Introduction
This is the final reference to Elisha's ministry of 50 to 60 years, after 10-15 years of his apprenticeship to Elijah. He could be about 80 years old at the time of this passage.
It has been calculated that 42 miracles were recorded by these two prophets– Elijah performed 14 miracles and Elisha performed 28 – in nation that wandered from God.
It has been considered that there was a period of silence of 43 years from the last reference to Elisha to this point.
Month of August has been designated ‘What will be your legacy?’ month, and the 2012 Olympics emphasis was on legacy.
Illustration: A father was at the beach with his children when the four-year old son ran up to him, grabbed his hand, and led him to the shore where a seagull lay dead in the sand. ‘Daddy, what happened to him?’ the son asked. ‘He died and went to heaven,’ the Dad replied. The boy thought for a moment and then said, ‘Did God throw him back down?’
1. Legacy whilst alive
There is a glimpse of close relationship between king and prophet – with the king's reference to ‘my father’ – for he was anxious at the loss of the true prophet.
Jehoash, grandson of Jehu ( who had instigated the uprising against Ahab's house), was evil in God’s sight (verse 11); but he recognised the impact of God upon the nation. We are reminded that Elisha called out after Elijah when the latter was departing on a chariot to heaven:‘My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!’ (2 Kings 2: 12). Coming from the king, it was ironic as Israel only had 50 horsemen and 10 chariots, but the Lord had a host (cf. siege of Dothan when servant’s eyes opened).
The king also recognised Elisha as the defence of Israel, physical as well as spiritual and moral.
Elisha put his hand on Jehoram’s hands as a sign of godly guidance – ‘This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but My Spirit,’ says the Lord of Hosts.’ (Zechariah 4: 6)
It was a test of faith – a symbolic act like Joshua thrusting spear at Ai (Joshua 8: 18) or pre-arranged signal like Jonathan to David (1 Samuel 20: 20 – 22).
The extent of victory was limited by man’s failure to persevere. The three arrows was probably half a quiver. It could also signify that, in the expeditions against Arameans, Israel was to look to God for direction and strength. The nation defeated because one man failed to do things God’s way.
We could be like Jehoash in starting to do it God’s way but not completing the task. The result can a lost way leading to community and our nation as it is.
Many people are like Jehoash – attending church, regular reading God’s Word, regular praying, serving God in many ways – stopped but these activities need to done 24/7.
If we want to be blessed and see victory for the kingdom of God, we need to do things God’s way.
If we stop too soon in witnessing for the Lord, the work of the Church will be impeded – we cannot stay still; so if we are not moving forward then will be going backwards for Satan will not stop his work.
We need to have the same attitude as Nehemiah to returning exiles: ‘Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.’ (2: 17). We need to dream big dreams for God and witness to others of His love for them. As John Wimber remined us ‘faith’ is spelt ‘r-i-s-k’. We need to be discontent where we are now and want God to move in our lives, neighbourhood, nation.
Small thoughts will limit our horizons and how God will work in and through us. Although Elisha was on his sick bed, he still had words that God wanted him to speak.
We need to listen to God through reading Bible, talk with Him, godly counsel.
We will be consistent with what He has already said.
Visions are worth living for, but it will involve sacrifice and commitment.
Gary Collins stated: ‘When vision fades, passion cools, enthusiasm dissipates, indecision and inertia take over, and hope disappears.’
Jeremiah 29: 11 – 13: ‘”For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”’
Sometimes nothing will blow our socks off. Illustration: An old missionary couple had been working in Africa for many years and were returning to New York to retire. They had no pension, broken health – feeling defeated, discouraged and afraid. They discovered that booked on the same ship as President Teddy Roosevelt, who was returning from one of his big-game hunting expeditions. No one paid any attention to them. They watched the fanfare that accompanied the president’s entourage, with passengers trying to catch a glimpse of the great man. As the ship moved across the ocean, the old missionary said to his wife, ‘Something is wrong. Why should we have given our lives in faithful service for God in Africa all these many years and have no one care a thing for us? Here this man comes back from a hunting trip and everybody makes much over him, but nobody cares two hoots about us.’ ‘Dear, you shouldn’t feel that way,’ his wife said. Her husband responded: ‘I can’t help it; it doesn’t seem right.’ When the ship docked in New York, a band was waiting to greet the President. The mayor and other dignitaries were there. The newspapers were full of the President’s arrival, but no one noticed the missionary couple. They slipped off the ship and found a cheap flat on the East Side, hoping the next day to see what they could do to make a living in the city. That night, the man’s spirit broke. He said to his wife, ‘I can’t take this; God is not fair.’ His wife replied, ‘Why don’t you go in the bedroom, and tell that to the Lord?’ A short time later, he came out of the bedroom, but now his face was completely different. His wife asked, ‘Dear, what happened?’ ‘The Lord settled it with me,’ he said. ‘I told him how bitter I was that the President should receive this tremendous homecoming, when no one met us as we returned home. And when I finished, it seemed as though the Lord put His hand on my shoulder and simply said, “But you’re not home yet!”’
