Topic: Ministry of Elisha
The book of 2 Kings transitions from the ministry of Elijah to the ministry of Elisha.
Elijah was divinely directed by God to seek his successor, and Elijah found Elisha out in a field plowing on his father’s farm. Elijah placed his mantle (an outer garment, like a cloak) on Elisha’s shoulders, and Elisha apparently understood this symbolic act as being appointed to the role of a prophet.
Without hesitation Elisha accepted the call to service, leaving the comfort of his family and home to follow a less predictable life that would require personal sacrifice (1 Kings 19:19-21).
Elisha began his ministry as Elijah’s student and personal attendant. The young man would first prove himself faithful in small ways, such as the humble duty of pouring water on the hands of Elijah (2 Kings 3:11). Elisha’s training under Elijah would gradually prepare him for a work that he would one day take up alone.
In some regards, the ministry of Elisha the prophet was different from that of Elijah. Elijah was commissioned to deliver fearless messages of condemnation and judgment to the king and to the people warning them to turn from sin. Elisha’s ministry was to build on the work that Elijah had begun by teaching the people God’s ways. Throughout his long and effective years of labor, Elisha continued to advance the important spiritual education that was so needed at the schools of the prophets. Commenting on the schools of the prophets, Albert Barnes wrote it signifies “the schools or colleges of prophets which existed in several of the Israelite, and probably of the Jewish, towns, where young men were regularly educated for the prophetical office. These ‘schools’ make their first appearance under the prophet Samuel 1 Samuel 19:20.”
In all the service and miracles performed by Elisha the prophet, whether it was in response to sickness, death, financial need, hunger or to give wise counsel to kings, something to note is that God didn’t prevent problems and trials in the lives of His people.
Instead, God used these occasions to increase their faith and trust in Him. God often allows problems and trials for our learning, for our experience and for our spiritual growth.
When we remember these events, we can draw strength from them and understand that God is willing and able to help us with what we need when we need it (2 Corinthians 9:8). We can learn that He expects us to keep all of His commandments if we are to boldly come before Him in times of need (John 14:12-15; Hebrews 4:14-16). And we can grow to believe that those who trust in God are to live by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Elisha’s lifework was in educating people about keeping God’s requirements and His blessings for living in faith. His message is just as important for us today as we seek to draw close to and become more like the God who worked through Elisha. We must pray for God’s Spirit to anoint us as Elisha did.
See you Sunday,
Dr. Scott Kallem