Elijah: "Finishing Well"
Elijah in the Gospels
An event recorded in all three Synoptic Gospels (Mt 17:1–8; Mk 9:2–8; Lk 9:28–36; cf. 2 Pet 1:16–18) in which Jesus’ appearance underwent a metamorphosis (Gk metamorphoō, “to be changed in form, transformed”). In the Gospel accounts of the transfiguration, Elijah and Moses conversed with Jesus, his clothing became dazzling white, and God’s voice was heard from a cloud saying, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” (Mt 17:5). This incident was a preview of Jesus’ glory after the resurrection.
Elijah was a man who “finished well.”
First, we must remember that the ministries of Elijah and Elisha were preparing God’s people for exile. Because of Israel’s rejection of the Lord, judgment was coming, and that judgment was destruction and exile. The ministry of Elijah was presented in such a way as to teach God’s people that he was able to protect and provide for them, even while they were in exile—but this did not change the fact that exile was coming. Consider the way in which the ministry of Elijah comes to an end. He departs the Promised Land through Jericho and across the Jordan River, retracing the route through which God’s people first entered the land back in the book of Joshua. Exile was coming, and Elijah’s actions became a prophetic picture of it.
We must also consider the way in which Elisha’s ministry began. He crossed the Jordan River on dry ground, came to the city of Jericho, and reversed the curse of the bitter water in that town (vv. 19–22; cf. Josh. 6:26; 1 Kings 16:34). In this way, Elisha foretold of Israel’s return from exile and the reversal of that curse with a retelling of Israel’s initial entry into the land in the time of Joshua. In other words, the events recorded in 2 Kings 2 were written to provide hope for God’s people. Even as the Lord brings judgment, he insists on giving his covenant people hope. Whether before or during exile, then, God’s people had before them a clear picture of the hope their faithful God provided.
Our covenant Lord is a God of hope. Christians need not despair despite the difficulties and failings of this life. We are reminded by this text that the Lord protects and provides for his people. He promises to bring us home and reverse the curse of our alienation (cf. Eph. 2:19). Israel had the picture of Elisha’s miraculous river crossing to give them hope. To this we today add the much deeper reason for hope: Christ’s bodily resurrection, our picture of the final reversal of the curse (Acts 23:6; 24:15; 1 Pet. 1:3).
Elijah is “Taken Up to Heaven.”
This is the language of inheritance. Elisha requests of Elijah what an eldest son would expect of a father in Israel (cf. v. 12): a double portion (cf. Dt 21:15–17). In this case, however, the inheritance is not land—Elisha has already left normal life and normal rules of inheritance behind (cf. 1Ki 19:19–21). Elisha is asking to receive the status of the principal successor of Elijah.
Finishing Well!
6. The Translation to Heaven (2 Kings 2:11, 12)
Elijah’s parting of this earth, his famous translation, was a fantastic event reported with surprising brevity, for the manner of going is not as important as the place in going.
• The season of the translation. Years earlier, Elijah prayed for God to take him (1 Kings 19:4), for he was so upset with the threat from Jezebel. But God refused, for He had a better time.
• The site of the translation. Elijah’s glorious home-going was in an obscure place east of the Jordan. Your location in life may be obscure, but it does not mean you cannot have a glorious home-going. What determines a glorious home-going is your loyalty to the Lord, not your location in some prestigious place or being lauded by people.
• The situation for the translation. “They still went on, and talked” (2 Kings 2:11). Elijah kept on a practical path to the very end. He did not throw a sheet over himself and sit on some hill doing nothing while waiting for the end. Rather he kept busy doing God’s will for his life. It was nothing spectacular but doing the will of God many not be spectacular action.
• The separation for the translation. “Parted them both asunder” (2 Kings 2:11). Death is ever parting people. But in this case the parting was only temporary.
• The splendor of the translation. “A chariot of fire, and horses of fire … went up by a whirlwind” (2 Kings 2:11). The artists never get it right when they picture this scene. They generally picture Elijah riding in a chariot of fire. But Elijah never rode in a chariot of fire. The chariot and horses of fire separated Elijah from Elisha. Elijah went to glory in a “whirlwind.” Like a tornado picking up things and taking them for miles, a great wind (“whirlwind” can be translated “storm”) scooped up Elijah and took him to glory.
• The singleness of the translation. Only Elijah had this sort of home-going. Elijah and Enoch are the only men who left this earth without dying and only Elijah in a whirlwind.
• The seeing of the translation. “Elisha saw it” (2 Kings 2:12). The seeing of the translation was extremely important to Elisha, for it was the key to having a successful ministry as Elijah’s successor. Seeing the translation meant he would have “a double portion” (2 Kings 2:9, 10) of Elijah’s spirit upon him for his ministry. Apart from that endowment, his ministry would have been mediocre at best.
• The speaking after the translation. “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof” (2 Kings 2:12). Elijah did not have a funeral, but he did have a eulogy after he departed this earth. The eulogy was given by Elisha who spoke high praise for Elijah. First, the respect for Elijah. “My father, my father” shows much respect for Elijah. In those days, the term “father” was a term of respect not only for one’s parent but also for one’s teacher, master, and elder. Second, the recognition of Elijah. “The chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.” “Chariot of Israel, and horsemen thereof” is military language. It said Elijah was the great protection for Israel. Elisha recognized the value Elijah was to Israel. No citizen is so valuable to a nation as a godly one.
• The sorrowing from the translation. “Took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces” (2 Kings 2:12). This ceremonial tearing of his clothes spoke of sorrow of heart. Elisha sorrowed over the departure of Elijah. First, it was merited sorrow. When great servants of God leave this earth, we ought to sorrow. Failure to sorrow indicates a condemning lack of spirituality. Yet, today folk often sorrow more when some ungodly celebrity dies. Second, it was measured sorrow. Elisha did not sorrow uncontrollably. He tore his clothes in only “two pieces.” He did not shred his clothes, for his sorrowing was not as the world sorrows which has “no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13).