Apparently, Elisha felt very inadequate to take Elijah's place. He knew he needed the blessing of Elijah and a kind of  passing on of the power of the Spirit Elijah had. Elijah is trying to go off by himself to be alone with the Lord as he faces his end. Elisha tenaciously is dogging his footsteps like a puppy you can't shake– the more you try to discourage it, the more it insists on following. We are not told where they began this last journey. But it certainly seems a full day's journey from what we’re told, 15 plus miles: Bethel, then Jericho, and finally the transjordan area. Finally, after three attempts to lose him, Elijah accepts the fact that he won't escape from Elisha. Maybe at this point, in the determination of Elisha, Elijah senses God may have something He wants to do yet in this. Finally he asks the question Elisha has been hoping to hear:
Is there something you want from me before the Lord takes me?

You can tell Elisha has been rehearsing his request in his mind over the 15 miles they've walked, for his reply is without hesitation:
Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit.
Now he is not asking for twice as much power of the Holy Spirit as Elijah had. He is using the terms of inheritance of the day. The first born son inherited double and carried the birthright. So, Elisha is asking to carry on the ministry, the spiritual heritage. Elijah realizes such a request is out of his hands. Only God could make that choice. No human hands can really ordain, or bestow the power of the Spirit. Thus, he leaves it up to God, "If you see me when I'm taken.."

Then, as they are walking along, they begin to feel the hot desert winds blowing. (Rhua is the Hebrew word used both for wind and Spirit). The wind begins to intensify. Then they see horses and chariots of fire appear in the distance moving toward them. In spite of Elisha’s determination to stay close to Elijah, Elijah seems to be moving away from him, out of reach. Now, the approaching horses and chariots of fire are driving right for them. Elijah is pulling away and Elisha can’t move. Then the horses and chariots of fire pass between Elijah and Elisha burning through the cords with which Elisha is hoping to cling to Elijah. In spite of Elisha's terror, he keeps trying to see Elijah, determined not to lose the promised blessing. As the burning chariots pass, he can't see through them. Then, all he sees is a whirlwind that takes Elijah to heaven.

In grief over his loss, Elisha tears his clothes and weeps out his grief. Then, as the sobbing tears subside, he opens his eyes, and there at his feet is Elijah's cloak that had fallen from Elijah as he was taken up to glory. This was the cloak Elijah had used throughout his ministry much as Moses used his rod. Bestowal of the cloak is like passing on the authority, a consecration to a sacred office. Elisha remembers, when he was first called to this ministry by Elijah (I Kings 19:19-21), he was plowing a field, driving the last pair of oxen in a plowing operation involving 12 yoke of oxen. (This must have been a very wealthy family, plowing with 24 oxen at once). Elijah threw his cloak on Elisha, designating him as his successor. Now of course, Elisha wonders if it really is going to work, does he have the authority and power of Elijah? So he goes back and strikes the waters of Jordan Elijah struck with the cloak only hour or two before and cries,
Where now is the Lord , the God of Elijah?
And the waters part.

As an interesting aside, the bestowal of cloaks, mantles, or stoles still remain as symbols of ordination and consecration to sacred office in liturgical settings.

This story highlights that the essence of ministry is the bestowal of the Holy Spirit. Ability, education, and even election to the prophet's guild are all secondary. The ministry of Jesus was totally Spirit-dependent as we see in his inaugural address:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and the recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed. (Lk. 4:18-19)
The early disciples were commanded by Jesus to remain in Jerusalem until they had received the power of the Holy Spirit. In fact, in Luke 24:49 that promise is phrased that they will be “clothed with power.” Isn’t that interesting in light of what we’re talking about with Elijah’s mantle? At Pentecost, as the Holy Spirit falls upon them, it is the passing on of the ministry, the birthright. It is clear that Jesus' power in ministry is meant to be ours. As Jesus teaches about the coming of the Holy Spirit that last night with his disciples he gives them this mind-boggling promise:
Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes in me shall do the works that I do, and greater works than these shall he do because I go to the Father. (Jn. 14:12)
All that Jesus did– the miracles, healing, power, teaching, transforming lives– are what we are to be doing in the same power that was His, the power of the Holy Spirit.

How are we to get this power the Holy Spirit bestows on us? Let's take a moment and look at one of Jesus' important teachings on this in Luke 11:5-13...

In this teaching on persevering in prayer, the gift of the Holy Spirit is cited as the crowning illustration of the value of desire and  keeping on, not getting discouraged in our asking. Remember, after Jesus' ascension, the disciples had a 10-day prayer meeting, seeking, waiting for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit following 40 days of fasting, prayer, and temptation in the desert. Yet, the point Jesus is making is that the Father is not a reluctant giver. The Holy Spirit is a free gift, not earned. Compared with our best loving gifts, Jesus says, "How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him."

Why this seeming paradox of a willing giver, yet expecting us to ask, seek, knock and keep on knocking before the gift is given? I expect the answer is found in the needs of our hearts in two areas:
1.         Value.  Any gift waited for, desired intensely is more valued, and used more sensitively. In college, those with a huge personal commitment and who have to work hard for education usually get far more out of it. Things that are too easy for us or that cost us nothing are not valued properly. To be entrusted with a ministry empowered by the Spirit is a great thing– a priceless gift. We need to want it intensely so we use it wisely and carefully.

