Beginnings and Ends

 

Scripture

 2 Kings 2:1-12

¹Now when the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. ²Elijah 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. ³The 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.”

⁴Elijah 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. ⁵The 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.”

⁶Then 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. ⁷Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. ⁸Then 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.

⁹When 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.” ¹⁰He 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.” ¹¹As 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. ¹²Elisha 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.

 

Devotion

Today's reading is both an end and a beginning.  After years of being God's faithful prophet, Elijah is finally being called home to God.  Elijah knows it.  The other prophets in Bethel and Jericho know it.  Even Elijah's disciple Elisha knows it.  Even though Elisha knows what is to come, he doesn't want to let go of Elijah. Much as Elisha tries to delay their parting, all things must come to an end.  In this case, the end is dramatic, as God sends a chariot of fire to separate the two men and sweep Elijah away to heaven.  Even as Elijah is carried away, Elisha keeps watching and crying out to him like a son who has just lost his father.

Elisha's grief  is understandable.  In a time when idolatry and injustice ran rampant in the Kingdom of Israel, Elijah was a zealous prophet.  He Elijah had risked his life by standing up to the prophets of Baal and Queen Jezebel.   He had performed amazing miracles and accurately predicted some incredible events.  He had even led an entire school of prophets devoted to sharing God's Word with the people.  As Elijah's most devoted assistant, Elisha must have wondered how on Earth he and the other disciples can go on without their "father."  What will become of them?  What will become of Israel?

There was, however, no reason to fear.  Elijah's prophetic career may have come to an end, but Elisha's was just beginning.  Jut as Elijah promised would happen if God allowed to Elisha to see him ascend to heaven, Elisha received a "double portion" of Elijah's spirit. After taking up his prophetic mantle as Elijah's successor, Elisha would go on to do twice as much miraculous work as Elijah had done.   Elisha repeatedly saved Israel from the hands of its military enemies.  He accurately predicted both times of great suffering and times of relief.  He even played an important role in bringing the idolatrous King Ahab's line to an end and establishing Jehu as the new King of Israel.  Elijah had been an amazing prophet...but God made sure that Elisha was as well.

The succession from Elijah to Elisha reminds us that God's work does not rely upon any one person or group.   And that is good news, because the world is constantly change.  Folks leave long-held positions.  Certain ministries come to their natural end.  Situations evolve.  

Such changes can be difficult to bear.  We may even wonder  how we can possibly go on without someone or something.  The Good News, though, is that each endings in marks the opportunity for a new beginning.   The person who steps down from a position for someone else to fill that role in new and exciting ways.  The end of one ministry that has run its course can give people the chance to start a new one... perhaps one that better responds to a community's current needs and creates a stepping stone towards future work.   

Knowing that each ending signals a new beginning does not mean that we should not honor who or what we have lost.  There is a time for grief--a time for remembering people we love and work well done.  Even in the midst of that grief, though, we can take comfort in knowing that God is not done with us yet.  That comfort can help us eventually move forward and faithfully ask, "what's next?"  

Friends, these are still the days when prophets speak, God's law-givers teach, and God's healers work miracles.  So who are these prophets, teachers, and healers?  Well, they are us and the people we are each tasked with taking up certain titles and doing God's work until it is time for us to set those tasks aside.  What's more, just as God gave Elisha a double-share of Elisha's spirit, so will God give us everything we need to help us do the work set before us.  And when it is time for our own ministries to come to an end, God will appoint someone else to take up the mantle and begin again.

God's work is never done.  God's servants will never truly fail.  And God's love will continue to unfold throughout the world...now and forever.  Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.  And when we are ready to let go of those things that have come to an end, let us rejoice in the opportunity for some new beginnings.

 

Prayer

God, we admit that we do not like change.  Help us understand that even though the things we are used to may come to an end, your presence, guidance, and love last forever.  Inspire us to make the most of each new opportunity to witness to your Word.  These are days of great trial, but we trust that they are still the days of the prophets.  May your Spirit give us the joy and courage to keep proclaiming your Good News as we await Christ's return.