As we see the prophet Elisha take up Elijah his master's mantle, that fell from him as he was taken up by a whirlwind into heaven, and smite the waters of the Jordan, the symbolic power of the mantle stands out. Just as earlier in Elijah’s experience, when he takes his own mantle and divides the waters, and before that, wraps his face in his mantle to stand on the mountain of Horeb to hear the word of the Lord.
In the mantle, the power of our Lord God is seen, and his mastery over nature in the sea, the wind – over gravity. Not only God’s power, too, but our human response to this power – a holy fear and awe, in which we cover or hide our faces and like Moses in front of the burning bush or Joshua in the presence of the Lord of hosts, uncover our feet and recognize holy ground.
This mantle pushes us to look beyond a cloak to the depths of love and faith built up in a life. These dramatic moments highlighted in the Bible record invite us to dive to those depths in our own experience - as we begin our journey to finding them, or continue in ever-deeper and broadening experiences of faith.
In the mantle, the power of our Lord God is seen, and his mastery over nature in the sea, the wind – over gravity. Not only God’s power, too, but our human response to this power – a holy fear and awe, in which we cover or hide our faces and like Moses in front of the burning bush or Joshua in the presence of the Lord of hosts, uncover our feet and recognize holy ground.
This mantle pushes us to look beyond a cloak to the depths of love and faith built up in a life. These dramatic moments highlighted in the Bible record invite us to dive to those depths in our own experience - as we begin our journey to finding them, or continue in ever-deeper and broadening experiences of faith.
- “Elijah found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him...Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah.” “He took a yoke of oxen, and slew them...and gave unto the people.... Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him (I Ki 19:19-21).” “Elisha said I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me (II Ki 2:9).” “He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, where is the Lord God of Elijah? and...the waters, they parted hither and thither; and Elisha went over (II Ki 2:14).”
Beyond Elisha’s wielding of his master’s cloak we see his hunger to serve God, and his counting the costs, and his total devotion. We understand the daily discipline in which he nurtured a faith that would fit him to be God’s messenger in Israel’s dark days of apostasy.
- And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood” (I Ki 19:13).
Through the drama of Elijah’s cave experience, we look beyond the wind, earthquake and fire to his Word. We hear the voice that has grown as intimate as our own heartbeat, and the glory and awe of the relationship comes over us. In echoes that go back to Moses, we raise our mantles and cover our faces before his majesty, at his Lordship in us and over our being, overwhelmed in the face of God’s self-revelation.
This is the God behind the mantle, who calls us, saying...the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”
This is the God behind the mantle, who calls us, saying...the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”
*May God's Spirit Be With You As You Study – And Experience
His Guiding You Into His Will*
His Guiding You Into His Will*
