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Today we finish our series on the days of Elijah
The series started with the sudden appearance of Elijah
God’s judgement against Israel and its king - drought
God cares for Elijah during the three years of drought
Then at the end of the three years Elijah returns
Elijah calls out Ahab as the troubler of Israel
Challenges 850 prophets
Rain returns and the foot race to Jezreel
Jezebel is not happy at the news of the slaughter of the 850 prophets
Seeks to kill Elijah
Elijah runs away
Ends up at Mt. Horeb, the Mt. of God
God speaks to Elijah and we learn of a remnant of faithful followers of the Lord
Elijah appears again to Ahab and brings message of disaster upon the House of Ahab for the death of Ahab and the taking of his vineyard
Ahab humbles himself at the news of the disaster
For his humility God will promises that the disaster will not come in the days of Ahab, but in the days of his Sons
Ahab dies and Ahaziah becomes king, and falls through the lattice of the window in his palace.
Doesn’t seek God, instead Baal-Zebub god of Ekron
He will not get up from his bed
Ahaziah dies and his brother Jehoram becomes King of Israel.
This is where we are as pick up the narrative today
Chair bible page 250
Are you ready for the message God has for us today?
Cool let’s begin
It seems in the house of Ahab, sons follow in their fathers foot steps.
Now Jehoram is evil but not to the extant of his father or brother.
Though he still sinned in the ways that Jeroboam had sinned, and misled Israel
These are the days of Elijah, his last days in fact came during the reign of Jehoram
Elijah & The Chariot of Israel!
So we see as chapter 2 opens what we are about to read is what leads into the taking of Elijah in a Whirlwind
Let’s remind ourselves that God has told Elijah to select Elisha as his replacement prophet of the Lord
He was told this in 1 Kings 19 while he was on Mt.
Horeb
Then we are told how Elisha was called by Elijah
Elijah found Elisha in the field working with 12 yoke of oxen.
Elijah calls him and before he left to follow Elijah, Elisha was allowed to prepare a feast for his family, kiss them, and say goodbye.
So from that time until now as we pickup the narrative Elisha has followed and learned from Elijah.
Elijah has battled and fought faithfully for the Lord God.
That warfare is now accomplished, God is going to translate his faithful prophet in a special manner to heaven.
A manner not seen before or after.
It seems in his last moments God sends him to Bethel and Jericho with groups of prophets in these cities.
A guild or brotherhood of prophets mentioned in 1 Kgs 20:35 but more common in the Elisha stories.
Such guilds were stationed in cities throughout the land of Israel, including Bethel and Jericho.
So maybe he was imparting some final teaching from God to these prophets.
Who knows the narrative doesn’t say.
In both Bethel and Jericho Elishas is asked by the prophets 2 Kings 2:3
2 Kings 2:3 (NASB 2020)
3 “Are you aware that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?”
And he said, “Yes, I am aware; say nothing about it.”
Also on the way to Bethel, at Bethel and at Jericho Elijah implores his servant Elisha to stay behind.
Three times he does this and three times Elisha states, “As surely as the Lord lives and as yourself live, I will not leave you.”
The text does not say why Elijah did this to Elisha.
Perhaps he wished to spare Elisha the sudden pain of such a quick departure from life
Perhaps he was testing the affection of Elisha
No one knows for sure
What we do know is that Elisha is not going to leave the side of Elijah on his journey.
Something happens at the Jordan, three times in scripture God parts the Jordan
Joshua and the Israelites - Joshua 3:14-17
Elijah here 2 Kings 2:8
3. Elisha 2 Kings 2:14
I think that is just amazing!
Now once on the other side of the Jordan Elijah speaks to Elisha
Wow, a double portion.
Think of all that Elijah had done and Elisha asks a double portion.
We know he saw Elijah leave, yet the only indication we have comes once he is on the other side of the Jordan
From there the narrative picks up Elisha as the prophet of God.
What a reward for Elijah, to not see death instead to be taken in a whirlwind
Something stood out to me as I read the narrative this time
I thought Elisha went in the chariot of fire?
Nope the chariot of fire was used to separate Elijah from Elisha.
Elijah went up in the whirlwind, or windstorm the word indicates
There was another time we see chariots of fire
So chariots of fire seem to indicate the presence of the Lord’s army.
This meant that Elisha was not allowed to pass any further toward Elijah
What a way to go!
This to me says a great deal about the kind of prophet Elijah was
No wonder he is seen as the greatest prophet of all
But, what about the prophecies concerning Ahab’s house?
The Fulfillment of Elijah’s Prophecies
Jehu anointed king of Isreal 2 Kings 9:6-10
It is interesting that Elijah was told to anoint Jehu, but it was a servant of Elisha that fulfilled task
Servants of Jehoram recognize that Jehu is now king they lay their garments and blow the trumpet and shout Jehu is King!
Jehu then fulfills his God given task as king
2 Kings 9:22–24 (NASB 2020)
Joram’s body is picked up an taken to Naboth’s vineyard in fulfillment of what the men heard concerning the Lord say
The death of wicked Jezebel
Jezebel hears that Jehu is coming and she get all dressed up.
It says she puts on makeup, adorned her head in preparation.
Jehu though has other plans - 2 Kings 9:33-35
The men came back and recognized what happen to her as the fulfillment of the words of Elijah.
Jehu has to then write a couple of letters to encourage people of Samaria to take care of the 70 remaining sons of Ahab then finally,
Finally everyone of Ahab’s house is gone 2 Kings 10:10-11
As a final act Jehu gathers and kills all who worship Baal and serve as the false god’s priests and having deceived them he has them killed
However, with all of this Jehu has this as his memorial
Thus is fulfilled all that God has said
God Keeps His Word!
Though it took time, God’s time not man’s, God kept every word he told to Elijah.
The house of Ahab was destroyed just as God had said.
The lesson God keeps His word, keeps His promises!
This continues in the New Testament - Titus 1:1-3
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