Mon.’s Devo - Elijah to Elisha

Read: 2 Kings 1:1-2:25; Acts 13:42-14:7; Psalm 139:1-24; Proverbs 17:19-21 King Ahab died and his son, Ahaziah became king. Ahaziah fell through the latticework of an upper room in his palace and was badly hurt. He sent messengers to the temple of Baal-zebub in Ekron asking if he would recover. Ekron was in Philistine land and Baal-zebub was one of their gods. Elijah met the messengers and asked them why the king of Israel would go to another nation to ask their god if he was going to recover instead of asking the God of his own nation. He sent them back to the king and told him that because he did this he would die. The messengers went back and told them what Elijah had said. He was so mad he sent 50 of his men to get Elijah. The 50 men found Elijah on a hill and told him that the king demanded that he come with them. Elijah called down fire from heaven and it consumed them. The king sent another 50 and the same thing happened. When he sent he next 50, the captain fell on his knees humbly before Elijah and begged for his life. God told Elijah to go with this man. He went to see the king and told him he would die because he consulted a Baal instead of God. Ahaziah died and had no son to take his place so his brother, Joram became the next king. It was time for God to take Elijah to heaven in a whirlwind and Elisha knew it. He traveled with Elijah and when Elijah tried to get him to stay in Gilgal while he went to Bethel, Elisha would not leave him. There were a group of the prophets in Bethel who also knew that. Elijah went next to Jericho and then to the Jordan River. Fifty of the prophets followed at a distance to watch. When Elijah had crossed the Jordan, he asked Elisha what he wanted from him. Elisha said he wanted a double portion of Elijah’s spirit to fall on him. Elijah told him if he saw him leave he would get his request. As they were walking a chariot of fire drawn by horses of fire came down between them and picked up Elijah and took him to heaven. His cloak was left so Elisha picked it up. He went to the Jordan and struck it with Elijah’s cloak and asked where the Lord, the God of Elijah was. The river divided and Elisha went across. The prophets saw it and knew that Elijah’s spirit now rested upon Elisha. They talked him into letting them search for Elijah’s body for three days but didn’t find it. A while later, citizens from Jericho visited Elisha and told him that the water was bad and causing the women to be infertile. Elisha put salt in the water and it was made pure. Elisha left Jericho and went up to Bethel and some the boys from the town mocked him calling him baldy. Elisha cursed them and two bears came out and mauled 42 of them. Elisha then went to Mt. Carmel and then to Samaria. He was retracing Elijah’s last steps of his life. In Acts we see the vicious hatred of religion. The people of Antioch and Iconium were hungry for truth, but the religious and elites were threatened by their popularity and power. They slandered them and ended up throwing them out of their towns. But the people were filled with the Holy Spirit and joy over hearing the Good News of Jesus Christ. This is such a picture of what is happening in our world right now. Truth is being slandered and called a “conspiracy theory” while lies are being told as truth. The people are waking up, but he religious and elites are fighting to hold their power over us. The truth will set us free. Jesus is the Host of the Army of the Lord and he is fighting for truth. Lord, we trust in You! We pray for a double portion of the spirit of Christ to be in your body. We will not be afraid.