Obedience and Doubt
In 2 Kings 2: 1-18 Elijah and Elisha traveled from Gilgal to Bethel, Jericho, and Jordan. It was time for Elijah's departure. They came to the river Jordan. Elijah smote the waters with his mantle and the waters parted. They walked over on dry ground. Elijah asked Elisha, "what shall I do for thee, before I be taken away from thee." Elisha said, "I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me." He said thou has asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so to thee; but if not, it shall not be so.
There appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire and parted them and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
Elisha saw it, and he cried, " My father, My father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof," And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes and rent them to pieces.
He took up Elijah's mantle that fell from him and went back and stood, by the river Jordan. He took the mantle and smote the waters and said, "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" The waters parted and Elisha crossed over.
The sons of the prophets had been watching. They said, The spirit of Elijah does rest on Elisha. They came to meet him and bowed themselves to the ground before him.
The sons of the prophets wanted to look for Elijah. Elisha told them no. They kept asking until he was ashamed. he said, "Send." They sent 50 men to search 3 days and didn't find him.
Elisha traveled on to Jericho. The men came again to Elisha. Elisha said to them, "Did I not say unto you, Go not?"
This story shows the love Elijah had for Elisha and for the people. He knew he was leaving. He traveled back to see them one last time, probably to encourage them. Elijah asked what could he give to Elisha to help him. Elijah asked for a double portion of thy Spirit. How many people would ask for that today? Then the comical part of this story is the search party sent to find Elijah after God took him up to heaven in a chariot of fire.