Summer At Sea: Week 6 Day 4

2 Kings 2:1-6

When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel.”

But Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.

3 The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”

“Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so be quiet.”

4 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the Lord has sent me to Jericho.”

And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.

5 The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”

“Yes, I know,” he replied, “so be quiet.”

6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.”

And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on.

My father passed away this past January and my older brother, with his medical background, spent endless hours helping my Dad navigate those strange and difficult days. One night on a phone call as he gave the report on Dad’s health, he told me that he had promised Dad to walk him home, to make sure he was at peace and not alone when he died. My brother kept that promise, and he never left his side; I will forever be thankful that he had that honor with our Dad. 

Elisha was much the same, he would not leave Elijah’s side, he stayed with him. I believe this is a foreshadowing of how God would walk us home throughout our days. His Spirit would never depart from us, we would be held in His hand because Jesus would walk our path. Our Lord Jesus walked the road to His death alone, jeered, mocked, bruised, and bloodied. He bore our isolation, our shame, and disgrace, and He went alone so that none of us would ever have to feel that ache of walking this life alone. 

Have you ever stopped to thank God for His presence in your life? Do it now, give thanks for the friend you have in Jesus!