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

 

The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “but do not speak of it.”

 

Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.

 

The company of the 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?” “Yes, I know,” he replied, “but do not speak of it.”

 

Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on. Fifty men of the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

 

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise not.

 

As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart. He picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the cloak that had fallen from him and struck the water with it. “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over. The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. (2 Kings 2:1-15)

Among the different figures that people the Bible, two have a special place—Moses and Elijah. The fact that both appear beside Jesus when he is transfigured on the mountaintop (Matthew 17:3) says a lot about their importance. They sum up the two main streams of the biblical witness that, for Christians, lead to Christ: the Law (the first five books of the Bible) and the Prophets (the writings of inspired men who remind Israel of God’s love and its demands). But if the Bible celebrates them, that is to show that they were not just admirable individuals. True co-workers with God, they were able to inspire other witnesses and in that way open ways forward for their entire nation. For that reason, the stories about the end of their lives also occupy an important place: Joshua continues the work of Moses and Elisha that of Elijah. Even though these latter figures were less original and not as great as their predecessors, their role was no less important. God’s compassionate activity does not change the world only through isolated witnesses, but through a kind of fabric woven from witness to witness, by which men and women ceaselessly inspire one another.

At the beginning of the second Book of Kings we find the story of Elijah’s departure (he is taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire) and the entry on stage of Elisha (he takes up Elijah’s mantle and continues his prophetic work). Having realized that he was soon going to depart, Elijah asks Elisha what he can do for him. “Let me inherit a double part of your spirit,” answers Elisha (v. 9), in other words the heritage of an eldest son. The request may seem bold, but it has a deep meaning. Elisha is able to see in Elijah not just his outward activity, but what animates him inwardly. He sees him as a man of God. For Elisha, continuing Elijah’s work means being animated by the same Breath from God. As the story continues, Elijah invites Elisha to remain close beside him. The transition from one witness to another will occur through this closeness. When Elijah is suddenly taken up into heaven, Elisha watches this and, as a sign of mourning, tears his garments (v. 12). At the same moment he sees Elijah’s mantle fall to the ground, picks it up and continues his predecessor’s work.

 How does the story of Elisha’s call challenge me? In what ways are we like him? In what ways are we different?

 What persons have inspired me the most in my life? In what way can our life inspire others?