14. Then he took the cloak that had fallen from him and struck the water with it. "Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over. 15. The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, "The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha." And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.
There is no indication here that Elijah died the normal death as the rest of us. The Lord translated him from this life to the next. Elisha picked it up and continued the ministry. Now that he had been called and trained, it was time for him to get involved in the ministry to which God called him. He went boldly on.
Many can come up with excuses not to serve. I spoke on Moses and the burning bush last fall. There really wasn’t anything special about the bush, but it was the power of God through the bush. Any ol’ bush would do if God chooses to show His wonder and miracles through it.
The same would be true of people God chooses. Any person would do, if God chose them for some task or purpose. People in our society would run back that bush and charge admission to look at it in some museum. They would make it into an idol, but God is desirous of glory for Himself alone.
The Bible says that the Spirit gives gifts as He wills to whomever He wills. Such power is an act of grace. God only can answer such a prayer. The power that Elisha sought was not for Elijah to give. Elijah does tell him that if he can witness his departure then God will grant him his prayer.
Indeed, God's plan was to empower Elisha. A willing and humble spirit was what God wanted from Elisha. God came upon Elisha as he returned to the same Jordan river and touched the water with Elijah's cloak. Like before, it separated. There was nothing magical about the mantle. Interestingly, God did not give to him the special power of Elijah until he needed it. He often makes men wait in faith for a gift until the very moment that it is required.
Just as in a relay race one passes the baton to another, they all run their courses for their team. The concept of discipleship is, for a time one takes the baton given to them by God, usually from someone who went before us, and carry it with faithfulness and humility until we pass it on to another. Get in the race. Do so with the willingness to do our best and watch what God chooses to do in and through us. God is not calling you to do everything, but I believe He is calling you to do something.
Application: Carry the baton with a willingness to glorify God. Then pass it on.
Prayer: My God and Father, I love this message of passing the baton as a blessing to the next generation so that those who come after me can also feast on Your Word and truth for their faith walk. May all the Glory be Yours.
