2 Kings 2,4: Elijah leaves; Elisha leads

When we pick up with Elijah in 2 Kings 2, we find him traveling with his successor Elisha. As these two travel we see the faithfulness of Elisha first had as he stays by Elijah side repeating "As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you". Powerful stuff that we'll see reappear a little late on. Finally the time comes where Elijah is swept up into the heavens and Elisha becomes the new prophet, as he inherits Elijahs power.

On multiple occasions in both chapters we witness the power of God over the land as Elisha provides clean water in Chapter 2 and enough food in Chapter 4. Both of these instances are extraordinary circumstances that point back to the huge power of God.

The most fascinating story for me is the story of the Shunammite woman and her son. The Shunammite woman is kind to Elisha despite there different language and culture. In turn Elisha informs her she will have a son despite her age. Of course at her age her love for her son is great and we watch as her heart breaks at his sudden death at their home. She runs to Elisha and begs for him to heal him. Elisha wants to give his staff to woman to have the boy healed but this is not enough as the woman says "As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you". Pretty amazing to see that come full circle for Elisha. Elisha rises up and returns to their home and heals him in both a very weird......but symbolic way. Elisha lays upon the child and literally breaths life into him....sound familiar? This direct reflection of the creation of man creates a powerful picture in the narrative.

Now if I can just stop imagining Elisha laying awkwardly on a child.