Week 1: Elisha
The stories of Elijah and Elisha appear at a crucial turning point in the books of 1 and 2 Kings.
Up to this point, these books focus mainly on Israel’s kings. But with Elijah and Elisha, the spotlight shifts to the prophets, who openly speak out against the widespread corruption of Israel’s leaders. This change signals Israel’s attempt at spiritual restoration, though it ultimately fails, leading to the nation’s exile to Babylon. Around this time, King Ahab, who married Jezebel—a ruthless and wicked princess who built an altar to the idol Baal—was on the throne, symbolizing the low point of Israel’s kingship.
In The Crucial Bridge, Thomas L. Brodie compares Elijah and Elisha to Jesus and His disciples, suggesting that Luke may have drawn on the structure of their stories for inspiration in his Gospel and the book of Acts. Both Elijah and Jesus had healing ministries, confronted the powers of their day, and displayed God’s power on mountaintops. Both also passed on their Spirit to followers and ascended to heaven. This could explain why some thought Jesus might be Elijah returning to Israel.
The Chariot and the Plow
Readings for today:
1 Kings 19:19-21
2 Kings 2:1-18
When Elisha first appears in 1 Kings 19, Elijah is in a dark place, feeling alone and scared. God speaks to him in a gentle whisper, telling him to anoint Elisha as his successor. When Elijah finds Elisha, he’s hard at work, plowing with twelve oxen.
Elijah drapes his cloak around Elisha. The cloak of Elijah symbolizes God's power. The weight of this calling feels like a heavy, scratchy, and hairy coat. This is the same weight that almost crushed Elijah in 1 Kings 19. How we respond to the weight of obedience is a personal choice that demands an answer. Do we keep straining to move things on the level I can see, or do I answer the call to speak to what's underneath the surface?
Elisha understands the significance of this moment: following Elijah and God’s call means leaving his old life behind. Elisha even seeks closure, asking to say goodbye to his family before setting off. We often search for closure when we encounter a sudden shift in things we have grown accustomed to. This echoes moments in Jesus’s ministry where His disciples are called to leave everything behind (Mark 1:16-18). Closure might not always be an option. Formal goodbyes to a life you weren’t called to might not be offered. For Elisha, this call was radical—he sacrificed his oxen, using the wood from his plow as fuel for the fire.
This fire represented what was.
At the end of Elijah’s life, as he ascends to heaven, a chariot of fire appears. Before departing, Elijah asks Elisha what he desires, and Elisha boldly asks for a “double portion” of Elijah’s spirit—essentially, the power to carry on his mentor’s mission.
This fire represents what would be.
The symbolism here is powerful. Both chariots and plows are instruments designed to be pulled. By themselves, these vehicles can go nowhere. Elisha had to let go of the Plow (what he knew) to embrace the chariot (the unknown of his calling). What are you hitching yourself to? Sometimes, to step into a new purpose, we must leave behind old beliefs and comforts. Elisha’s journey reminds us that following God may mean letting go of what we know to embrace something greater—even if it’s uncertain.
Brodie, Thomas L. O.D. The Crucial Bridge. Liturgical Press, 2000.
Guzik, David. "1 KINGS 19 – GOD ENCOURAGES DISCOURAGED ELIJAH." EnduringWord.Com, enduringword.com/bible-commentary/1-kings-19/. Accessed 10 Feb. 2024.
