Towards Sunday, June 26, 2016

Reading:  2 Kings 2:1-14 (The prophet Elijah, the stories of his courageous, sometimes violent prophetic actions, and the swings of his slightly manic-depressive personality, are coming to an end.  The prophet knows his time is coming, and in the wings is Elisha, a disciple-prophet who is very close to Elijah and soon to be his successor.  Elijah makes a final circuit of the land of Israel and Elisha follows closely, knowing that as long as stays close and sees all that God does through and for Elijah, he will be in place to receive the same spirit and calling that empowered his master.  

And when finally on the far side of the Jordan, God's chariot swings low and takes Elijah home, that's exactly what happens.  Elijah's holy mantle -- sign of God's calling and authority. is left lying on the ground.  Elisha picks it up.  And thus begins the story and stories of Elisha, new prophet of God.)

The last of the Elijah stories, and I know some in the congregation may say, "At last!"  Elijah's manic-depressive rhythms, his ego, and the extreme violence of some of his actions can be hard to take.

Nonetheless, he is also a forthright and courageous prophet for God and God's way of being a kingdom in a time when it is politically dangerous to be one, and because of him a number of others are encouraged to maintain their commitment to God and God's way as well.  But "all good things must come to an end" and this story is about the passing of the mantle (literally) from Elijah to Elisha.

The story -- like most biblical stories, is absolutely dripping with symbolism and inner meaning.
 

Elijah is on a farewell tour of sites where he has acted out his prophetic message.  It's a kind of this-is-your-life and let's-recap-the-message kind of tour, and Elisha, following his master closely, is soaking it all in.

And where does the journey end?  At the exact spot at the Jordan River where the people of Israel centuries earlier first entered the Promised Land after their journey from Egypt through the wilderness.  In other words, Elijah has been the prophet to bring the people back to their first beginnings, back to Moses, and back to the God they knew and loved at the start.

Which means, of course, when Elijah crosses over the Jordan (on dry ground? between parted waters?  where have we seen that before?) and is taken to heaven by God, it happens at the exact spot where Moses also died and was buried by God.  (Wow!  What an end!)

Which means when Elisha, spellbound at all he has just seen, picks up Elijah's fallen mantle and re-enters the promised land on dry ground through the parted waters of the Jordan (again?), he is now the new Joshua.  Like Moses, Elijah has brought the people back into relationship with God; like Joshua, Elisha will now lead the people in renewing and building their life as a people and kingdom of God in the world.  (Wow! What a job description!)

A few questions: 

• How can someone as imperfect and with as many faults as Elijah be a strong, effective prophet for God?  How do we understand or reconcile the paradox of his imperfection and his ministry?  How do I -- how do we, understand and live out that paradox in our life?  What's the role of the mantle in all this -- for Elijah, for Elisha, for us? 
• Elisha gets to inherit the mantle of God's calling and power by staying very close to Elijah, and witnessing God's affirmation and blessing of Elijah at the end.  Who have you followed and felt close to in your life, who has helped shape your faith and sense of calling?
• When Elijah is taken by God's chariot to heaven, his ministry on Earth is over and the mantle is left behind for Elisha to pick and carry on in his way.  In spite of your own faults and imperfections, is there anyone who has inherited or is inheriting a mantle of faith and holy calling from you?  How do you go about sharing your mantle with them?