Elijah's Parting 2 Kings 2

This is not following along with my regular devotions, but I just had to bring out what I had learned

from 2 Kings 2:7-17 today.

In 2 Kings 2:7-17, Elijah and his servant (apprentice), Elisha were travelling to the Jordan River in order that Elijah might meet his Master.

When Elijah and Elisha got to the Jordan, Elijah took up his mantle (cloak), and smote the water, and they parted as they had at the Israelites' crossing of the Red Sea. And just as the Israelites had crossed the Red Sea to journey into the Promised Land, Elijah crossed the Jordan to journey there as well.

When they had crossed the river, Elijah asked Elisha whether there was something he could do for him. 2 Kings 2:9-10 Elisha replied to 'let a double portion of thy spirit fall upon me.' Elijah replied that it would be a hard thing, but not with God, for with Him are all things possible.

As they were speaking, a fiery chariot came and parted them. 2 Kings 2:11-12 Elijah watched the chariot ascend into heaven, and rent his clothes in two pieces at his distress.

He then picked up the mantle of his earthly master, and walking back to the Jordan, smote the water, saying, 'Where is the Lord God of Elijah?'

The waters parted, sybolizing the transfer of God's hand upon Elijah to that of His servant, Elisha.

When Elisha returned to a group of prophets, they said unto him, 2 Kings 2:16-18 Let 50 strong men go and search for your master. Perhaps the spirit of the Lord has taken him upon some mountain, or taken him to some valley. Elisha refused to give them permission, until he could bear it no longer, and gave in. When the strong men returned from their search after 3 days, they gave their report: Elijah was nowhere to be found.

In verse 18 Elisha asked them saying, 'Did I not say, go not?

Elisha knew what had happened. He had seen Elijah taken from him. With him there were no discrepancies. He had seen the hand of the Lord, and he had seen his earthly master taken away. For this reason, he had said there was no point in searching. God had and will do what is best. We have no need to worry or fear. Or to doubt His word.

When He says that He will do something, He will do it. And we can rest in this.

Joyful Giving

In Ex 35:20-29 God stirred the hearts of the children of Israel to give, and if someone had something that God needed we see that they willingly gave it. In fact they were so willing that it says

 
 

And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing. 7 For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much. Ex 36:6-7

 
 

They were so willing and joyful that they gave to much. O that God would stir our hearts to give so much that we will have to be told to stop giving!

The Talents

We've all heard the story of the three servants and the talents. (Matthew 25:14-30)

But today I read it again and noticed this, it says

 
 

30 And cast ye out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth."

Matt 25:30

 
 

Christ used parables to describe future things and I can't help but wonder whether or not Christ will say to those 'christians' who aren't fruitful I never knew you depart from me. And cast them into hell.

After all the bible does say you will know them by their fruit.