Dealing With Seperation Series

ELIJAH ---DEALING WITH SEPERATION –Crossing Over Jordan

II Kings 2: 7-13

As we look out over the Lake.

I want you to imagine it being the river Jordan.

I want you to imagine that we are the Israelites on this side.

And right behind the pavilion is the Egyptian Army.

We can’t move forward because of the water.

We can’t move back because of Pharaoh’s army.

So we are stuck.

But God is faithful and when Moses prays

AND THE priest carrying the ark step into the water- it parts.

Throughout the long night they cross over.

In the morning Pharaoh is enraged.

He takes his whole army down into the water.

And God closes the water over them.

Saving the Israelites and destroying the Egyptians.

Water from that point on becomes a symbol of parting, of separation.

Water has been a symbol of life and death for a long time.

Notice the associations: "Jesus...living water."

Psalmist talks about going through the water, through the flood.

And now today as Elijah gets ready to die.

He too is to cross over the Jordan.

It is in his death that the Jordan move from only being a symbol of separation.

To a symbol of crossing over in death.

Poem goes:

"A swelling Jordan rolls between,

A timid pilgrim I;

But grace shall order all the scene,

And Christ himself be nigh.

He shall roll back the foaming wave,

Command the channel dry;

No sting has death, no victory grave,

With Jesus in my eye."

We all realize that we will be crossing over someday.

I. THERE IS A TIME OF SEPARATION

DEATH AND SEPERATION COMES TO ALL OF US.

In my experience some families talk about death.

Some husband and wives talk about what would happen if one died.

One husband growing older was concerned and asked his wife?

“Dear if I died would you get married again?”

She said: “I suppose so.”

HE said: “Would he sit in my spot at the table?”

She said: “I suppose so.”

”Would you sleep in the same bed with him?”

’’Well, it’s the only bed in the house, so I have no choice.

Then he summed it all up:

Would you give him my Honda Gold wing Motorcycle?

She said: Noooo, no, nooo!. He only drives Harley’s

II Kings 2:1 When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha. “Stay here: the lord has sent me to Bethel. 3But Elijah’ said: “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you. “So they went down to Bethel.

Vs. 4 Elijah said to him.”Stay here, Elisha; the Lord has sent me to Jericho.”

“As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.”

So they went to Jericho.

Elijah said: 6 Stay here’; the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.”

Elisha replied as surely as the Lord lives and as you lived, I will not leave you.”

So the two of them walked on.

Elijah was getting ready to lay down his role and life as a Prophet.

Where was it to happen?

Gilgal?

Bethel?

Jericho?

Jordan?

Elijah doesn’t know where it’s going to happen.

He reminded me of the way an old dog decides to lay down to rest.

Goes round and round on the bed.

Pull the blanket with its paws and

Moves it with his nose.

And then finally lays down.

God has only told him that he is going to die, not where

Elijah knows he needs to began to prepare and separate himself.

So we read that Elijah goes to the different schools of the prophets

to give them his last exhortations and blessing.

Now the prophets being men of compassion

Know that death is coming for Elijah.

So they want to warn Elisha, the prophet who will take his place.

Vs. 3 Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?

Elisha knows it but doesn’t’ want to talk about it.

Vs. 3b“Yes I know, but do not speak of it.”

In my visits to those in Hospice care.

I know that the person doesn’t have long to live.

I have said to a wife.

“You know you husband is dying.”

“Yes I know but I don’t want to talk about it.”

They go to Jericho

Vs. 5 The company of prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him. “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?

5b. Yes I know but do not speak of it.

Now to give them credit. They must be concerned about Elisha.

What was to become of him when Elijah is gone?