Sermon: Taking Up the Mantle (2 Kings 2) # Transition # Intercultural Ministry
Sermon: Taking Up the Mantle Text: 2 Kings 2: 1-2, 6-14 Today’s story is about transition . It begins by announcing that a transition in prophetic leadership is imminent: “God was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind” (2 Kings 2:1) On the ground, Elijah must confer his power and position to his younger apprentice, ‘prophet-in-training’, Elisha. Elijah is anxious about this transition; once we learn that Elijah’s chariot is about to arrive, we hear that Elijah intends to travel alone - from Gilgal to Bethel, on to Jericho, and then to the Jordan River. A strange journey. Elijah tells Elisha not to continue on with him. “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel”, “Jericho”, “to the Jordan.” Three times. Why does Elijah want to travel alone? He’s seeing the inevitable transition ahead. Transition is never easy for anyone. But Elisha refuses to leave his master until the last possible moment, insisting upon traveling with him . Why? Some s