Elijah's last journey

Good morning brothers and sisters,
Last week we met Elisha, whom God told Elijah to anoint as "prophet in his place." We read about Elijah's call of Elisha but we haven't heard anything since then about Elisha. Today and tomorrow we will see the end of Elijah's ministry and the beginning of Elisha's independent ministry. As you'll notice, in each of several places Elijah and Elisha go together on this last journey a "company" of prophets greets them and secretly tells Elisha the news that his master will be taken up. In that time besides the prophets we normally read about there were groups or schools of prophets in several different places. It's not exactly clear what their role was, but like the famous prophets they spoke for God. Of course being a prophet in Israel was dangerous then because Ahab and Jezebel persecuted the prophets.

The symbol of Elijah dividing the River Jordan with his mantle is powerful. It recalls not only Israel crossing the Red Sea into freedom but also Israel crossing the Jordan into the promised land forty years later. For us as Christians we think about those two events and this story when we remember Jesus being baptized by John at the Jordan. God was working in Israel to bring them to freedom and into their land. God was at work in Elijah and Elisha in their prophetic ministry. God was at work in Jesus in his ministry beginning in his baptism at the Jordan, and God is at work in our ministry as we are joined to Christ and to all the people of God in our baptism. May God guide your ministry today.

Blessings,
Sam


2 Kings 2:1-8
Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent.”

4Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here; for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. 5The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know; be silent.” 6Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on.

7Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.