Continuation is the proof of genuineness. Elisha came to the Jordan as a learner. He left it as a leader. The Spirit led him through the places visited with Elijah, only in reverse order. His ministry was just beginning. A new work is often confirmed by miracles which eventually cease, e.g. Moses, and the early church. This was the case with Elisha. With Elijah gone, Elisha serves in the power of the Spirit. Similarly, we witness the believers in the Acts serving in the power of the Holy Spirit in their Master’s absence, hence the "Acts of the Apostles" or, the "Acts of the Holy Spirit". Like Elisha, the apostles had witnessed the ascending of a man into heaven, and the descent of the Spirit. Of Elisha it is said, "And he saw him (Elijah) no more". Of Paul and the apostles it is said, "Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh; yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh…yet now henceforth know we him no more" (2 Cor 5.16).
Elisha witnessed the descent of the mantle from an ascended Elijah. The disciples witnessed the descent of the Spirit at Pentecost from an ascended Lord. The symbolism was different, however; not now a mantle but the sound of a mighty rushing wind and cloven tongues of fire.
At the Jordan
Elisha rends his clothes in two and reaches out for Elijah’s mantle. Paul exhorts believers to "put off", like a garment, the old man and to "put on" the new man (Eph 4.22,24; Col 3.8,10). The tense indicates a once for all action in the good of which we live thereafter.
Elisha then strikes the waters of the Jordan with the mantle. He has to pass through the Jordan on dry ground to take up his ministry. We, too, serve on the other side of death. "Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him" (Rom 6.8). "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed into sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom 6.11). This experience was ours at conversion but is illustrated in our baptism.
We are to walk in newness of life. A new day was dawning as Elisha succeeded Elijah. Elijah, strengthened of the Lord, would call down fire from heaven, but his successor Elisha has a name meaning "God is Saviour". The law and its judgment are replaced by salvation. Elisha acts in grace rather than judgment (with three exceptions). Elijah was the lone man, but Elisha mixed with the people of his day. A similar contrast is seen between John the Baptist and the Saviour.
The sons of the prophets knew and told Elisha of Elijah’s impending departure. Yet, after viewing the last hours of Elijah’s life from a distance, they spent three days fruitlessly searching for his body! The disciples, similarly, knew that Christ would suffer, die, and return to His Father. Yet Mark tells us of the disbelief and Luke the forgetfulness of His followers in relation to events after His death (Mk 16.11).
Elisha cried, "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?". The emulating of Elijah’s actions convinced the sons of the prophets that Elisha was the firstborn with the double portion: "The Spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha". They looked on a man on earth and they saw the spirit and character of a man in heaven. The world saw this in Acts as the believers served their risen, ascended Lord. Is it still seen in us today? The church today is described in Hebrews 12.23 as "the church of the firstborn". We know the double portion of the firstborn, and serve in the power of an ascended Christ and a descended Comforter, the Holy Spirit.
At Jericho
Jericho pictures this world under a curse. Three things are highlighted: the pleasantness of its situation, the bitterness of its spring, and the barrenness of its soil. True, the world is attractive, but it is marked by death (the poisonous spring) and dearth (the poisoned soil). The world is poisoned at its source and is totally unfruitful for God.
The answer is provided by the Lord’s servant. He requires "a new cruse". The old will not do. Scripture makes it clear that the old and the new do not mix (Mt 9.16-17). Judaism and Christianity are distinct. God is doing a new work today. Elisha went to the source of the problem and "cast the salt in there". But it was not the salt that neutralized the poison for, "Thus saith the Lord, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land" (3.21). The poison of sin and resultant death can only be dealt with by the Lord. We may preach the gospel, but it is God who gives the increase.
At Bethel
Elisha, in his service, learns that he will not be accepted everywhere, but also that those who mock the servant of the Lord and slight the grace of God will be judged ultimately. Bethel and Dan were the centres of worship of the golden calf, counterfeiting the genuine. Bethel was marked by apostasy. The indifference of an older generation to the Lord’s servant and his ministry is replaced by the blasphemy and intolerance of the rising generation. They mock the servant, they mock the ascension of his master, and they make sport of the ministry of grace. How like those of Christendom today! They gather strength from numbers to taunt the servant and ridicule his message (note that "little children" is better translated "youths", embracing teens and twenties).
God often acts in judgment at the inception of a new work. At the start of the Tabernacle ministry, Nadab and Abihu were judged (Lev 10.1-2). Here, the youths of Bethel are mauled by bears. Forty-two of them would bear the marks of judgment at the commencement of Elisha’s service.
At Gilgal
This is the scene of two miracles involving the man of God.
(i) The Ministry of the Prophet (4.38-41)
The Famine (v.38a). It would appear that the sons of the prophets were incapable of feeding themselves during times of famine. They were overly dependent on the servant of the Lord. While we should be grateful for those raised up and gifted of God to teach the Scriptures, this gives us no excuse for not feeding ourselves on the Word of God. A second-hand supply is no substitute for personal Bible study.
The Faith (v.38b). Elisha "set on the great pot". Reason would suggest a smaller pot when there is a dearth. Faith soars and recognizes a great God and great resources.
The Field (v.39). Nothing derived from the "field", i.e. the world, can satisfy a believer’s hunger. We need wholesome, healthy food. The motive of one of the sons of the prophets might have been sincere, but his inability to discern between the poisonous and the nutritious made him gullible. Even the youngest believer should be able to discern error due to the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit (see 1 Jn 2.27).
The Food (v.40). This was poisoned pottage. At Colosse, poisons are listed that would cause spiritual ill-health – philosophy, legalism, mysticism, and gnosticism (ch.2). Paul countered this "death in the pot" with a ministry of Christ – "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead, bodily" (Col 2.9).
The Flour (v.41). The meal, as in the offerings, speaks of Christ. He is the antidote to the venom or poison of false doctrine.
(ii) The Ministry of Providence (4.42-44)
What was brought? (v.42) – A freewill or gift offering. The twenty barley loaves speak of Christ in His humiliation. As the barley harvest preceded the wheat harvest so Christ’s humiliation preceded His exaltation. The ears of grain, i.e. full ears of corn, would remind us of the old corn of the land and speak of Christ’s resurrection - life and ministry.
What was thought? (v.43) – "What, should I set this before an hundred men?". The same sort of reaction was recorded when the five barley loaves and two small fish were presented to Christ by Andrew: "What are these among so many?" (Jn 6.9). Yet Christ fed 5,000 beside women and children, and there were twelve baskets remaining!
What was wrought? (v.44) - Full satisfaction. The one hundred were fed and there was food left over. There was sufficient and to spare. Notice, "…thus saith the Lord" (v.43), and "According to the word of the Lord" (v.44). When we have a "Thus saith the Lord" the people will be fed. The Lord is able to multiply the seemingly little, and provide wholesome food for the believer. We will never exhaust the supply of God. May God inspire us to make sure, Gideon-like, that our souls are fed on the finest of the wheat.
Concluded.
