Amaziah was committed to the worship of Baal. During his brief two years reign Moab revolted against Israel's dominion. Ahaziah himself sustained a fatal accident (2 Kings 1:2 ). The Lord was speaking but the king was not listening. The king's sin of sending to consult Baal-Zebub meaning "Lord of flies", was challenged by God through Elijah, and condemned to death for his arrogant idolatry.

The same defiant arrogance against God and His servant was shown by the first and second captains of 50 soldiers who tried to capture Elijah - fire from heaven consumed them. Here is demonstrated the gift of faith, ministered to and through Elijah for his protection. The third captain received mercy for he came with humble respect for God's power. Elijah received assurance that it was safe to confront the king (2 Kings 1:14-15 ). The action of the disciples in Luke 9:51-56, was offensive, while Elijah acted defensively. The Lord promised supernatural protection of His witnessing people, and powerful confirmation of His message through them (Mark 16:15-18 ).

To establish God's government and word, Samuel had schools of prophets. Here, Elijah is seen to have sons around him, as Jesus had disciples. The main purpose would seem to be to instruct in the word and the purposes of God, with special attention to the national need. Some so taught became prophets in their own right. It would seem that there were such sons of the prophets at Gilgal, Jericho and Bethel.

2 Kings 2:3 "Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, 'Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?' And he said, 'Yes, I know; keep silent!'"

He was determined to remain with Elijah to the end. Elijah, on the other hand, at each place on the journey tested the fidelity of Elisha as one anointed by him for his succession. Elijah's final miracle (2 Kings 2:8 ) dividing Jordan's waters by striking them with his mantle. A final attesting of his prophetic office.

Many teachers see a parallel of Elisha's request with Deuteronomy 21:17. As the inheritor of Elijah's ministry, like the first-born he wanted a double portion of Elijah's spirit, boldly requesting double power from God. It is a fact that twice the miracles of Elijah are recorded in his successor's ministry, whose motivation was to accomplish more for God. Such motivation will still be met by God with the granting of a power ministry.

Elijah, like Enoch, experienced this (Genesis 5:22-24 ).

2 Kings 2:11 "Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven."

So will all living believers at Christ's return (1 Corinthians 15:51; 1 Thessalonians 4:17 ). The effect on Elisha was that of loss and awe (2 Kings 2:12 ).

Elisha proved the God of Elijah was with him by dividing the waters, and demonstrating to the watching sons of the prophets that God was with him (2 Kings 2:13-14 ).

2 Kings 2:18 "And when they came back to him, for he had stayed in Jericho, he said to them, "Did I not say to you, 'Do not go'?"

Unbelief is the cause of fruitless labour.

2 Kings 2:22,24 "So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke. ²⁴ So he turned around and looked at them, and pronounced a curse on them in the name of the Lord. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths."

Two miracles authenticate Elisha's ministry (2 Kings 2:19-25 ). The healing of the waters spoke of the healing prophetic ministry of Elisha in Israel. The judgment on the young adults who ridiculed him, spoke of the severity of the prophetic ministry towards those who mock God.

2 Kings 3:3 "Nevertheless he persisted in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin; he did not depart from them."

Jehoram, Ahab's son, king of Israel, is evaluated in (2 Kings 3:1-13 ). By turning his back on the Lord in allowing idol worship, he clung to the great sin of Jeroboam.

Judah forms a coalition with Israel to put down a Moabite revolt. Uniting to subdue a common foe who was a considerable threat to them. An alliance with evil, even to accomplish good is never the mind of the Lord.

2 Kings 3:11 "But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may enquire of the LORD by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah. "

Jehoshaphat had not sought the Lord about joining the coalition - now with no water for the army he calls for a prophet. Don't let us wait for our own plans to go wrong before seeking the Lord's direction.

Elisha courageously told Israel's idolatrous king he would not even speak with him but for godly Jehoshaphat of Judah. Interesting that in Old Testament times music stirred to prophecy (2 Kings 3:15 ). Prophetic utterance flows when saints are gathered to the Lord in praise and worship (1 Corinthians 14:26 ).

2 Kings 3:16 "And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches."

Co-operative work on our part opens the way for God's miracles. Notice the miracle came without fanfare of any kind - no sound of wind or rain - the ditches were filled and the Moabites destroyed (2 Kings 3:17-25 ).

In desperation the king of Moab sacrificed his son and heir to his heathen deity - the act so stirred the besieged Moabite army to hate, that Israel retreated. We should not fear the devil's attacks nor the roaring of the devil - He that is in us is greater.

---

QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. How did Ahaziah show his commitment to the worship of Baal? (2 Kings 1:2 ).
2. When you are suffering reverses do they cause you to turn to the Lord?
3. Who took the initiative in sending Elijah to intercept Ahaziah's messengers with a message of judgment? (2 Kings 1:3-4 ).
4. What distinguishes the third captain from the first two? (2 Kings 1:9-14 ).What was the difference in the desired action of the disciples (Luke 9:51-56 ) and Elijah's action?
5. What do you believe was the function of the "sons of the prophets"? (2 Kings 2:3,5 ).
6. Why did Elijah repeatedly ask Elisha to stay behind while he went on, and why did Elisha insist on going with Elijah? (2 Kings 2:2,4,6 ).
7. How many sons of the prophets witnessed the miracle of Elijah dividing the Jordan's water, and what was the miraculous significance? (2 Kings 2:7-8 )
8. Do you take Elisha's request for a double portion of Elijah's spirit to be more than claiming his position as successor? (2 Kings 2:9 ). What would you be asking for by requesting a double portion?
9. How was Elijah taken up? What was the effect on Elisha? How was he confirmed as Elijah's successor before the watching sons of the prophets? (2 Kings 2:11-15 ).
10. Has unbelief been the cause for you, of fruitless labour? (2 Kings 2:16-18 ).
11. What do the two miracles of 2 Kings 2:19-25 tell you about the character of Elisha's ministry?
12. Should Jehoshaphat have consulted the Lord before joining the coalition? (2 Kings 3:4-8 ). What caused him to consult the Lord? (2 Kings 3:9-11 ). Do you wait for things to go wrong before seeking direction from the Lord?
13. Why did Elisha challenge the king of Israel, but was favourable to the king of Judah? (2 Kings 3:12-14 ).
14. Did Elisha call for music because he needed to centre his spirit on God after confrontation with the idolatrous king of Israel? (2 Kings 3:15 ). When special need makes it imperative that you hear, what do you do?
15. Have you found that hard work in co-operation with God, makes way for His miracle working? (2 Kings 3:16-25 ).