Lesson 6 for May 7, 2011

This week, the lesson teaches us how Elijah’s and Elisha’s mantle was used different times with different meanings. “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death” (2 Corinthians, 7: 10 NIV)

Elijah was sent to announce a great drought that would last three and a half years because of Israel’s apostasy. He was hidden and sustained by God during that time. When it started to rain, Elijah ran ahead of Ahab for 22 miles (36 km) to Jezreel. Jezebel ordered to kill Elijah, so he ran away to save his life. Elijah arranged to meet king Ahab and the people on Mount Carmel to end the drought. There the fire of the Lord fell to show that God is the true God.

Elijah felt desperate and fled to the desert wanting to die. An angel was sent to feed him. When he heard a gentle whisper, Elijah pulled his cloak over his face as a sign of reverence before the presence of God. He then prepared to hear His Word. After being strengthened by the food, Elijah went to a cave in Mount Horeb after walking for 40 days. There God showed his power in different ways: wind, earthquake and fire.

E.G.W. (Prophets and Kings, cp. 13, pg )

“But though of a meek and quiet spirit, Elisha had no changeable character. Integrity and fidelity and the love and fear of God were his. He had the characteristics of a ruler, but with it all was the meekness of one who would serve. His mind had been exercised in the little things, to be faithful in whatsoever he should do; so that if God should call him to act more directly for Him, he would be prepared to hear His voice” (SDA Bible Commentary, Ellen G. White notes on 1 Kings, 19: 19-21) In that mission, God gave Elijah a successor and an assistant to rely on. “The LORD said to him, "Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Syria. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet” (1 Kings, 19: 15-16)

“As Elijah, divinely directed in seeking a successor, passed the field in which Elisha was plowing, he cast upon the young man’s shoulders the mantle of consecration. During the famine the family of Shaphat had become familiar with the work and mission of Elijah, and now the Spirit of God impressed Elisha’s heart as to the meaning of the prophet’s act. To him it was the signal that God had called him to be the successor of Elijah” E.G.W. (Prophets and Kings, cp 17, pg. 164) Elijah allowed Elisha to freely make a decision after his call. When Elisha sacrificed his oxen and burnt his plough, he showed that he wouldn’t need them anymore since he was consecrating his life to God.

Elijah was divinely strengthen and continued carrying out his mission. When Ahab and Jezebel killed Naboth to take possession of his vineyard, God sent Elijah to reprimand Ahab for his sin. That reprimand generated repentance in Ahab: “When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly” (1 Kings 21: 27)

When Elijah was called to ascend to Heaven, he tested Elisha as he did when he called him. Elijah asked him to stay in every school of prophets. Elisha understood his mission and went with Elijah to the end. When they arrived to the Jordan River, Elijah struck the water with his cloak and the water divided. When Elijah asked Elisha what he wanted, he asked a double portion of the Holy Spirit that Elijah had. Elisha’s cloak was a symbol of receiving the Holy Spirit and it became Elisha’s cloak since then.

E.G.W. (The upward look, November 13)

Elisha picked up Elijah’s’ cloak. He tore his own clothes apart and put the cloak on. Elisha started to serve God in a different way since then. He was the successor of Elijah. Elisha struck the water of the Jordan River and the water divided again as a sign of divine approval of his new ministry. Elisha wasn’t accepted at the beginning and people doubted of his word (he insisted on looking for Elijah) However, he didn’t try to impose his leadership but laid that problem before God. His life was a life of service to God and to his neighbors.

“He who wears the mantle, not of Elijah, but of Christ, will give evidence that he keeps his eye fixed on the Savior. Imbued with Christ’s Spirit, he is fitted to teach” E.G.W. (Spalding and Magan Collection, “The mantle of Christ”, p. 231)