Transformational Relationships

Just before GOD took Elijah to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on a walk out of Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here. GOD has sent me on an errand to Bethel."

Elisha said, "Not on your life! I'm not letting you out of my sight!" So they both went to Bethel. The guild of prophets at Bethel met Elisha and said, "Did you know that GOD is going to take your master away from you today?" "Yes," he said, "I know it. But keep it quiet."

 

Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here. GOD has sent me on an errand to Jericho." Elisha said, "Not on your life! I'm not letting you out of my sight!" So they both went to Jericho.

The guild of prophets at Jericho came to Elisha and said, "Did you know that GOD is going to take your master away from you today?" "Yes," he said, "I know it. But keep it quiet."

Then Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here. GOD has sent me on an errand to the Jordan." Elisha said, "Not on your life! !'m not letting you out of my sight!" And so the two of them went their way together.

2 Kings 2:1-6 The Message.

 

When they reached the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, "What can I do for you before I'm taken from you? Ask anything."

Elisha said, "Your life repeated in my life. I want to be a holy man just like you." "That's a hard one!" said Elijah. "But if you're watching when I'm taken from you, you'll get what you've asked for.

But only if you're watching." 2 Kings 2:9-10 The Message.

 

And so it happened. They were walking along and talking. Suddenly a chariot and horses of fire came between them and Elijah went up in a whirlwind to heaven. Elisha saw it all and shouted, "My father, my father! You - the chariot and cavalry of Israel!" When he could no longer see anything, he grabbed his robe and ripped it to pieces. Then he picked up Elijah's cloak that had fallen from him, returned to the shore of the Jordan, and stood there. He took Elijah's cloak - all that was left of Elijah! - and hit the river with it, saying, "Now where is the GOD of Elijah! Where is he?" When he struck the water, the river divided and Elisha walked through. 2 Kings 2:11-14 The Message.

 

Elisha pathetically laments the loss of that great prophet. He rent his own clothes, in token of the sense he had of his own and the public loss. Though Elijah's departure made way for Elisha's eminency, yet he lamented the loss of him, for he loved him, and could have served him forever. He gave him a honourable character. He himself had lost the guide of his youth: "My father, my father."

While Joshua had Moses, Samuel had Eli, and Elisha and Elijah; we live in a day and age where discipleship is shallow and misunderstood; and shepherding is loose and takes the form of protocol.

 

The LORD is my shepherd,

Sv