0018. Elisha's Blessing

Elisha’s Blessing

"And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into Heaven.

"And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more" (2Ki_2:11-12).

Some gracious lessons are before us.

1. Those who follow all the way, will get the blessing. For Elisha took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. Then he smote the waters, and cried, "Where is the Lord God of Elijah"? Then the waters stood back, and "parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over", and the sons of the prophets who saw the proceedings said: "The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha".

When Abraham held his hand over his only son, Isaac, ready in full obedience to slay him, then God spoke quickly out of the blue and said: "Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God". Then God said: "Because * * thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed".

If we want the blessing we must go all the way with God.

2. Those who go not, receive not. The sons of the prophets, went not with Elijah. When they passed through Jericho, these young theologues said: "Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head today?" And Elisha said: "Yea, I know it, hold ye your peace." Then we read "And they two went on." How striking is the word, "they two." Why not they three, or they four, or they fifty. Not so, it is only they two. Thus Elisha alone received the blessing.

How many are living beneath their privileges.

Illustration: Mr. Mac Grudder of South Georgia told me one day of his friend who went by steamer from Savannah to New York. His friend took with him some cheese and dried herring and crackers, thinking thereby to save his pocket book. After a few meals on the cheese and dried herring and crackers, with a ravenous appetite greatly nagged by the smell of good things from the dining-room, the friend of Mac Grudder said to the purser of the ship: "How much would one good, square meal cost me?" "It is already yours, sir," said the purser, "it is all included in the ticket."

Alas, Christ has His blessings for us all, as we read, "All things are yours", but how few there are who are willing to go in and possess their possessions!

"Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord". Elisha followed on, the theologues stayed behind.

"God has His best things for the few

Who dare to stand the test,

God has a second choice for those,

Who will not take His best."

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR