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The name Elijah means “My God is YHWH” (the personal name of God in Judaism is YHWH), while the name Elisha means “My God is salvation.” Both men are prophets in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and their stories are told in the first and second books of Kings. At the beginning of 2 Kings, Elijah condemned King Ahaziah of Israel for turning to a foreign god, and Elijah called down fire from heaven on the king’s messengers. Then, as the second chapter begins, “The Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind” (2 Kgs 2:1). Yes, a whirlwind. This departure was an extraordinary end to an extraordinary prophetic career. But was it really an end?
Christians believe that Elijah went to heaven in a whirlwind and later returned to earth in the Transfiguration. At that point, he appeared alongside Moses and had a conversation with Jesus, showing the disciples that Jesus was the continuation of what God had started with the Old Testament law and prophets (Mark 9:2-9). Because of his unique status, Elijah is a living link between earth and heaven, our world and God’s world. He shows us that heaven is not just “the afterlife,” but is a place that has an ongoing impact on the choices we make in this life. Following the example of Elijah, we can put effort into changing the world as it is into the world as it should be, remembering that Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt 6:10). Flying with Elijah in the whirlwind, our challenge is to do whatever we can to get the ways of the world in line with the values of heaven.
In 2 Kings 2, Elijah and his protégé Elisha traveled from Gilgal to the Jordan River. The two undoubtedly remembered their ancestors on the banks of the river in Joshua and on the shore of the Red Sea in Exodus, two other examples of the Bible’s Greatest Hits. Now, in 2 Kings, “Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground” (2 Kgs 2:8). In all of these cases, water is a sign of the chaos that can destroy the people of God, but in every situation God gives them safe passage. Elisha then asked his master Elijah, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit” (2 Kgs 2:9). Elisha wanted the spirit of his master to fill him, so that he could continue his work in the world. He wanted to pick up Elijah’s mantle — the cloak that was a symbol of his authority and power — and continue his prophetic ministry.
What would it mean for us to inherit Elijah’s spirit and pick up his mantle today? We can begin by listening to the prophetic words that are always a clear and constant cry for justice: “seek justice” (Isaiah 1:17), “hold fast to love and justice” (Hosea 12:6), “let justice roll down like waters” (Amos 5:24), and “do justice” (Micah 6:8). When we pick up Elijah’s mantle, we take action to make sure that all of our neighbors are treated fairly, and that the weak and the poor get the help they need. Elijah himself became famous for helping a poor widow and her son, who were not only needy but were foreigners — residents of Zarephath (1 Kgs 17). Jesus later got in trouble with his neighbors in Nazareth when he reminded them that Elijah was sent to this widow at Zarephath (Luke 4:25-26). When we inherit a double share of Elijah’s spirit, we join God’s prophets in seeking justice, rescuing the oppressed, and defending the rights of the poor.
As Christians, our challenge is to bring the values of heaven down to earth, and to see everyone as a part of God’s valuable creation. In Dawson, Minnesota, a pastor in training named Mandy France had been horrified by some of the things that she had heard people saying about Islam in her prayer group at Grace Lutheran Church. So she asked her Muslim doctor, Ayaz Virji, if he would be willing to give a talk about Islam to the community. According to The Washington Post, about 400 people gathered in the high school auditorium, some of whom had been critical of the talk. He addressed their concern right away by saying, “I heard many people were protesting this talk. And I have to say, that stings a little bit. I mean, do I look that intimidating? … Do I look like a terrorist?” He laughed, and a few people in the audience laughed as well. Then he talked for an hour about what 99.99 percent of Muslims believe — none of which has anything to do with terrorism. He ended with a slideshow of family photos, including one of his cat. People applauded, and some submitted questions to be answered later.
Pastor Mandy was following Jesus when she invited Ayaz Virji to speak. Like Jesus, she was willing to reach out to someone who was considered an outcast, and build a relationship with him. Her actions helped Dr. Virji to educate his community about Islam, a faith that considers Elijah, Elisha and Jesus to be prophets. This passage is one of the Bible’s greatest hits because it moves us from earth to heaven and heaven to earth. That’s the ride we take when we join Elijah in the whirlwind. That’s what happens when we keep body and spirit together, and take actions to put the ways of the world in line with the values of heaven.
Questions:
1. How do you try to keep heaven and earth together?
2. Where do you hear prophetic calls for justice today?
3. What could it mean for us to inherit Elijah’s spirit, and take action in the world?
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