The Testing Of Elisha
2 KINGS 2:1-11
We learnt of the call of Elisha in 1Kings 19:19-21. God’s call came to Elisha through Elijah’s action: “cast his mantle upon him” [19:19].
§ Elisha responds with obedience: “he left the oxen and ran after Elijah…” [19:20].
§ Elisha’s commitment was whole-hearted and permanent:
We hear nothing more of Elisha for at least the next four years until we come to 2Kings 2; he has lived in obscurity and in the shadow of Elijah until now: “Elijah went with Elisha to Gilgal” [2:1].
- THE TIMING
1. The Departure
Elijah is about to depart: “when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven…” [2:1].
2. The Succession
Elisha was anointed as Elijah’s successor: “anoint to be a prophet in thy room” [1/19:16].
3. Together
The two of them are found together: “Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal” [2:2].
Application
Elisha had committed himself to follow Elijah: “arose and went after him, and ministered unto him” [1/19:21].
§ His initial commitment was marked with purpose and determination: “took a yoke of oxen…” [19:21].
§ The question now is ‘how far will Elisha’s commitment and devotion to his calling take him?’
Before Elisha succeeds Elijah, Elijah tests Elisha’s devotion in three/four different ways.
§ What does faith do when the temptations and the difficulties of the way are presented to it?
§ The Lord Jesus was tempted and tested: “was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being forty days tested of the devil” [Luk.4:1].
- THE TEST AT GILGAL
1. The Place
The initial location: “Elijah went with Elisha to Gilgal…” [2:1].
§ הַגִּלְגָּֽל - “Gilgal” [2:1], ‘to roll’; ‘to roll away’;
a. The Significance
Joshua was to lead the people into the promised land: “Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them…” [Jos.1:2].
§ All those who came out of Egypt had perished because of unfaithfulness: “all the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way…” [Jos.5:4].
i. Circumcision
This was a new generation: “all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way…they had not been circumcised” [Jos.5:5].
§ The people needed to be circumcised before they celebrated the Passover and went on their journey: “The Lord said to Joshua, make thee sharp knives, and circumcise Israel at the hill of the foreskins” [Jos.5:3-4].
§ This was a reminder of God’s covenant: “every man child among you shall be circumcised…” [Gen.17:10].
§ The Passover: “And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month…” [Jos.5:10].
ii. The Significance
The significance of the occasion: “this day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from of you” [Jos.5:9].
§ The “reproach of Egypt” was so related to circumcision: “the uncircumcised man…shall be cut off from my people” [Gen.17:14].
§ The “uncircumcision” is what belongs to the heathen nations: “if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision” [Rom.3:25].
b. The New Testament
They were no longer ordinary persons; they were people who belonged to God by covenant; Gilgal represents the ‘cutting off of the flesh’, that is, “the reproach of Egypt” [Jos.5:9].
§ The warfare: “the flesh lusts against the Spirit…” [Gal.5:17].
§ The works of the flesh: “are manifest, which are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness…” [Gal.5:19-21].
§ The fruit of the Spirit: “is love, joy, peace, longsuffering…” [Gal.5:22-23].
§ The ‘cutting off of the flesh’: “they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” [Gal.5:24].
Application
Gilgal speaks to us of the ‘cutting away of the flesh’;
§ “For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, who glory in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh” [Php.3:3].
§ Progress is to be achieved by realising that the “works of the flesh” belong to the past; God has made “everything new” [2Cor.5:17].
§ Worship in the presence of God – “the passover” [Jos.5:10] – is possible only after the flesh has been “crucified”.
2. The Test
a. Path of Discipleship
The path of obedience and discipleship was to move forward: “the Lord has sent me to Bethel…” [2:2].
§ שְׁלָחַ֣נִי - “sent” [2:2], qal perfect, ‘send out, despatch’; ‘send for a purpose’;
§ בֵּֽית־אֵ֔ל - “Bethel” [2:2], literally ‘house of God’;
b. The Test
The test: ‘are you prepared to stay here at Gilgal or are you prepared to answer the principles regarding the destruction of the flesh’?
“tarry here, I pray thee…” [2:2].
