A Biblical Mentoring Relationship: The Story of Elisha Essay Example

Elisha.

Elisha was a young farmer who was plowing in the fields when Elijah visited him. Upon arrival, Elisha was plowing the field with twelve yoke of oxen. Here again we see the significant number twelve. Elijah went up to Elisha, just as the Lord had told him to do, and threw his cloak around him. This symbolized that Elisha would be the successoror next in line after Elijah.

This "throwing of the cloak" is almost a foreshadowing of how Elijah would pass his mantle off to Elisha (1 Kings 19:19-21). Engle refers to the event as "Elijah tossed his own mantle over the young Elisha, whom was called by God." A mantle was a "broad strip of cloth, much like a large shawl, that was worn across the shoulders as an outer garment. Elijah's mantle function for him much like Moses' staff" Engle). Even today, we us the terminology "passing the mantle" to represent a passing of reign, leadership, status, etc., to others.

As Elisha is selected as the next prophet, he immediately breaks the tools he was using for farming and burns them. This was a full way of calling a "quits" or an end to his profession, and a full obedience to his new leader. Not only does he burn the plowing equipment, he sacrifices the oxen and cooks them giving the people a feast. After enjoying the feast, Elisha left and became "Elijah's new helper" (1 Kings 19:21 NCV). Thus the ongoing mentoring and discipling of a new prophet began.Elisha had no idea what the future had in store for him.

He knew that he loved the Lord and was willing to follow

Elijah. This began a season of mentoring, training, correcting, insight, miracles and so much work. Elisha was committed 100% to the work he was chosen (Engle). He spent a significant amount of time being right beside Elijah. The Bible is not very clear about their relationship, but it is unique.

It was especially unique among all the Old Testament prophets. It is clearly a mentoring process, much like what Jesus would use with his disciples. They worked side by side.Eventually it came to pass that Elijah was coming to an end of his career.

It was time for Elisha to carry the torch. Now God knew that Elisha had a difficult job ahead of him so he works with him to build his faith and confidence. Again, Elisha was committed to Elijah to the very end (McChesney). After the death of Ahab, it was time for Elijah to leave this life.

We read in 2 Kings 2 where the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind and a conversation broke out. Elisha was not willing to let go of his mentor. He was extremely loyal. Elisha was going to stay with him until the very moment that the Lord would take him away. The two ended up going down to Bethel.

Elisha's sons came to him and told him that the Lord was going to take Elijah away. It was time for Elisha's ministry to begin (2 King 2:1-6). As Elijah performed one of his final miracles, he rolled up his cloak and struck the Jordan with it. The two crossed the Jordan as it divided to dry ground just

like Moses (2:7-9).

After this crossing Elijah asked, almost as a final wish, what he could do for Elisha before he left. Elisha simply asked for "a double portion of his spirit" (2:9). Elisha was not asking here for twice as much as what Elijah had, instead he was asking for two portions of it as a first born son was entitle to a double portion of the inheritance (Deut. 21:17 ; Luke 9:57-62).

Elijah was taken away by chariots of fire from the Lord. As he was being taken away, his cloak fell to Elisha. Thus, again Elijah was passing the mantle of his spirit and ministry onto his successor. Elisha took the mantle with humility and with faith. He would continue and press on with the work they had begun together.It is interesting to see the two prophets with similar names, yet had very different means of ministering.

Elijah meaning, "The Lord is my God" or My God is Yahweh" was almost a predecessor for Elisha. Now Elisha meaning, "God is Salvation" or "God is deliverance" was a common folk and easily related to all people. Elisha's character is marked by mercy (2 Kings 2:2), disinterestedness (2 Kings 5), and toleration (5:19). He walked with authority to all sects of people (Lockyer, 106).

Numerous stories grew out of Elisha's ministry. His ministry would be a ministry of life. He would restore a young boy who had died (2 Kings 4:8-37). He would save many lives by purifying a pot of soup or stew that was poisonous (4:28-44). He would help a poor widow (4:1-7). He was a man of mercy, compassion, and of power (Tullock.

194).He would also follow in the political footsteps of his mentor. Elisha confronted the kings who turned away from the Lord. He played a key part in several Israelite victories. He was even instrumental in the overthrow of a king. Elisha never shunned away form the responsibilities given to him by God and passed on through Elijah (Engle).

He took his call very seriously and faithfully. Through this act of obedience to God, He blessed his ministry a double portion as well.Elisha was not a man of pride at all. We see that the Lord did bless him in his ministry of life as he performed twice as many miracles as did his mentor Elijah. Elijah performed eight miracles while Elisha performed sixteen (Konig).

The Lord blessed Elisha's ministry and power because he gave everything up to follow the will of the Lord. He was not afraid, rather he was faithful! Elisha has one of the few mentioned faith healings of the Old Testament. In 2 Kings 5:1-14, he heals Naaman of leprosy by a ritual washing in the Jordan River. Elisha's miracles, similar to that of Jesus, displayed God's compassion, love, and care for the ordinary individual and their needs (Butterworth, 294).His miracles were not trivial performances for simple awe but rather were done to reveal the power and grace of God to a discouraged Israel. "It was to authenticate the message and the messenger, it was no the message.

God would establish his sovereign power as worth of the people's faith." Many of the miracles and healings of Elisha are meant to point to the ministry of Christ. The intention of both Jesus

and Elisha was never to put on a huge show but to demonstrate to the people the power of the Word of God in order to produce fruitful lives (Graves).The events form Elisha's life have become some of the most known of the Old Testament stories.

In a way, Elijah and Elisha represented the "last of a breed." The Prophets that followed them relied less on spectacular ways of spreading the Word and more on the power of verbal messages from the Lord (Yancy, 349).Elisha was a mighty and powerful prophet. He even carried that power with him to the grave. After he died he was placed in a tomb.

Moabite raiders would often inter the country and robe the various graves and tombs. Once while some the robbers were raiding a tomb, they heard a group of Moabites approaching and threw the body into Elisha's tomb. When the man touched Elisha's bones, he came back to life and stood at his feet (2 Kings 13:20-21). Even in death, he had power and performed miracles. God is good!It is interesting to compare the works and characteristics of both Elijah and Elisha.

Elijah was truly raising up a new leader. Pastor Dale Evrist has often stated that what a true, strong, and effective leader will do is to raise up under them someone who will surpass them. Here we see this perfectly displayed in how Elijah taught Elisha. He poured into his young future successor and eventually at the end of his ministry and time on Earth; Elijah blessed Elisha with a double portion of his inheritance.

He did as Moses did with Joshua. Moses taught

Joshua and poured the secrets of the Lord into Joshua's life in order that he would be able to lead the next generation.