Bible Men: Elisha Part 1, Anointed by Elijah

Elisha Part 1:  Anointed by Elijah and Witness of his translation into heaven

1 Kings 19:16-21, 2 Kings 2:1-17

Elisha is one of the more colorful people in the bible.  He was a prophet, a man of God, anointed  by Elijah in obedience to the word of the Lord God "...and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room." (1 Kings 19:16).  This shows us that prophets were chosen of God, not men that lifted themselves up.  And so it should be today.   God has given various gifts as it pleases him, and moves believers to use those gifts each in their particular way, and then the gift/gifts bear fruit to the glory of God.  Some men (and women) lift themselves up, and strive to do works they desire to do themselves, without the leading of the Lord.  By their fruits we shall know those whom God has chosen..

And so Elijah departed the place where the LORD God spoke to him and found Elisha plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth (V19).  Elisha was found not sitting at leisure, but passing the time in a meaningful way.   And so when God wants us for a certain task, how will He find us?  Will we be idle? or will we be passing the time by the leading of the Lord?  Ephesians 5:15-17 "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is." 
At any rate, it is now that Elijah came to Elisha and cast his mantle (cloak) upon Elisha, thus showing Elisha that he was chosen for the special purpose of being Elijah's servant and successor.  Elisha was taken from plowing a field  to sow the seed of the word (of God), in the same way that some of the apostles were taken from their lives as fishermen, to be made "fishers of men".

After anointing Elisha by casting his mantle upon him,  Elijah was continuing on his way, because Elisha had to run after him (V20) with this request:  "Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee." The Lord Jesus, in a similar instance, when someone desired to go and bid farewell to his family before following Jesus, told them "No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."  (Luke 9:61-62)  But in this instance, Elijah graciously gives him permission to go back again, saying "Go back again, for what have I done to thee?" (V20) And so, after slaying a yoke of oxen and feeding the people, Elisha "rose and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him"  (V21) Important here that Elisha did not see himself as an equal, but a servant to Elijah, the man of God. 

Bible Men: Elijah the Prophet Anoints Elisha and Elijah is Taken into Heaven

1 Kings 19:19-21

2 Kings 2: 1-17

In previous posts on Elijah, we read of God withholding rain for 3 years because of the disobedience and wickedness of king Ahab. We read of Elijah hiding at the brook Cherith, and how God sent ravens to feed him there, and then how Elijah was sent to Zarephath where he was sustained by a widow who had been prepared by God to receive him and how they were sustained through the drought until Elijah heard the word of God that rain was coming.  We learned of Elijah's confrontation with the prophets of Baal, when the LORD God sent fire down from heaven.  We learned how after that Elijah went to the top of Mt. Carmel and prayed, and how the sky became dark with clouds, and how by the power of the Lord, Elijah outran Ahab's chariot back to Jezreel. 

Then we learned how Elijah ran for his life and how an angel fed him for his next journey which took him to a cave where God appeared to him after a mighty wind, in a still, small voice.   Elijah was sent by the LORD God to Damascus where he was to anoint Elisha to be prophet in his place. By this Elijah knew that he would soon be taken to heaven, but he had no idea of the wondrous way it would happen.

After Elijah left the cave, he found "Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with 12 yoke of oxen before him."  That is a lot of oxen for one man to handle, Elisha must have been very strong.  "Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him" (1 Kings 19:19) This would signify that Elisha was to be Elijah's successor but he would be tested. "And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said Let me, I pray thee,kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee.  And he said unto him, Go back again:....." (V20) Elisha was given the opportunity to say goodbye.  After Elisha returned he sacrificed a team of oxen, gave to the people who were there, and then he "went after Elijah, and ministered unto him" (V21)