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Elijah Goes To God 2 Kings 2
After Elijah had been a prophet of God for a long time, the Lord decided to bring him to heaven. Elijah had taught a man named Elisha how to be a prophet of God. Elisha was going to lead Israel after Elijah was gone. God told Elijah to go to Bethel. Elijah told Elisha, “Stay here. I must go on to Bethel.” “I will go with you,” Elisha said. So they set off together. Elisha began to worry. Elijah was his friend and teacher. What would he do when Elijah was gone? “Will the Lord leave me, too?” he wondered.
When they got the Bethel, Elijah said, “Stay here – I am “I will go with you,” Elisha said again. Elijah took off his cloak and hit the river with it. The water divided, and the two men crossed on dry ground. Elijah knew his friend was troubled. “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.” “I want to have twice as much of a Spirit as God gave you,” Elisha said. He wanted to be sure he could lead the people well. “It is a difficult thing you have asked for. But if you see me when I am taken by God, you will receive what you have asked for,” said Elijah. They continued to walk along. Suddenly, horses pulling a chariot of fire came between them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw it all – Elijah, the chariot, the whirlwind. He called out to his friend, then Elijah was out of sight. Elisha picked up the cloak Elijah had left behind. Just as Elijah had done, Elisha struck the Jordan with the cloak. “Will the Lord be with me, as he was with Elijah?” The waters parted, and Elisha knew that God was with him. He too would be a great prophet in Israel.
(From Classic Bible
Stories, A Family Treasury retold by Lise Caldwell (c) 1998 Standard
Publishing. Used by permission. This book may be purchased at your local
Christian Bookstore or from Standard Publishing (800-543-1301).
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going
to the Jordan River.”
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