§ שֵֽׁב - “tarry” [2:2], qal imperative, ‘to remain’; ‘to inhabit, settle’; ‘to dwell’;
§ פֹ֗ה - “here” [2:2], ‘in this place’;
§ נָ֣א - “I pray thee” [2:2], particle of entreaty or exhortation, ‘please’;
Application
Elisha is confronted with the first test, the first choice: will he go forward in the knowledge that there is a warfare to be fought?
§ A warfare in which the “flesh” must not be allowed to triumph, but where it is “cut off”?
§ The path of discipleship is one of self-denial and holiness.
3. Elisha’s Response
Elisha’s oath formula: “as the Lord lives…I will not leave thee…” [2:2].
§ חַי־יְהוָ֥ה – “as the Lord lives” [2:2],
§ חֵֽי־נַפְשְׁךָ – “as your soul lives” [2:2],
§ אִם – “not” [2:2], particle adverb, many occurrences found in oath contexts: “God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha…” [6:31];
§ אֶעֶזְבֶ֑ךָּ - “not leave you” [2:2], ‘to abandon’; “So shall a man leave his father and mother…” [Gen.2:24].
§ “Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go…” [Rut.1:16].
Application
- The test at Bethel
1. The Place
The next place on the journey: “so they went down to Bethel” [2:2].
§ יֵּרְד֖וּ - “went down” [2:2], qal imperfect, ‘to descend’;
§ בֵּֽית־אֵֽל - “Bethel” 2:2], literally ‘house of God’;
2. The Significance
Jacob is sent to Padan-aram by his father Isaac after he had: “taken away Esau’s blessing” [Gen.27:35].
a. The Vision of God
Jacob rested for the night: “went from Beersheba toward Haran and tarried there all night…” [28:11].
§ Jacob’s vision: “Jacob dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached heaven; and behold the angels of God ascending and descending…” [Gen.28:12].
b. The Promise of God
The covenant God: “I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father…” [28:13-15].
§ God’s covenant promises: “the land whereon you lie, to you I will give it…behold, I am with thee and will keep thee…” [28:13-15].
c. The House of God
Jacob recognised the presence of the Lord: “Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not” [Gen.28:16];
§ The house of God: “How dreadful is this place! This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven” [Gen.28:17].
d. Jacob’s Vow
The memorial: “Jacob…took the stone…and set it up for a pillar and poured oil upon the top of it” [Gen.28:19].
§ The vow: “if God will be with me…then shall the Lord be my God” [28:20-22].
§ The commitment: “of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee” [28:22].
§ The name: “And he called the name of that place Bethel…” [Gen.28:19].
Jacob moves on the way: “then Jacob went on his journey…” [29:1].
3. Jacob’s Return
It was also a place to where Jacob returned: “
§ Jacob leaves Laban: “I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar, and where you vowed a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land…” [Gen.31:13].
§ Jacob at Shechem: “God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee…” [Gen.35:1].
§ The cleansing of the people: “they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods…” [Gen.35:4].
§ Jacob’s memorial: “he built there an altar, and called the place Elbethel: because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother…” [Gen.35:7].
Application
This was a special place for Jacob; Bethel speaks to us of the place of communion with God and blessing along the way.
§ It was the place of divine communion; a desirable place: “it is good for us to be here…” [Luk.9:33].
§ Peter desired to stay on the mount: “let us make three tabernacles…” [Luk.9:33].
§ Pink - God still tests His servants at this very point. They are in some place where the smile of Heaven manifestly rests upon their labours. The Lord’s presence is real, His secrets are revealed to them and intimate communion is enjoyed with Him. If he followed his own inclinations he would remain there, but he is not free to please himself—he is the servant of Another and must do His bidding.
4. The Test
a. The Path of Discipleship
The path of Elijah: “for the Lord has sent me to Jericho…” [2:4].
§ שְׁלָחַ֣נִי - “sent” [2:4], qal perfect, ‘send out, despatch’; ‘send for a purpose’;
§ יְרִיח֔וֹ - “Jericho” [2:4], ‘green oasis town on the west of River Jordan’;
b. The Test
Elijah repeats the test formula: “Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee…” [2:4].
§ שֵֽׁב - “tarry” [2:4], qal imperative, ‘to remain’; ‘to inhabit, settle’; ‘to dwell’;
§ פֹ֗ה - “here” [2:4], ‘in this place’;
§ נָ֣א - “I pray thee” [2:4], particle of entreaty or exhortation, ‘please’;
c. The Temptation
The sons of the prophets joined in by stating that to follow Elijah was fruitless because the Lord was taking him that day: “the sons of the prophets said to him…” [2:5].
d. Elisha’s Response
Elisha’s oath formula: “as the Lord lives…I will not leave thee…” [2:4].
