The One Who Stays
I was getting Sunday school lessons ready for the kids during our chapel services in Guantanamo Bay, and one of the lessons coming up was about Elijah being carried off in the whirlwind. I skimmed over it, but got caught up in the story so I kept reading on to the next section about Elisha taking over after Elijah was gone.
Elisha had already been appointed as Elijah’s successor, and had spent some time following him and learning from him—very similar to the disciples following Jesus (You can read the account of Elisha’s appointment in 1 Kings 19:19-21). Then the time comes for Elijah to leave. Elijah and Elisha travel to several different towns, seemingly just waiting for God to come get Elijah. While they’re in Jericho, the sons of the prophets there come up and ask Elisha if he knows that his master-friend is being taken from him on this day; his response is, “Yes, I know. Be quiet.” Almost as if he’s saying, “Yes, I know, and I’m dreading it and don’t want to talk about it. Leave me alone.” I don’t know about you, but I can relate to that feeling.
After all the crazy of the chariots of fire and the whirlwind and Elijah is gone—can you even imagine witnessing something like that? Wow.
Elisha did, and afterwards, he takes his own clothes and tears them in two. At first glance this seemed almost like mourning to me; in the story of Scripture, this is a common response when something devastating happens. But, if we keep reading, we see that Elisha then goes and takes up Elijah’s mantle, just a cloak worn for covering and warmth, seemingly without thinking too hard about what he’s doing, and asks, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” Sort of less like Elisha’s mourning and more like he’s thinking, “Ok, let’s see how this is going to go.”
What happens next is the best part. It’s as if God raises His hand and says, “Right here, Elisha. I’m right here.” Because earlier that day (or week, or whatever the time span was), when Elisha and Elijah were traveling from town to town, they needed to cross the Jordan River. Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and whacked the river; it parted and the two men crossed over on dry ground. What does Elisha do after Elijah is gone? He picks up Elijah’s mantle, rolls it up, and whacks the water himself, almost just to test things out. And God parts the water for Elisha, just as He did for Elijah, reminding him of His constant, faithful presence. “I’m right here, Elisha. Right here. That Spirit of mine that I gave to your friend? It’s yours, too.”
I think there are a couple big things that strike me about this.
First, God is still here. You might be the one staying behind, but you’re not left here alone.
Even though life changes, He remains. Constant, faithful, trustworthy, ready to give us Himself.
His mercies never end; they’re new every morning—great is His faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-24).
Secondly, sometimes God may move people so He can do a specific work in and through you. His plan for us is for our good. He’s writing a story; He sees the end of every scene, and when we ask for eyes to see our lives though His faithfulness and love for us, it will be a lot easier for us to make sense of it, too.
Have you ever been the one who’s been left behind, watching people you love move on to an exciting new adventure, seeing the hole that they’ll leave? How could God use you in that place?
