David Bahn – Reflections

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These devotions are part of the Follow the Word Bible reading program at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas. This year we are reading through the Scriptures together, listening for how God speaks through his Word day by day. I hope you will join me on this journey.

Today’s readings are 2 Kings 1-3, Psalm 10.

2 Kings 2:1-12 (selected verses)

Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. ² And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. ³ And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he said, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.”

⁴ Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho.

[This pattern repeats as Elijah and Elisha head from Jericho to the Jordan.]

⁹ When they had crossed [the Jordan River], 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.” ¹⁰ 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.” ¹¹ 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. ¹² And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more.

Every Fourth of July I watch the movie Independence Day. It’s a fun film about an alien invasion that threatens the continued existence of human life on earth. Fun spaceships, exciting computer generated graphics, likable characters, and memorable lines make this a favorite.

One of my favorite lines comes from Captain Steven Hiller (Will Smith), who says with a confident swagger, “You know how I like to make an entrance.”

Some people know how to make an entrance. Elijah knew how to make an exit. He’s taken up into heaven on a fiery chariot. No quiet retirement. No slipping quietly into old age. No peaceful farewell surrounded by family. Instead: a whirlwind, horses and chariots of fire, and all this while Elisha, his stunned protégé and successor watches.

Now that is an exit.

But as dramatic as Elijah’s departure was, perhaps even more important is what came next. The fact that Elisha saw this confirmed that his request had been granted: he would receive a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Ahead would come mockery (“Go up, baldhead!”), difficult kings, impossible situations, and the burden of speaking God’s truth in troubled times. Yet Elisha remained faithful. The work of God would continue, even after Elijah’s dramatic exit.

And so it still does.

When Jesus was taken up into heaven, it was not the end of God’s gracious work among men and women. He sent the Holy Spirit, who attends the proclamation of the gospel, creates and sustains faith, and empowers ordinary people to do extraordinary things in Jesus’ name.

Rescued by Christ’s redeeming love and strengthened by his Spirit, we carry on confident that God is still at work – in us and through us.