2.         Purifying. Waiting and seeking is a refining, purifying process. As parents with our children, we hear a lot of "I wants." What do we do when we're thinking of giving a gift to our children? Don’t we listen, wait and try to discern the recurring desires– the ones that last. Then we’re not just responding to a passing whim and giving a toy that will be  left from disinterest after the first day. We want to give something that will give lasting joy to them. Waiting provides time to sift and sort through all the wants to what is important. As we seek God and don't get the answers we desire, it should be a time of purifying our motives, causing us to press in deeper with trying to discern what God's will is and how we can flow with it. Waiting can purge our hearts of selfish, prideful, God- controlling requests so we are truly  praying in His name, according to His will.

Here we are talking about being empowered by the Holy Spirit for ministry and service. Let me be clear, every believer has the Holy Spirit within them. When we repent and receive Christ into our lives, we are "Born of the Spirit (Jn. 3:8)." We have the presence of Christ within, leading, guiding, which is the Holy Spirit. However, there are also special equipping and empowering times for service and ministry where Holy Spirit comes in special ways giving and releasing new gifts. These include things like evangelism, teaching, preaching, healing, miracles, supernatural knowledge and gifts that may not be so obvious like giving, serving, hospitality, and encouragement. There are many more spoken of in the New Testament, but this gives you the idea.

I believe there are some practical helps for us in seeking God in this way. Most of us need the support of a structured environment. When I get those listings of courses in the paper for the courses offered at Wenatchee Valley College here, I sometimes look at computer offerings, thinking I need to improve my skills. Then think, I can do that on my own– I can just buy a book and the program and save money and having to go to a class. Can you guess what happens? I don't get to it. The desire is not strong enough to keep me motivated.. I need the support and discipline of a class.

Spiritually we are in a similar situation. We have a core curriculum: regular worship, study in classes with other Christians, a daily devotional time immersing us in Scripture and prayer. But in addition, there are some special things to inspire and provide context for deepening and empowering our lives more with the Holy Spirit. Things like retreats or special conferences can provide the help for us to seek God with more of our hearts and receive more of His Spirit. Just showing up, being there, making a commitment to an event if done sincerely will be greatly rewarded. Any sincere seeking, knocking in the kingdom of God will receive. And, these external structures help us get around to doing what we know we should be doing.

Thus, our version of Elisha’s determined dogging Elijah’s footsteps may well be reflected in a determination to be in those places where the Spirit of the Lord often works. And, when we’re there, letting nothing keep us from pressing in to get the blessing we need.

 

LOVE AND DEVOTION
I want to touch on one other aspect of this story I believe is relevant to us– the commitment and love of Elisha toward Elijah as seen in Elisha's dogging Elijah's footsteps. I've always pictured Elijah as a rather crusty, solitary type person.  That picture is perhaps influenced by his New Testament counterpart, John the Baptist: that voice crying in the wilderness, eating locusts and wild honey, and wearing garments of camel's hair. Elijah seems to have ministered as a loner and seems to want to die that way. But Elisha will have none of it. He will not let Elijah go off by himself, but insists on being there.

There are times like that for all of us. We do everything we can to drive others away. Maybe its our depression, negativism, or low self-esteem. Some angry people seek to drive others away with their touchy hypersensitivity. Maybe some think they'll spare others the pain of their gloom or suffering. Perhaps there is a subtle pride that insists on handling this alone or a false sense of independence, "I don't need anyone." We can even spiritualize the whole thing thinking, "I know God is with me, that's enough."

In those times, we all need a friend like Elisha who will not be driven off no matter how difficult we make it, no matter how many miles we drag them along. A friend who just insists on just being there. Whether it's those last miles toward death, or other times of pain and struggle. I’m not talking about an intrusive, controlling presence. I don't get the impression that Elisha is chattering away with small talk here. That's not what is needed; rather a presence of just being there, a quiet companionship and prayer. Remember Jesus in Gethsemane, or Paul, writing what may be his last words to Timothy just before his death, "Do your best to come to me quickly."

One of the great preachers of our more recent history was Dr. Bruce Thielemann who for years was pastor of First Presbyterian in Pittsburgh. Several years ago, he wrote:
“Two summers ago I received a telephone call from my physician, who also happened to be the physician of my most beloved seminary professor. He called to tell me that my old prof, who had been retired many years (he was then in his 84th year) had been taken to the hospital, and that he wouldn’t be coming home. I asked the doctor, ‘Is Prof’s death imminent? Will it be today?’
“‘Oh,’” he said, ‘I doubt it. But it won’t be too long, and he won’t be coming    home.’
“I had a commitment for that night, one I had scheduled almost two years in advance. But I broke it to go to the hospital. When I walked into the room, I found another of Prof’s former students whom I knew well sitting beside him. As I came to the door Prof looked at me and said, ‘Thielemann, you’ve come to help me die.’
“I said, ‘No, Prof, I’m sure you can do that by yourself.’ We began to talk and to share; he decided he wanted to confess his sins. He said things like, ‘I taught you boys too much theology. I should have taught you more about Jesus. I’m taking my final examinations and find I wouldn’t even be able to write my name on the paper if it weren’t for my Savior.’ And he talked about his love for his wife.