Wed.’s Devo - From Elijah to Elisha

Read: 2 Kings 1:1-2:25; Acts 13:42-14:7; Psalm 139:1-24; Proverbs 17:19-21
Ahab’s successor, Ahaziah fell through the second story of his house and was badly hurt. He sent his officers to ask Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron if he would recover. The angel of the Lord told Elijah to go and meet the messengers and ask them why they were going to some fake god in Ekron if there wasn’t a god in Israel. Because the king consulted Baal instead of him, he would not recover but, he would die. They went back and told the king and described the prophet. He knew it was Elijah so he sent an officer with his 50 men to go get Elijah. Elijah called down fire on them. He did it to the next 50. The third group was led by a wise and humble officer. He begged Elijah to save his life so the angel of the Lord told him to go with this man. Elijah went and told the king the same thing he had already said three times before. Ahaziah died according to God’s word and had no son so Joram, his brother, ruled in his stead. Jehoram was made king over Judah.
It was time for Elijah to be taken to God and Elisha and all the prophets knew it. They all followed Elijah around that day but, only Elisha walked with him. Elijah walked from Gilgal which means “a wheel”. Next he went to Bethel which means “the house of God”. Then he went to Jericho “place of fragrance” and lastly to the Jordan which means “their descent”. When he got to the Jordan, he rolled up his coat and struck it and it parted so they could walk across. Elijah walked over 20 miles that day. Right before he left, he asked Elisha, who had been trailing him the whole day, what he wanted from him. Elisha said he wanted a double portion of the spirit that he had. Elijah told him it wasn’t his to give but if he saw him leave, it would be God’s “yes”. A chariot of fire and horses came down from heaven and set down right between Elijah and Elisha and took Elijah up in a whirlwind. Elisha saw it so he praised God and picked up Elijah’s mantle. He struck the water with it and the water parted so he could walk across. He retraced Elijah’s steps bringing life to the land that had been cursed and cursing boys that tried to curse him. He went straight to Mt. Carmel, where Elijah had defeated the prophets of Baal.
In Acts, the Gentiles were so hungry, they asked them to come back the next sabbath and teach them again about Jesus. The apostles explained to the people that the Jews had rejected Jesus, so God was turning his attention to the Gentiles who were hungry for him. Some of the “religious” Jews raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and cast them out of their cities. They left there for Iconium and the same thing happened. Their reaction to persecution was commendable: they were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. They refused to become victums, but counted it a privilege to suffer for Christ.
Lord, may we be like the early disciples who lived to give you honor.