The God of Elijah (2017)

Elijah who has dominated most of Israel's spiritual and political landscape for many years preparing Elisha. "Elijah’s career and life are about to end…but he is not to die. Most remarkably, the narrative evidences no wonderment or curiosity about this staggering claim." (Walter Bruggerman)

There will be a transition of prophetic power. Involving the ascent of Elijah in a fire storm. An ascent or firestorm not known of before in Israel's history.

"Elijah, however, is not yet finished. Before he ascends, he itinerates the central territory of Israel: Gilgal (2:1), Bethel (2:2-3), Jericho (2:4-5), and finally the Jordan River (2:6-8). We are not told why he goes; we are told only that he is “sent” by Yahweh (2:2, 4, 6). Elijah is still commanded by Yahweh and until the last is obedient. He goes where he is sent.1" (Bruggerman)

"Elisha will not do as Elijah commands. He says three times, “I will not leave you” (2:2, 4, 6). The verb “leave” has the force of “abandon.” The subordinate refuses to leave his master alone, and so goes with him." (Bruggerman)

Elijah picks up the mantle of Elijah and asks a quesiton "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" I want to remind you first of all,

Who is the Lord God of Elijah?

Read 2Kings 2:1-15 Text 2Kings 2:14

INTRO-

I Who is the God of Elijah? He IS…

A. Creator

1) Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

B. Deliverer

2) Genesis 8:1And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged;

C. God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

3) Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

4) Genesis 22:13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

5) Genesis 26:12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him. 13 And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: 14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.

6) Genesis 28:13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. 16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.

7) He is the God of Moses at the Red Sea, Joshua at Jericho, Deborah under the Palm Tree, Gideon and his band of 100 men, Samson and his jawbone, David against Goliath, Elijah against Jezebel, Hezekiah against Sennacherib, Daniel in the Lions den, Shadrach Meschach, Abindigo in the Fiery Furnace, and on and on and on.

Getting back to Elisha's Question

II Where is the God of Elijah? He IS…

Only Elijah's cloak remains. Elisha takes it back to the Jordan and asks where Elijah's God is—the God who caused drought, brought fire from the sky, raised the dead, and took Elijah to heaven. When Elisha strikes the water with the cloak, he discovers that while Elijah is gone the Lord is not, for the water parts again. The prophets who witness the whole scene understand that Elijah's spirit, the spirit of zeal and power, now rests on Elisha.

From <https://www.mywsb.com/4.v217/c.html>

NAC