We have had a wonderful time on our trip and in class in Cambridge, England over the past two weeks. Before we jump into our lesson for this week, I want to thank you all for allowing me to have this time to work on my Doctor of Ministry degree. I feel blessed to be able to be part of this program, and believe God is using it to help us continue to grow, as a congregation, into the call for which we have been set aside.
As you reflect on the message from this week, either on your own or in your Small Group, we encourage you to spend time in the Scripture by reading 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 (printed below) and then work through the questions provided.
2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
2Kings 2:1 When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal. 2 And Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the LORD has told me to go to Bethel.”
But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you!” So they went down together to Bethel.
2Kings 2:6 Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the LORD has told me to go to the Jordan River.”
But again Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you.” So they went on together.
2Kings 2:7 Fifty men from the group of prophets also went and watched from a distance as Elijah and Elisha stopped beside the Jordan River. 8 Then Elijah folded his cloak together and struck the water with it. The river divided, and the two of them went across on dry ground!
2Kings 2:9 When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.”
And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.”
2Kings 2:10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah replied. “If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won’t.”
2Kings 2:11 As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” And as they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his clothes in distress.
2Kings 2:13 Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen when he was taken up. Then Elisha returned to the bank of the Jordan River. 14 He struck the water with Elijah’s cloak and cried out, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” Then the river divided, and Elisha went across.
Thoughts & questions for reflection…
When we read this passage, like many other Old Testament passages, some people get caught up in the events of the miraculous, such as Elijah being taken up to heaven in the chariot led by flaming horses; and they either fight the battle over proving the event or write it off as a fable, but the key in studying this and similar passages is to look at the foundation of what is happening in the text. Here we see a Mentor (Elijah) getting ready to leave his Mentee (Elisha), and within the transition the desire on Elisha’s part to inherit the power and wisdom of his mentor, Elijah. In this, we can all learn.
- Can you name a mentor in your life who really helped you grow as a person? What made the relationship a mentoring relationship?
- What was it like to lose that mentor? Did you grieve the loss of the relationship?
- What are you doing to mentor new mentees for the future?
I hope you have fun going deeper with God this week through this Old Testament lesson, and that in all things, you seek to grow in Christ as the ultimate Mentor of our faith.
Blessings,
Jim
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