Where Is the God of Elijah?
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.. (2 Kings 2:14-15)
I. IMMEDIATE CONTEXT (2 KINGS 2)
A. Elijah is to be taken up by the whirlwind of the Lord
1. Elijah will be taken up – This chapter initiates the final prophetic season of Elijah’s life on the earth. The Scripture
begins by declaring that the time has come for Elijah to be taken up. The concept of being taken up carries the
connotation of being raised, led up, offered up and carried away. This root verb word is frequently used in the Hebrew
Scripture (i.e. about 888 times). According to the biblical account, God took only two human beings throughout
redemptive history without actually experiencing death— Enoch and Elijah (Gen. 5:22 and 2 Kings 2:11).
2. Whirlwind of the Lord – This Hebrew word “whirlwind” was used about 24 times in the Old Testament, and it was
mostly translated as “whirlwind” in the English Bibles. However, in a few occasions it was translated as “tempest” or
“stormy wind”. The Hebrew word “whirlwind” means violent, stormy, tempest-moving air or wind. It does not necessitate
being in the form of a swirl. Elijah was taken up by fiery chariots of Israel in a whirlwind to Heaven.
B. Elijah and Elisha journey from Gilgal (2 Kings 2:1b)
1. The Lord sent Elijah from Gilgal to Bethel – Elijah encouraged Elisha to remain and be separated from him as the
Lord has called him to travel to Bethel from Gilgal. By now Elisha had served Elijah for many years .
2. Elijah pleaded with Elisha to be stay in Gilgal – Apparently Elijah knew he was going to be taken up to Heaven that
day and requested Elisha not to follow him. Elijah also intended to release Elisha from his duty as a servant. However,
Elisha went with Elijah all the way.
3. Gilgal (Cross-road) – Gilgal means "This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you ." According
to the Septuagint, Gilgal was one of the Holy sites. It was in Gilgal where the Israelites made their first camp after crossing
the river of Jordan. It was in Gilgal where the Israelites celebrated Passover and the manna from Heaven ceased. It also
became a military command post during Joshua’s initial conquest of the land. It was in Gilgal that King Saul was crowned
but later lost His throne due to his disobedience. The people of Israel came out to Gilgal to receive King David as king
after his return from exile, which was caused by Absalom’s rebellion. Gilgal represent a place of major decision to obey
the Lord in fullness or to turn away to disobedience .
C. Elijah and Elisha journey to Bethel (2 Kings 2:2-3)
1. Bethel (Contending) – In Genesis 28, this geographical area is known as Luz. Jacob had a significant encounter with
God there while he was lying down to sleep. He called that place the “house of God” due to his encounter with “Jacob’s
ladder”. Bethel is the place he later wrestled with God, his hip was disjointed and Israel was given to him as his new name.
2. Sons of the prophets at Bethel – The sons of the prophets came out to receive Elijah and Elisha. The sons of the
prophets told Elisha the prophetic reality that his master would be taken away to Heaven that day. It is amazing to note
that there was a school of prophets at that point in time. These sons of prophets knew Elijah was to be taken up as
well as the timing.
D. Elijah and Elisha journey to Jericho (2 Kings 2:4-5)
1. The Lord sent Elijah from Bethel to Jericho – Elijah continued to travel in obedience to the Lord from Bethel to
Jericho. The sons of prophets also knew about the fact that Elijah was about to be taken up to Heaven. Elisha refused
to leave Elijah, and he asked the sons of the prophets in Jericho to be quiet about that fact.
2. Jericho (Conquest) – Jericho was near in proximity to Gilgal. It was the first Canaanite city that was conquered by
Joshua after the Israelites crossed over the Jordan. It was at Jericho that the Captain of the army of the Lord appeared
to Joshua. It was city built on the plain.
E. Elijah and Elisha journey to Jordan (2 Kings 2:6-8)
1. The Lord sent Elijah to the Jordan – This is the third time Elijah pleaded with Elisha not to follow him, but Elisha insisted
and followed Elijah all the way as long as he lived. This exemplified Elisha’s profound faithfulness. The sons of the
prophets did not follow Elijah and Elisha but stood at a distance to see them cross the Jordan River.
F. Elijah and Elisha cross over the Jordan (2 Kings 2:6-10)
1. Elijah and Elisha cross over the Jordan – Historically the Jordan-crossing was one of the most significant events
in Israel’s sacred history. Elijah rolled up his mantle and struck the water. Elijah and Elisha crossed the Jordan on dry
ground.
2. The mantle of Elijah – Elijah of Tishbite is a very unusual man of God. The characteristics of his life and ministry
were not common even among the Old Testament prophets. He was the only one who did not taste death before being
taken to Heaven. In Malachi 4, the Scripture prophesied Elijah’s return before the great Day of the Lord. Elijah’s mantle
signified his authority and anointing for his ministry. After his experience in solitude at Mount Horeb , where the voice of
the Lord commanded him to anoint Elisha of Shaphat at Abel Meholah as his successor, he obeyed the voice of the Lord
and found Elisha plowing with twelve yoke of oxen. Elijah threw his mantle onto Elisha, which was an act of anointing .
