Follow the leader
2
Kings 2
Elijah knew it, Elisha knew it, even the sons of
the prophets knew it, but no one dared to say: the time had come for Elijah's
departure. The only one to be informed about it in advance is the reader of
chapter two of the Second Book of Kings (verse 1). And he has to know, because
the earlier events are so loaded with lively action. Elijah received a word
from God and a cross country race starts. He runs uphill, downhill. And despite
his request to Elisha, repeated three times, his servant keeps up with him and
won't agree to leave him.
Three times Elijah moves on according to the word of the Lord, three times Elisha will not leave him and three times the sons of the prophets are present to observe the scene. Finally the actors in this triple act are standing on the banks of the Jordan River. Elijah takes his cloak and with a single stroke he divides the waters of the river. The power of Moses, the great leader of the Israelite nation, was present among them.
They walk over to the other side of the river, because they must now talk in private. Now Elijah no longer conceals the plan God has for him. He will be taken away. He wants to leave a farewell present for his servant Elisha (verse 9). And Elisha holds on to the same desire he pursued all the time: not to leave his master. If God's plan is to take Elijah away, then Elisha wants at least keep to his spirit with him. Therefore he asks for a double portion: one for himself and the second from Elijah – he doesn't want to leave his master, but wants his spirit to remain.
Throughout the whole story to this point we haven't been given any evaluation of what was going on. Was it right for Elisha to ignore the request of Elijah, was it good to follow behind him anyway? Is it now okay to continue on in the desire not to be left by his master and to express such a bold request? Even Elijah cannot answer this question; he leaves the appraisal up to God.
In a great miracle Elijah is taken up by a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha is finally left alone, Elijah is no more to see. In a sign of anguish and grief he tears his garment. Then he takes up what is only remains of Elijah - his cloak. Elisha returns to the river and finally approaches the decisive moment. He strikes the water. Elijah is gone, who is left at the river bank? Is it only he and the sons of the prophet on the other side or more? “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” The water divides. While Elisha has departed, the Lord had not. God gives his approval to the prophet.
The sons of the prophet were eyewitness to these events and understood: “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” But this acknowledgment does not prevent them from asking permission to look for the missing Elijah. Elisha refuses, but they pressure him and he relents. Their search for their former master comes to nothing. Elisha can only tell them that he told him so beforehand.
The request of the sons of the prophets comes as a surprise. They were the first to talk about the plan of God to remove Elijah. They stood there at the river and saw how Elijah's might was at work in Elisha as he divided the water. They even accepted the new leadership of Elisha, in their own words affirming that the spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha. And yet, they still don’t obey his word. A new leader takes over, and this band of men is still looking for the old one. In fact, not really a surprise. More the fate of most of those in the footsteps of a successful leader. While they might have approval, the comparison will go on. The old times are gone, the hero leader of the past has been replaced. But things don't move forward; instead the new leader is witness to the ongoing quest for yesterday's leaders.
Talking about leaders: this whole story features different leaders. But it is not about leading. It is about following. Elijah follows the command of God. Elisha follows Elijah - with devotion. Only the sons of the prophets are yet not ready to be followers with such dedication.
Today there are schools of leadership everywhere. We are training so many leaders, but who is going to follow them? Who prepares the followers? Everyone knows how to lead, but who really knows how to follow?
The story of these three groups, presented in three triplets of following, displays a priority of discipleship. The one who wants to lead has to learn how to follow. To follow the word of God, wherever it leads me. To follow with dedication, never falling back from the leader.
If we prepare followers instead of leaders, we can do a lot of good to the church and be more in line with the plan of God.
Three times Elijah moves on according to the word of the Lord, three times Elisha will not leave him and three times the sons of the prophets are present to observe the scene. Finally the actors in this triple act are standing on the banks of the Jordan River. Elijah takes his cloak and with a single stroke he divides the waters of the river. The power of Moses, the great leader of the Israelite nation, was present among them.
They walk over to the other side of the river, because they must now talk in private. Now Elijah no longer conceals the plan God has for him. He will be taken away. He wants to leave a farewell present for his servant Elisha (verse 9). And Elisha holds on to the same desire he pursued all the time: not to leave his master. If God's plan is to take Elijah away, then Elisha wants at least keep to his spirit with him. Therefore he asks for a double portion: one for himself and the second from Elijah – he doesn't want to leave his master, but wants his spirit to remain.
Throughout the whole story to this point we haven't been given any evaluation of what was going on. Was it right for Elisha to ignore the request of Elijah, was it good to follow behind him anyway? Is it now okay to continue on in the desire not to be left by his master and to express such a bold request? Even Elijah cannot answer this question; he leaves the appraisal up to God.
In a great miracle Elijah is taken up by a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha is finally left alone, Elijah is no more to see. In a sign of anguish and grief he tears his garment. Then he takes up what is only remains of Elijah - his cloak. Elisha returns to the river and finally approaches the decisive moment. He strikes the water. Elijah is gone, who is left at the river bank? Is it only he and the sons of the prophet on the other side or more? “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” The water divides. While Elisha has departed, the Lord had not. God gives his approval to the prophet.
The sons of the prophet were eyewitness to these events and understood: “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” But this acknowledgment does not prevent them from asking permission to look for the missing Elijah. Elisha refuses, but they pressure him and he relents. Their search for their former master comes to nothing. Elisha can only tell them that he told him so beforehand.
The request of the sons of the prophets comes as a surprise. They were the first to talk about the plan of God to remove Elijah. They stood there at the river and saw how Elijah's might was at work in Elisha as he divided the water. They even accepted the new leadership of Elisha, in their own words affirming that the spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha. And yet, they still don’t obey his word. A new leader takes over, and this band of men is still looking for the old one. In fact, not really a surprise. More the fate of most of those in the footsteps of a successful leader. While they might have approval, the comparison will go on. The old times are gone, the hero leader of the past has been replaced. But things don't move forward; instead the new leader is witness to the ongoing quest for yesterday's leaders.
Talking about leaders: this whole story features different leaders. But it is not about leading. It is about following. Elijah follows the command of God. Elisha follows Elijah - with devotion. Only the sons of the prophets are yet not ready to be followers with such dedication.
Today there are schools of leadership everywhere. We are training so many leaders, but who is going to follow them? Who prepares the followers? Everyone knows how to lead, but who really knows how to follow?
The story of these three groups, presented in three triplets of following, displays a priority of discipleship. The one who wants to lead has to learn how to follow. To follow the word of God, wherever it leads me. To follow with dedication, never falling back from the leader.
If we prepare followers instead of leaders, we can do a lot of good to the church and be more in line with the plan of God.
