Elisha: Focused Sight
There comes a point in life when people find themselves at a crossroad. This crossroad is unlike any other crossroad you may face, because this particular crossroad will change the course of your life forever. And if you find yourself in this position, like Elisha, focused sight will help you choose the path to take. For in this place, you must have the foresight to see the final destination of each choice you are being presented with.
1. The Call
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
Psalm 139:16
Elisha was happily minding his own business, living his life, when the call came.
So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him.
1 Kings 19:19
The Lord had instructed Elijah to anoint Elisha as his successor (1 Kings 18:16). Elisha was not aware of this. But the moment the cloak was thrown on him, he had a decision to make. Agree with God and forge a new unknown path or remain with the familiar. What did Elisha do?
Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother good-bye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.”
“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”
So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the ploughing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.
1 Kings 19:20-21
The Hebrew word used for attendant in this mirror is Sharath which means to minister, to serve, to minister to.
In other words, Elisha kissed the life he knew goodbye and literally became Elijah’s servant.
[…] Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.”
2 Kings 3:11
Question:
What would make someone leave everything they own and know, only to become a servant?
Answer: Someone who sees the end from the beginning.
2. Preparation Meets Opportunity
Elisha sat under the mentorship of Elijah in preparation for the position God had anointed him. The time had now come for him to step into this role, but it was not easy.
When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.
2 Kings 2:1
From this point forward, Elisha would meet challenges/ opposition with each step he would take.
a) Stay Here
Three times, Elijah told Elisha, “Stay here.” Three times Elisha responded, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.”
Each time he responded that way, they progressed to the next location.
b) Voices
Each time they moved from Gilgal to Bethel, Jericho and eventually to Jordan, a company of prophets would appear to Elisha to tell him, “Do you know that the LORD is going to take you master from you today?”
And each instance, Elisha would reply, “Yes, I know, but do not speak of it.”
Elisha was aware of the circumstances surrounding him, but he did not allow his reality to distract him. He kept his focus.
Finally, after overcoming these hurdles, the opportunity Elisha had been waiting for presented itself.
When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”[…]
2 Kings 2:9
Elisha’s response, in word and in deed, lets us know he was well prepared for this opportunity.
[…] “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.
“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.”
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. Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more[..]
2 Kings 2:10-12
In spite of the “fanfare” surrounding his departure, Elisha’s eyes remained focused on Elisha and he received what he saw when he left his old way of life.
3. The Cloak
[…] Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart. He picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah […] The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” […]
2 Kings 2:13-15
The cloak that was used to anoint him, now belonged to him. Not only did it belong to him, but it was evident that he was walking in a double portion of Elijah’s anointing.
Elisha arose to his position as the prophet of God. He stepped in fully committed and was used to do great works, even after he had passed on.
Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet.
2 Kings 13:21
4. Seeing Beyond the Opposition
As we have seen so far in this series, opposition and living out God’s vision go hand in hand. And so it was with Elisha.
Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel[…] So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places. This enraged the king of Aram […] When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city[…] “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw hills full of horses and chariots of fire all round Elisha.
2 Kings 6: 8-17
Elisha’s ability to see beyond the reality, saved his life, in the midst of fierce opposition.
Your Turn
A lot can be said of Elisha. The great works the Lord accomplished through him are recorded in the book of 2 Kings.
Like Elisha, are you focused?
Are you able to see beyond today’s realities and tomorrow’s fears?
Do you go for what you know is yours, no matter the cost to yourself?
Do you get distracted by position, power and the opinions of others? Or do you silence them and stay on the course?
What do you see?