HOT WHEELS, FIERY HORSES, AND A WHIRLWIND

HOT WHEELS, FIERY HORSES, AND A WHIRLWIND

(II Kings 2:1-12)

Elijah knew his time was up,

And that God would take him away.

And when that moment did come,

It came with great display.

Elisha would be his successor,

The one he trained and anointed.

They were on their way from Gilgal,

To the time and place God appointed.

Elijah wanted to go alone,

But Elisha was loyal and true.

He said, "As surely as the LORD and you live,

I will never leave you."

So they went down to Bethel,

And from there to Jericho

They traveled on to the Jordan River,

Where Elijah put on quite a show.

With an audience of 50 prophets,

Elijah rolled up his cloak.

With it he struck the water,

And parted it with one stroke.

 The water divided to the right and the left,

A dry path appeared for the two.

When they had crossed over, Elijah asked,

"Tell me what I can do."

"I want double your spirit," Elisha said.

Which put Elijah in a difficult spot.

"If you see me when I’m taken,” he said,

“You can have it--otherwise not."

They saw a fiery chariot ascend,

Marking the end of his story,

Elijah was caught in a whirlwind,

And rode to heaven in a blaze of glory.

Elisha saw this and cried, "My father!”

And then his clothes he tore.

Elijah went up and through the clouds,

Then the two saw each other no more.

Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak,

And went back to the bank of the Jordan.

He drew back the cloak before striking the water,

To repeat what Elijah had done.

 "Now where is the God of Elijah?" he asked.

When he struck the water, it divided.

And once again he crossed over;

The answer had just been provided.

The prophets from Jericho who were watching,

Said, "Elisha has Elijah’s spirit."

They went to meet him and bowed to the ground.

Though they didn’t quite understand it.

“We have 50 able men,” they said,

“Let them go and look for your master.

Perhaps the Lord’s Spirit picked him up,

And set him down without disaster."

 "Don’t send them," Elisha said,

But they persisted ‘til he couldn’t refuse them.

 So he finally agreed and they sent 50 men,

Who searched three days for him.

Of course their search was to no avail,
Since they couldn't search the heavens.
And Elisha used his double portion,
To continue Elijah's missions.

Becky Overturf Wall