God, also for the successor

2 Ki. 2

Elijah had been taken up into heaven. As he was taken up, his mantle fell down and was picked up by Elisha, his servant and successor. Elisha, using the mantle, struck the water of the Jordan and said, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” (2 Ki. 2:14). The Jordan parted and Elisha went over.

Not only was the Jordan struck, I was also struck by what Elisha did.

Elijah was a great prophet of the LORD, and a jealous one (1 Ki. 19:10). He suffered, but also did great wonders for the LORD and was respected (more of fear) by the kings of Israel and Judah. But he was taken up into heaven. The only thing left of him was his mantle that had fallen.

I wonder what would happen to Elisha if he had been busy with the mantle only. He would not have done all the great things he did. But, he took the mantle and struck the waters of the Jordan calling upon the LORD, the God of his master. It was this that brought about all the wonderful deeds that were about to be done by him – the LORD.

There are still some people today who would worship the mantle instead of the LORD.

Many leaders, teachers, great men of God have left us. We, their successors are finding it hard to follow them. While we are struggling now, let us remember that the LORD remains the same, and while following the footsteps of our fathers and the great men of God, let us also remember to also trust in the LORD, the God who led them, the LORD our God. It is He we must follow always because it is in Him that all power and authority lies.