Those were days of unprecedented happenings, when God dealt with the nation of Israel through His prophets and their performed miracles. We see this in the lives of Elijah and Elisha. Like no others, these were both actively involved in the lives of people. However, Elijah was a prophet of judgment; he shut the heaven and stopped the rain for three and a half years; he brought down fire and on Ahab’s soldiers. He is more like John the Baptist, a loner; Elisha, a prophet of mercy. A prophet that mingled with the people. His ministry parallels that of our Savior, YAHSHUA. Elisha’s name means God’s salvation; YAHSHUA’s name YAHWEH will save. Elisha’s ministry started in the Jordan River, after Elijah is translated to heaven. He takes his mantle and parts the Jordan’s water; YAHSHUA started His ministry after being baptized in the Jordan River. They both raised a woman’s son from the dead; both fed the multitude with small resource, with food leftover. Elisha’s bones brought life to a dead man, after his body touched his bones. YAHSHUA resurrection brought many to life, when the earth shook, the rocks were split, the tombs were opened and many bodies of the saints were raised to life (Matt. 27:51-52).
Elisha was a disciple of Elijah and his successor, as Joshua was to Moses and succeeded him after Moses’ death, to continue leading the Israelites to the Promised Land. Following his master to the place where he was to be translated, Elisha asked him for a double portion of his anointing, to which Elijah said, You have asked a hard thing. However, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you (II Kings 2:9-10). Elisha saw Elijah’s departure to heaven in a chariot of fire and horses of fire, as he went up by a whirlwind into heaven. He threw his mantle to Elisha, confirming the double portion of his anointing. Elisha, then took the mantle and parted the waters of the Jordan River. Elisha, when called to the ministry, left everything behind, including his career to follow Elijah. A young man from a well to do family, never looked back. To start with, he severed the links of his life style by slaughtering the oxen he was ploughing with at the time of the call, the wood he used as fire wood to cook the oxen for his friends and family, perhaps to say goodbye. Off he went to pursue his new career as a prophet. YAHSHUA said, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9: 62). Elisha mastered on this one. Still very young when called, he persisted to the end looking ahead, never backward. He was a hero of the faith in every sense of the word. “A man of whom the world was not worthy.”
Light from the Word 