Phillip Raimo

Jul 26, 20234 min read

ELISHA CROSSES THE RIVER

RECAP:

The Still Small Voice 1 Kings 19:1-18

Elijah Chooses Elisha 1 Kings 19:19-21

Elijah is Taken to Heaven 2 Kings 2:1-11

Elisha Crosses the River 2 Kings 2:13-15

Remember last week? Elijah put his cloak, or mantle on Elisha, which showed Elisha that he was God’s choice to follow Elijah as a prophet.

When Elijah was taken to heaven, Elisha had to trust in

the Lord and walk by faith.

WHAT IS FAITH?

THE BIBLE SAYS FAITH IS

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Mat 17:20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,' and it will move; nothing will be impossible for you.

SO JUST LIKE ELISHA, WE HAVE TO LEARN TO WALK BY FAITH.

HOW DO WE GET FAITH?

Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

God has a plan for your life.

In last week’s lesson, God caught Elijah up into heaven to be with Him.

Elisha, who had served Elijah, his mentor, for many years, was now left alone.

The responsibility of leadership as a prophet to God’s people will be upon Elisha.

As you grow up and learn about the Lord, it is good to have a

person to help you learn about the ways of the Lord.

Someone you can count on and pray with, someone you can tell your secrets to.

2 Kings 2:13-15

13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the LORD God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over. 15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.

PRAY

13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan.

Elijah had dropped his prophet’s mantle in front of Elisha to

signify that Elisha was God’s choice to replace him.

Elisha picked it up, accepting the responsibility before him and showing his willingness to follow God and lead the people.

He then went back to the river, not sure of what to do or where God was leading him next.

THE BIBLE DOES NOT SAY WHAT ELISHA DID BY THE RIVER JORDAN BUT I BELIEVE HE PRAYED TO THE LORD AND ASKED FOR GUIDANCE AND HELP.

PRAYER IS GOOD TO DO WHEN YOU NEED HELP.

Psalm 121:1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the LORD,

Who made heaven and earth.

14 Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the LORD God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.

ELISHA HIT THE WATER WITH THE MANTLE OF ELIJAH AND ASK THE QUESTION,

WHERE IS THE GOD OF ELIJAH?

ELISHA IS NOT DOUBTING THAT HE HAD THE DOUBLE PORTION OF GOD’S POWER.

WHAT HE IS DOING IS SAYING WHERE IS GOD?

YOU MAY BE TOO YOUNG BUT WHEN WE LOOK AROUND THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF EVIL IN THE WORLD.

THEN HE HIT THE WATER AGAIN AND IT WAS DIVIDED.

WHEN WAS ANOTHER TIME GOD USED A PERSON TO DIVIDE WATER?

AFTER THE WATER WAS DIVIDED ELISHA WALKED ACROSS THE JORDAN

15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.

THE SONS OF THE PROPHETS WHO WERE IN JERICHO SAW THE SPIRIT OF GOD ON ELISHA AND THEY RAN OUT TO MEET HIM.

And they came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. 16 Then they said to him, “Look now, there are fifty strong men with your servants. Please let them go and search for your master, lest perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has taken him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley.”

And he said, “You shall not send anyone.”

17 But when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, “Send them!” Therefore, they sent fifty men, and they searched for three days but did not find him. 18 And when they came back to him, for he had stayed in Jericho, he said to them, “Did I not say to you, ‘Do not go’?”