And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces.

II Kings 2:12 NKJV

When reading the Scripture out loud with my family, occasionally one of my boys will say something to me like, “Daddy, you are hurting my ears.” This is not because they do not like the Scripture, in fact they often ask for more to be read. Rather, there are certain portions of Scripture I struggle to read at an appropriate volume. The passage builds up over many verses like a musical crescendo before reaching a climax at a triumphant declaration of the Lord’s power, glory, name, or work. John 8:31 – 59 is one of those passages. Jesus was interacting with the Pharisees around many points concerning Abraham when near the end of that interaction they ask Him, “Are you greater than our father Abraham, who is dead?” (8:53). Jesus responded, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad!”*

The unity of the Old and New Testament faith, the deity of Christ, the hope of salvation, are all declared in one small verse. It is among the greatest interactions recorded for us of Jesus’s earthly ministry. Abraham rejoiced to see the day of Jesus, and he saw it!

With the drama of the events unfolding around Elijah’s ascension into Heaven and Elisha’s passionate mourning at the loss of his spiritual father, we must remember to focus on the first four words of verse twelve, which set the stage for the rest of Elisha’s life on earth. “And Elisha saw it…”

What did Elisha see? He saw the chariot and horses of fire bring Elijah up by a whirlwind into Heaven. He saw Elijah’s mantle fall to the ground. He saw the sky close up so that his father was with him no more.

Why does it matter that Elisha saw it? Before Elijah was taken up from earth he asked Elisha what he could do for him before he was taken away (vs 9), and Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit.

The spirit of Elijah was not Elijah’s to give away, for it was the spirit of the Lord. Who could give such a thing in any portion (let alone, double portion) but the Lord Himself? So Elijah told Elisha that he had asked for “a hard thing” (vs. 10). Nevertheless, if Elisha saw Elijah when he was taken up into Heaven, it would mean the Lord had given Elisha the double portion. If Elisha did not see it meant the Lord had not given it. “And Elisha saw it…” The Lord was with Elisha. The Lord was with Israel. The Lord is always with His people. Elisha asked a hard thing. He asked a great thing. He asked for the Spirit of the Lord that was with Elijah to be with him and the Lord granted his request.

Brothers and sisters, are you asking hard things of the Lord? We need to take encouragement from the Word when we pray and ask hard things of the Lord. Who knows the Lord’s mind and will as to His answer? Are we praying for one new family to join the church this year? Keep praying for that family and that the Lord would fill the building with true worshipers in all faithful churches this year. Are we praying for the weakening of particular sins in ourselves? Let us pray for the death of those sins also! Are we praying for the end of surgical abortion? Let us also pray for the end of all abortion! Are we praying for NAPARC** churches to hold the biblical line in areas like marriage and sexuality? Let us also pray for righteousness to abound in our congregations! Are we praying for our children to embrace Christ by faith? Let us also pray they would serve Christ and His bride all their days without reservation!

Let us go boldly before the throne of God with confidence, as children to a father, asking Him who made Heaven and Earth to do hard things for us. Then we, like Elisha and Abraham, will be able to say, “And we saw it!”

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*Ancient Greek does not have exclamation points in it like modern Greek and English. It seems to me that this sentence ought to have an English exclamation point at the end of it rather than a period. However, please note that most English translations use a period, so this is a deviation from the English translation to seek to highlight the majesty of the words and truth that Jesus spoke in these verses. An exclamation point should be used at the end of vs. 58 as well!

**North American Protestant and Reformed Council www.naparc.org/

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***If you are at our house for the reading of II Kings 2, please do not hesitate to interrupt if I am hurting your ears.

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