3. The water of the Jordan parted – The parting of the Jordan River and being able to cross it on dry ground (as
happened in Joshua 3:16) were supernatural events that signified God’s presence and power to fulfill His own word and
promise by covenant. The word of the Lord to Elijah was that he would be taken to Heaven that day by the whirlwind,
and his crossing to the east side of Jordan signified the completion of his earthly journey.
G. Elijah was taken by a whirlwind to Heaven (2 Kings 2:11-12)
1. Elisha requested for the double portion of the Spirit of Elijah – Elisha went through three rounds of testing of his
perseverance and faith in one day when he was exhorted by Elijah to leave him during his final journeys. After, Elisha
and Elijah crossed the Jordan miraculously, Elijah asked Elisha what he can do for Elisha before his departure. Without
a doubt, Elisha asked for the double portion of the Spirit of Elijah. Elisha has witnessed the life and ministry of Elijah
during his years of service and he has tremendous hunger and thirst to minister like Elijah and beyond.
2. Chariots and horsemen of fire- vaeê yseWsåw> ‘vae-bk,r<(.
Rekeb eesh which is the Hebrew transliteration for vae-bk,r<(. (((chariot of fire was found in at least 119 verses
of the Old Testament Scripture and are mostly translated into the English for chariot, wagon (Ezekiel 23:24) and
milestone (Judges 9:53). Wcuwceey eesh , the transliteration for vaeê yseWsåw> (horsemen of fire was used 139 times
in the Old Testament and was mostly translated as horse or horses except for Isaiah 38:14 where it was translated as
Crane. The root of this word carries the meaning of leaping like a horse or a crane. In conclusion, the chariots and
horsemen of fire that separate Elisha and Elijah and transported Elijah with whirlwind to heaven is a vehicle like wagon
or chariots that moves quickly upward is engulfed with fire and swirled by whirlwind.
3. Taken by the whirlwind - hr"Þ['S.B;( transliterated as bacaaraah describe very tempest and violent wind.
H. Elisha receives the mantle of Elijah (2 Kings 2:13-14a)
1. Elisha receives the mantle of Elijah – This is the second time the mantle of Elijah falls on Elisha. Elisha did not hesitate
to tare his own clothes when he was awestruck when he witnessed Elijah’s being taken by the fiery chariots and horsemen
in the whirlwind to Heaven. He did not hesitate to take on the mantle of Elijah as he knew that it was an answer to his
final request about receiving the double portion of the Spirit of Elijah. Even the sons of prophets in Jericho recognized
the Spirit of Elijah had fallen upon Elisha when they saw the mantle of Elijah on Elisha.
II. EXEGETICAL STUDY (2 KINGS 2:14-15)
A. OUTLINE OF 2 KINGS 2:14-15
1. Elisha took the mantle of Elijah (v. 14a)
2. Elisha struck the Jordan River the first time (v.14b)
3. Where is the God of Elijah? (v.14c)
4. Elisha struck the river of Jordan the second time and Elisha crossed over (v.14d)
5. The sons of the prophets witnessed the Spirit of Elijah falling on Elisha (v.15)
B. Elisha picked up the mantle of Elijah which fell from Heaven (v. 14a)
Elisha clearly acted in faith as he knew that Elijah’s promise to him was fulfilled when he witnessed the ascension of Elijah by
the whirlwind of God.
C. Elisha used the mantle of Elijah (v.14b)
Picking up the mantle by faith was a key step to operating in the anointing of Elijah. However, to release the anointing
that came with receiving the mantle, Elisha needed to exercise his faith further by using it as he saw Elijah did. He struck
the water of the river of Jordan as Elijah did.
D. Where is the God of Elijah? (v.14c)
The Scripture recorded in this verse that the water of the Jordan did not part when Elisha did it the first time, and Elisha
exclaimed, “Where is the God of Elijah?” He recognized that the Spirit of God was upon Elijah for him to operate in his
anointing as a prophet, but the same anointing seemed to be missing when he attempted to carry out the same ministry
with the same mantle.
E. Perseverance in using the mantle of Elijah (v. 14d)
Elisha clearly knew that he had received his request for the double measure of the Spirit of Elijah, thus he persevered
in pressing into using the mantle of Elijah again as if it was now his own mantle.
F. Releasing the miracles of God under the anointing (v. 14d)
On the second attempt, the water of the Jordan River parted and Elisha crossed over to the west side of the Jordan on dry
ground. A miracle of God was released through the mantle of Elisha. The Scripture went on to document the extent of
Elisha’s ministry having a double portion of the miracles that Elijah perform. Indeed God answered Elisha’s prayer and
honored his faithfulness.
G. Spiritual authority that comes by the anointed mantle
Elisha performed a tangible miracle by parting the water of the Jordan River, the third time in Israel’s sacred history.
The sons of the prophets in Jericho recognized the spiritual authority that now rested upon the Prophet Elisha, and
they bow down to pay honor him.