It is noticeable that there was no-one to pass the baton from Elisha – who are we passing the work onto?
Deuteronomy 6: 4 – 7a: ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children.’ – then it tells how. The result is in verses 24 – 25: ‘The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. And if we are careful to obey all this law before the Lord our God, as He has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.’
The Centre for the Study of Global Christianity (CSGC) at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary issued a study looking at missionaries sent out in 2010 – the top 10 included USA, South Korea, and Brazil. But in proportion to number of church members, the top of the table were: Palestine, Ireland, Malta and Samoa with South Korea at number 5 and the USA at number 10. The lesson is that God not interested in numbers, but in hearts willing to serve Him and lives that are willing to be laid down for Him.
We need to:
· Build relationships, develop frontlines
· Be an example, then follow up by…
· Know the truth to share
· Share your story of how God changed you by His love and mercy
This activity is within reach of all of us. In another study by CSGC: one in three of non-religious people in the world more likely to have a Christian friend, with one in five of non-Christian religion – that Christian friend is you!
Chuck Swindoll tells that, during the interregnum of Oliver Cromwell, the English government began to run low on silver for coins. Lord Cromwell sent his men to a local cathedral to see if they could find any precious metal there. After investigating, they reported: ‘The only silver we can find is in the statues of the saints standing in the corners,’ to which the radical soldier and statesman replied, ‘Good! We’ll melt down the saints and put them into circulation.’ We need to be in circulation, not holed up.
We need also train up those to come after us.
2. Legacy when passed away
Elijah was honoured in his departure, Elisha honoured after his departure – this event must be at least two years after his death for only bones remained.
This miracle was the fulfilment of the ‘double portion’ as prophesied by Elijah when he commissioned Elisha, his pupil.
He was looking forward – ‘In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious.’ (Isaiah 11: 10)
So often death brings about the end of our effectiveness, when it should have ongoing effects.
Illustration: in late 8th and early 9th century, Charlemagne (or Charles the Great) ruled most of the European continent – a ruthless ruler. When he died, he was entombed in magnificent style – his body was placed on ivory tomb embedded with gold and precious stones. On his head was crown of jewels. To prop up his arm was a sceptre, the symbol of power. On his finger was a signet ring; he wore robe of purple. In his lap was a scroll detailing deeds, many were evil but interspersed with Scripture verses so to give a sense of approval by God. The burial unit was finally sealed. Centuries later, the seal was broken to reveal surprises – his flesh had rotted so there was only a skeleton on the throne. His flesh had turned to dust and settled at feet of the throne, along with dust of robe which had also rotted. The prop that held up his arm and his hand had also disintegrated, with the skeletal hand had dropped to the floor taking the scroll that had been on his lap. When those who had entered the unsealed tomb, they noticed that the skeletal hand now resting on the open scroll, seemingly pointing with index finger to ‘What shall it profit a man if he should gain the whole world and loses his own soul.’ (Luke 9: 25) Charles spoke greater truth in his death than he did in lifetime.
It symbolises that Elisha’s actions brought Israel new life after his death – the evidence that God was letting the nation know that if they placed their faith in Him, He would give them resurrection over their enemy – so the UK needs to be raised to life. It is better to fear (honour) God than fear the enemy.
When Elisha died, the Moabites invaded soon after (13: 20). when we go to be with the Lord, the legacy we leave behind may be tested very soon after.
Count Zinzendorf, whose Moravian movement responsible for John Wesley finding Christ: ‘I have one passion – it is He, it is He alone. The world is the field and the field is the world; and henceforth that country shall be my home where I can be the most used in winning souls for Christ.’
Elisha had passion for God’s glory – what about us?
Conclusion
God wants to impart His blessing totally.
What sort of legacy will we leave:
· Riches – rust, we cannot take it with us.
· Family – we will only be of interest only to genealogists (unless we are illustrious for better or worse). Jesus stated : ‘”Who are my mother and brothers?” he asked…”Here are my mother and brothers. Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother”.’ (Mark 3: 34 – 35)
· Friends – will go soon after we die.
· Only the Kingdom of God is permanent: Jesus reminded us: ‘Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. (John 6: 27) then ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.’ (6: 2)
1 Corinthians 15: 58 – ‘Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.’
We should aim and want to be not to be seating but a sending church → abroad, our nation, workplaces, our frontlines wherever that might be.
Questions:
· What are you doing to share God’s good news whilst you are alive? – this life is not a rehearsal
· What are you doing to ensure your legacy for the kingdom of God will continue after you go to be with Him? – not talking about financial, but about spiritual (people being saved and growing in Jesus)
Are you willing to be part of God’s total blessing?
