1106. Elisha's Last Sickness

Elisha's Last Sickness

"Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down onto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father! the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof!" (2Ki_13:14).

Elisha had lived an eventful life, the time had now come, however, for the Lord to take him Home. He was a man who would be greatly missed by both friends and enemies. When he passed out a great gap was sure to be left among the people of Israel.

1. Among those who loved Elisha, and who leaned upon him, was Joash, Israel's king. Joash was standing at the Prophet's bed. He realized that the man of God could not long be with them. And he "wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof!" In these words Joash did great honor to the words and work of Elisha.

Are we living so that we will be missed if God should take us Home?

When a poor widow, Dorcas, was dead, they came to Peter and beseechingly said: "Behold the garments: which she hath made for the poor." The whole Church seemed to feel that they could not get along without Dorcas. Then Peter went in, and, taking her by the hand, lifted her up and gave her back to her life of service, and to the Church of God.

2. There is always danger lest we make the arm of flesh our confidence. If Joash did lose Elisha, he would still have God. Joash, however, had not learned the lesson which David expressed when he said, "My soul, wait thou only (exclusively) upon God." Joash looked dependency upon this fearless Prophet; he thought of him as the mighty one of Jehovah.

We may give honor to whom honor is due, but we must not make the arm of flesh our hope.

Three things are recorded in I Corinthians:

1. No flesh should glory in His presence (see 1Co_1:29).

2. Let no man glory in men (see 1Co_3:21).

3. Let him that glorieth glory in the Lord (see 1Co_1:31).

We may recognize the value of true servants of God; we may glorify Christ in them, but we must not build our hopes upon the arm of flesh.

If one servant of God, be he ever so useful and blessed, is taken away, God will find another to fulfil His will and to work out His purposes.

We would not rob Elisha of a bit of his honor, but he was not THE ALL IN ALL in Israel–Jehovah alone was that.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR