The Prophet Elijah and Elisha

Reflecting upon the life of the Old Testament prophet Elisha, the contemporary Christian cannot help from being struck by how god-like his behavior seems. In the passage which precedes today's reading, Elisha is seems to be the eager but somewhat frightened successor to Elijah. Those who surround Elisha keep reminding him that Elijah is about to leave him. Elisha keeps repeating in somewhat irritated fashion that he knows this. Yet he goes directly to Elijah and asks of him a direct favor. Elisha realizing that he will need to take up the responsibilities which were previously Elijah, he asks him to bless him with "a double portion" of his spirit. Elijah's suggests that this will be difficult, but he immediately cuts his cloak in two. Shortly after this Elijah is transcended into heaven even as both later Christ and Mary will be.

Whether or not Elisha realizes it, he has already been blessed and given that "double portion" of Elijah's spirit which he requested. When he scoops up the portion of the cloak that was Elijah's, it performs the same miraculous deed for him as it had for Elijah. Waters are parted and he is allowed to travel across a dry path much as Moses had done for the Israelites when they had to flee the Egyptians and cross the Red Sea. The men standing near the banks of the Jordan feel thunder-struck. They too realize that Elisha has been ordained as the new prophet most blessed by God.

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Category: Philosophy - T