ELIJAH’S AND

ELISHA’S MANTLE

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.

CLOAK OF REVERENCE

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.

CLOAK OF REVERENCE

“Not in mighty manifestations of divine power, but by “a still small voice,” did God choose to reveal Himself to His servant. He desired to teach Elijah that it is not always the work that makes the greatest demonstration that is most successful in accomplishing His purpose. While Elijah waited for the revelation of the Lord, a tempest rolled, the lightnings flashed, and a devouring fire swept by; but God was not in all this. Then there came a still, small voice, and the prophet covered his head before the presence of the Lord. His petulance was silenced, his spirit softened and subdued. He now knew that a quiet trust, a firm reliance on God, would ever find for him a present help in time of need.

E.G.W. (Prophets and Kings, cp. 13, pg. 168-169)

It is not always the most learned presentation of God’s truth that convicts and converts the soul. Not by eloquence or logic are men’s hearts reached, but by the sweet influences of the Holy Spirit, which operate quietly yet surely in transforming and developing character. It is the still, small voice of the Spirit of God that has power to change the heart”

CLOAK OF CONSECRATION

“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.

CLOAK OF CONSECRATION

CLOAK OF REPRIMAND

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)

CLOAK OF THE HOLY SPIRITWhen 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.

CLOAK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT“He [Elisha] did not ask for worldly honor, for a high place among the great men of the earth. That for which He craved was a double portion of the Spirit given to the one God was about to honor with translation. He knew that nothing but a double portion of the Spirit that had rested on Elijah could fit him to fill the place Elijah had filled, because Elijah had the experience and wisdom of age, which cannot by any method be imparted to the young.

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

Had you been asked this question, what would you have answered? What is the greatest desire of your heart as you engage in the service of God?”

CLOAK OF SERVICEElisha 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)