Elijah’s Mantle Passes to Elisha

Text: 2 Kings 2:1-18

Reflection and Question: We have encountered Elijah before. He is the powerful prophet who confronts Ahab and Jezebel with their sins, raises a child from the dead, wins against the prophets of Baal and recognizes God’s presence in the still small voice. Elisha knows the best thing to do in order to receive Elijah’s wisdom and power: stick to him like glue until the very end. After Elijah is taken up in a whirlwind, Elisha picks up Elijah’s mantle and it works the same miracle for him that it did for Elijah, parting the waters before him. How do you receive the power and wisdom of those who have gone before you?

Prayer: Almighty God, we bow in awe at the powers of Elijah and Elisha. We yearn for their courage and persistence. Guide us to the wise and powerful around us so that we may stick to them like glue and perhaps receive their mantle. Amen.

This meditation is based on the Daily Lectionary Year 1 from the Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) (1993).