2 Kings 2:1-12Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is 2 Kings 2:1-12. Let’s go!
2 Kings 2:1-2 (NIV)
1 When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.
2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the LORD has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.
On verses 1-2, 4, 6: Elijah and Elisha both know that the Lord is going to take Elijah back to heaven that day. Elijah gives Elisha three different opportunities to say goodbye and leave, but Elisha refuses to leave, each time replying, “As surely as the Lord lives, I will not leave you.” (v2, 4, 6)
What can we learn from this? Over the years I have had the privilege of watching some very good leaders mentor and disciple younger leaders. I myself have also had the opportunity to mentor and disciple younger leaders. I find that the best disciples or “mentees” have some key characteristics in common. In 2 Kings 2:1-12 we see six of these key characteristics in Elijah’s disciple Elisha.
We learn the first key characteristic from verses 1-2: The best disciples treasure the time they get with their discipler. The best disciples make spending time with their discipler a priority, even if it means setting aside other things. The best disciples make themselves available to meet with their discipler and schedule themselves around their discipler’s schedule. In contrast, if a person is not willing to go out of their way to meet with you, then they’re probably not that serious about learning from you and you should think twice about discipling them closely.
2 Kings 2:3 (NIV)
3 The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “but do not speak of it.”
On verses 3, 5: Twice the company of prophets (which was the group that Elijah led and that Elisha also belonged to) wanted to talk about how Elijah was leaving that day. Every time the company of prophets would casually try to talk with Elisha about how their discipler Elijah was leaving that day, Elisha would reply, “Yes, I know, so be quiet.” (v3, 5) Why would Elisha respond that way? I believe the reason is this: Elijah’s departure was painful and hard to talk about for Elisha. He just wanted to spend as much time with his discipler as you could before he left. Whereas the company of prophets just wanted to talk about Elijah, Elisha’s heart was so sad at Elijah’s impending departure that he couldn’t really talk about it.
What can we learn from this? The best disciples genuinely care for their discipler. When you dedicate your life to leading and helping others, you will inevitably meet some people who just want to take from you or talk about you to others. But by God’s grace you will also meet some people who genuinely care about you. The ones who genuinely care about you often make the best students and disciples. They’re the ones who will voluntarily follow you the most closely, protect you the most fiercely and care for you most personally.
2 Kings 2:7-8 (NIV)
7 Fifty men of the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan.
8 Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
On verses 7-8: Elijah takes his cloak, rolls it up, and strikes the Jordan River so that both Elijah and Elisha can walk across it. Meanwhile, the 50 other prophets stand at a distance and watch.
What can we learn from this? The best disciples stick close to their discipler. They’re loyal and willing to go the distance with and for their leader. Whereas others will follow you for a little while before they stop and say, “That’s as far as I’ll go in following him”, the best disciples stick around through thick and thin. And because they stick around and follow closely, the best disciples get to experience miracles up close that the average disciples will only see and hear about from a distance.
2 Kings 2:9-10 (NIV)
9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.
10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours–otherwise not.”
On verses 9-10: When Elijah asks Elisha if he has any final requests, Elisha says, “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit”. What does that mean? It means that Elisha treasures the anointing on Elijah’s life, including Elijah’s giftings, power, ability, wisdom, heart and character.
What can we learn from this? The best disciples are hungry and teachable. They’ve got a similar heart and value system as you. So you don’t need to push them and prod them too much because they’re self-motivated. They see in their discipler something worth learning and imitating. They are eager to learn as much as possible from their discipler. They appreciate the good attributes of their discipler and strive to emulate those same qualities.
2 Kings 2:11-12a (NIV)
11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.
12 Elisha saw this…
On verses 11-12a: In what is possibly the coolest exit in all the Bible, Elijah is taken up to heaven in a whirlwind with a horse-drawn chariot of fire leading the way. Elisha is able to see this, which is significant because whether or not Elisha would inherit a double portion of Elijah’s spirit depended on him being able to see Elijah when Elijah departs (see v10).
What can we learn from this? Just as Elisha was able to catch Elijah departing in a whirlwind, the best disciples are fast learners. They “get it” quickly. They’re not stuck on the same struggles all the time, but they develop and mature quickly.
2 Kings 2:12 (NIV)
12 Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart.
On verse 12: Elisha then cries out, “My father! My father!”, referring to Elijah as his spiritual father. When Elisha says “The chariots and horsemen of Israel!”, Elisha is probably saying that in his eyes, Elijah and his ministry represented Israel’s true might, strength and protection. Seeing Elijah no more, Elisha tears his clothes in mourning.
What can we learn from this? The best disciples deeply appreciate what their discipler has done for them. They see their discipler as more than a friend or a teacher or just another leader, but a spiritual parent in their lives. For some people, you can give the very best you have to them and they won’t appreciate it. They might look down on it, reject it or take it for granted. But for the best disciples, they treasure even the littlest thing that you do for them.
May you and I be excellent disciples for God’s glory.
Heavenly Father, thank You for showing us through Elisha’s example what an excellent disciple looks like. I pray that all of us reading this GAME sharing today would be excellent disciples who exemplify these six traits and as a result become the leaders You made them to be. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
