How many of us have asked God, “Why did you so closely name Elijah and Elisha?” Too many times, I have had to remind myself who came first, Elijah or Elisha?. . . Ha. All kidding aside, these two men are such an encouragement to us. Their story and life represent many Biblical truths of: loyalty, love, leadership, legacy, and more. Second Kings 2 is the monumental story of Elijah being taken up in a whirlwind to heaven right before Elisha’s eyes. Prior to this miraculous home-going, Elisha witnessed Elijah parting the Jordan and asked Elijah for a double portion of his spirit to fall on him—an extra dose of divine enablement for the tasks ahead. Here, begins Elisha’s ministry. Elisha took a piece of Elijah with him as he went forward. He used Elijah’s mantle, a sleeveless outer garment, to part the Jordan once again. Thus, showing God was with Elisha and God was going to do a new thing
Continuing to read 2 Kings 2:12-22, after Elijah is taken up to heaven, fifty men ask Elisha to search for Elijah. Against Elisha’s response of, “there’s no need,” the men didn’t believe it and went and searched anyway, coming up empty.
The men responded in 2 Kings 2:19, “Then the men of the city said to Elisha, ‘Behold now, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad and the land is unfruitful.”’
Elijah replies, “He said, ‘Bring me a new jar, and put salt in it.’ So they brought it to him. He went out to the spring of water and threw salt in it and said, ‘Thus says the Lord, ‘I have purified these waters; there shall not be from there death or unfruitfulness any longer’” (2 Kings 2:20-22).
There’s a lot of weight in, “Bring me a new jar, and put salt in it.”
God was doing a new thing.
God was showing the men that Elisha was now the prophet of God to lead Israel. Once the pupil of Elijah—but now his successor.
Salt, normally undesirable in drinking water, purified the spring, verifying that it was the Lord who did the miracle.
As I read this portion of scripture, I felt God speaking to me, that He’s doing a new thing. I may not fully understand all of it, but I know He’s in charge and will reveal the details in due time.
This doesn’t give us the excuse to do nothing. . . no, but to do what’s in front of us. All God asks of us is to be faithful with what’s right in front of us and leave our tomorrows to Him.
As God has been putting new ministry opportunities on my heart, I will follow them and keep God at the center of it all.
“Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19
Be willing to do something new with God as your co-pilot. Commit your way to Him and allow Him to determine the time and place of blessing — you will watch Him do far more above and beyond what you could ever imagine or think according to the power working within you (Ephesians 3:20).
Recently while reading John Gordon’s book, The Shark and the Goldfish, this statement hit me like a ton of bricks—”If you think your best days are behind you, they are. If you think your best days are ahead of you, they are.”
Talk about perspective!
Prior to reading this statement I was longing for the days of the past in ministry and missing what was. I thought, if we could just go back. . .Yes, it feels like the past was wonderful, but what if God has something new and exciting around the corner? Am I ready to have a new perspective that God holds my days and works for my good?
What perspective will you choose as you move forward in obedience?
This I know, God’s on the other side of your uncertainties.
Let’s ask God to keep us open to new opportunities. The future may not look exactly like the past. Stay open to a new thing. God’s working!
Journeying with Him,
Jessie