§ חַי־יְהוָ֥ה – “as the Lord lives” [2:2],
§ חֵֽי־נַפְשְׁךָ – “as your soul lives” [2:2],
§ אִם – “not” [2:2], particle adverb, many occurrences found in oath contexts: “God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha…” [6:31];
§ אֶעֶזְבֶ֑ךָּ - “not leave you” [2:2], ‘to abandon’; “So shall a man leave his father and mother…” [Gen.2:24].
§ “Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go…” [Rut.1:16].
Application
Elisha is again confronted with a choice; will he go forward acknowledging that the presence of God is the most precious thing/place to be?
§ Selfishness; what is in it for me; ‘more blessed to give than to receive’;
- The test at Jericho
1. The Place
The next place: “so they came to Jericho” [2:4].
§ יָּבֹ֖אוּ - “came” [2:4], ‘to come, go’; ‘arrive’;
§ יְרִיחֽוֹ - “Jericho” [2:4], ‘green oasis town on the west of River Jordan’;
2. The Significance
When the children of Israel went over the Jordan and into the land, standing to thwart their progress was the city of Jericho [Jos.6:1].
§ Jericho stood right across the path of progress: “Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel…” [6:1].
§ It was a closed, impregnable city: “none went out, and none came in…wall of the city” [6:1, 5].
a. God’s Plan
God’s promise: “I have given into thine hand Jericho…” [6:2].
§ The plan of God: “go around the city once; this shalt thou do six days” [6:3].
§ The presence of God: “seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns” [6:4].
§ The plan of God: “the seventh day you shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with trumpets” [6:4].
§ The plan of God: “when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city shall fall down flat…” [6:5].
b. God’s Victory
God’s victory in God’s way: “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city” [6:16].
§ Jericho is defeated: “the people shouted with a shout that the wall fell down flat…they utterly destroyed the city…” [Jos.6:20-21].
c. The Lesson
Joshua had to learn a lesson at Jericho: “he looked up and behold there stood a man over against him with a sword drawn in his hand” [Jos.5:13].
§ The question: “are you for us, or for our adversaries?” [5:13].
§ The answer: “No; but as Captain of the host of the Lord am I now come…” [5:14].
Application
Jericho speaks to us of living by faith and trusting in God’s strength.
§ Victory is assured only when the Lord is given his rightful place as the commander of our lives.
3. The Test
a. Path of Discipleship
The path of obedience for Elijah: “the Lord has sent me to Jordan…” [2:6].
§ שְׁלָחַ֣נִי - “sent” [2:6], qal perfect, ‘send out, despatch’; ‘send for a purpose’;
§ הַיַּרְדֵּ֔נָה - “Jordan” [2:6], river that runs from Mount Hermon through the Sea of Galilee into the Dead Sea.
b. The Test
The repeated test formula: “tarry, I pray thee, here…” [2:6].
§ שֵֽׁב - “tarry” [2:6], qal imperative, ‘to remain’; ‘to inhabit, settle’; ‘to dwell’;
§ פֹ֗ה - “here” [2:6], ‘in this place’;
§ נָ֣א - “I pray thee” [2:6], particle of entreaty or exhortation, ‘please’;
c. The Temptation
The sons of the prophets joined in by stating that to follow Elijah was fruitless because the Lord was taking him that day: “the sons of the prophets said to him…” [2:5].
4. Elisha’s Response
Elisha’s oath formula: “as the Lord lives…” [2:6].
§ חַי־יְהוָ֥ה – “as the Lord lives” [2:6],
§ חֵֽי־נַפְשְׁךָ – “as your soul lives” [2:6],
§ אִם – “not” [2:6], particle adverb, many occurrences found in oath contexts: “God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha…” [6:31];
§ אֶעֶזְבֶ֑ךָּ - “not leave you” [2:6], ‘to abandon’; “So shall a man leave his father and mother…” [Gen.2:24].
§ “Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go…” [Rut.1:16].
Application
Elisha is confronted with a choice once more; will he go on with Elijah knowing that it is only in God’s strength and doing things God’s way that he will prosper?