Yesterday, we meditated on God Is Real! from Elijah’s last confrontation with a king of Israel. Today, this blog will answer the question, “Where is he?” Answer: God is here!
The story comes from Elijah’s last day on earth and literally passing the authority of the prophet to his assistant, Elisha.
Elijah and Elisha walked from Gilgal to Bethel then Jericho. Then, “God has sent me on an errand to the Jordan.” (See 2 Kings 2.1 – 7)
Elijah hits the Jordan with his cloak, and it divides so they can walk across.
When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. (2 Kings 2.9 – 11, ESV)
Now Elisha is stuck on the east side of the Jordan. Or is he?
Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over. (2 Kings 2.14, ESV)
Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah? He’s here. He’s real. Sneak preview: we’re about to enter a miracle-dense section of the Bible. Almost as many miracles in these few pages as in the gospels. Sometimes I’m tempted to think, “Did that really happen?” But if we accept that God is real, and he’s here, literally anything is possible.
It’s as good a prayer promise as there is. Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah? He’s here. He’s real. What am I asking for?
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (John 15.7, ESV)
Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (John 16.24, ESV)