What a Ride!
Let’s zoom into the scene when Elijah finished his time on earth. Not long earlier it was in “a still small voice” that Elijah was granted an encounter of the Lord, The Holy One forwent coming to him in the rock-splitting wind, the earthquake, and the flurry of fire. God came in something that was not even a whisper, but the sound of sheer silence. (1 Kings 19:11-12). But this day, when the mantle of prophecy passed from Elijah to Elisha, yes, this day would not be a theophany softer than a whisper. It would be a loud whirlwind of mystical transport manifesting the Lord and separating the two faithful followers of Yahweh.
From that experience of the “still small voice” on Mount Horeb forward, what unfolds for Elijah remarkably recapitulates the Moses saga: giving of the Law—Red Sea miracle—and wandering to the promised land. These Moses experiences match up with Elijah’s wandering about the land, and the parting of the Jordan with the rolled-up mantle,
Elisha first met Elijah the great prophet when Elisha was at the plow with twelve yokes of oxen on his father’s farm. A number of adventures later, they come to this marvel of transition where it is not Elisha with a plow and oxen, but the chariot and horses of God’s fire carrying the celebrated Elijah off into a great whirlwind and on to heaven. Elisha’s determination to witness the marvel shows strongly, as his master gives him three separate opportunities to let him go on alone. Elisha says all three times, “I will not leave you.” After the third declaration, he asks Elijah for a double portion of his prophetic spirit, and it is promised to him. They were roaming about the region, in an odd course from Gilgal to Bethel, to Jericho, and to the Jordan. Finally, the moment of mystical transport arrives. Feel free to read through the whole passage:
2 Kings 2:1-12
When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “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. The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent.”
Elijah said to him, “Elisha, 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. The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know; be silent.”
Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So, the two of them went on. Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.
When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” He responded, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.” As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha kept watching and crying out, “Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
I am taken by two simple points of reflection in this story. One is that we are assured an ultimate embrace of the Holy One that will be beyond our imagination. Also, we are commissioned to crucial work representing the ways of God in this life of here and now. You will have your own chariot ride, and it will leave you speechless. And now, to be sure, you have your own mantle, and the holy work comes your way day by day. You reflect God’s love in every situation the best you can. I finish with lines of free verse:
Elijah’s Song
What is this fire
that brightly burns?
It cleanses, but leaves me intact.
What is this light?
Penetrating brilliance!
Blinding, but lending clear vision.
What are these hooves
that loudly thunder?
They pull me to holy heaven.
What is this mantle
I clutch in my hand?
It clearly now goes to another.
Take it Elisha, it’s yours not mine.
I throw it to launch your new work.
I’ll soon know how next I will serve,
I give myself now to all this:
speed of flaming coursers
the whirring chariot wheels
the whirlwind of the Spirit
Light and Fire
surrender
joy!
--DWP + February 2021