
E. Bethel
means house of God and is the place where Old Testament saints
drew close to the Lord (Genesis 12:8; 13:3-4; 28:16-19; 31:13; 35:1-3, 15)
F. Typology
1. Bethel is a
place of communion and restoration
2. The
path to Bethel is �down� (v.2) and
often requires a time of trial or sorrow
3. The
world, the flesh, and the devil will want you to stay in Gilgal
and simply enjoy your salvation, but the earnest saint refuses
to rest and presses on to Bethel.
III. JERICHO
- FIGHTING THE BATTLE FOR GOD (2:4-5)
A. Elijah
asked Elisha to tarry at Bethel (v.4)
B. Elisha
refused to tarry at Bethel (v.4)
C. They
both went on to Jericho (v.4); Note:
Although Jericho is technically down from Bethel, it is not called
such in scripture because it does not fit the spiritual type.
D. The
sons of the prophets reported to Elisha (v.5)
E. Typology
1. Jericho is a
place of obedience, battle, and victory (Joshua
6:1-27)
2. Many
get the order wrong. They try to get the victory before they battle,
get in the battle before they obey, or go off to serve without
spending time with the Lord (Bethel).
3. Some
of God�s people simply stay at Bethel. They want to enjoy the presence
of the Lord but they are unwilling to go out to serve Him and fight
the fight of faith.
4. Only
through facing the battles God sends can we enjoy the victories
He has for us.
IV. JORDAN
- ENTERING INTO DEATH IN CHRIST (2:6-8)
A. Elijah
asked Elisha to tarry at Jericho (v.6)
B. Elisha
refused to tarry at Jericho (v.6)
C. They
both went on to Jordan (v.6) and stood
by it (v.7)
D. The
sons of the prophets went (v.7); Note:
many people want to get close enough to see the action but not
close enough to be a part of it.
E. Elijah
divided the waters of Jordan (v.8)
1. With
his mantle
a. He
took it off, wrapped it together, and smote the waters
b. Note:
the history of this mantle
i. Covering
for Elijah�s face when he appeared before God (1Kings
19:13)
ii. Cast
upon Elisha as a sign of his call (1Kings
19:19)
iii. Used
here to divide the waters (2Kings 2:8)
iv. Taken
up by Elisha after the translation of Elijah (2Kings
2:13)
v. Used
by Elisha to part the waters of the Jordan (2Kings
2:14)
2. They
two passed on dry ground
F. Typology
1. The Jordan was a
place of death to the old life (Deuteronomy
30:18; 31:2; Joshua
1:2; 5:10-12)
2. Elijah
and Elisha went to the cities mentioned earlier, but they crossed
the Jordan.
a. It
pictures death because the rushing waters that could have drowned
them were held back while they crossed
b. This
stage of the journey required a visible miracle. This shows us
that this is the most difficult stage of the journey.
c. Jordan
is a picture of the life that dies to self and lives unto God (Romans
6:3-13).
V. ASKING
BOLDLY OF GOD (2:9-11)
A. Elijah
Received a Request from Elisha (2:9)
1. Elijah
granted a request
a. Ask
what I shall do for you
b. Before
I be taken out of the way
c. Note:
Elisha got this chance because he would not leave Elijah
2. Elisha
made his request
a. For
the spirit of Elijah
b. For
a double portion of his spirit
B. Elijah
Put a Stipulation on Elijah�s Request (2:10)
1. The
request was a hard one
2. The
request depended on the presence of Elisha at the departing of
Elijah
3. This
was the lesson from the beginning of the journey. Elisha received
the spirit of Elijah because he would not let him go away from
him. See Genesis 32:24-26.
VI. CONTINUING
FAITHFUL WITH GOD (2:11-12)
A. Elijah
was Taken up into Heaven (2:11)
1. Elijah
and Elisha were parted asunder
a. By
a chariot of fire and horses of fire
b. Note:
Elisha stuck so close to Elijah that the Lord had to forcibly separate
the two so He could rapture Elijah.
2. Elijah
was taken into heaven by a whirlwind
B. Elisha
Responded to the Translation of Elijah (2:12)
1. He
cried out
a. My
father, my father � he was very close to Elijah
b. The
chariot of Israel and the horsemen � this probably refers to his
amazement at the display of God�s power.
2. He
rent his clothes in two
VII. TAKING
THE MANTLE OF GOD (2:13-14)
A. Elisha
took up the mantle of Elisha (v.13)
B. Elisha
smote the Jordan with the mantle (v.14)
C. Elisha
asked: Where is the LORD God of Elijah? (v.14;
see Judges 6:13)
D. The
waters parted for Elisha; Note: it is not so much the man of God
as it is the God of the man that makes the difference. Most men
exalt themselves or other men. True men of God exalt the Lord.
CONCLUSION:
Have you given up on growing in your Christian life? Where did
you tarry? Will you return or will you remain where you are?
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