R. D. QUINN by R. D. Quinn

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 16, 1916

R. D. QUINN

By R. D. Quinn

Practical Lessons from the Life of Elisha — No. 2

R. D. QUINN

ELISHA had stood the test of fire. When Elijah was swept from his side by the chariot of God, he was able to stand unharmed amid that devouring fire. He had submitted to God's refining and purifying process, and could therefore endure the revelation of his actual presence. The following lesson drawn from nature illustrates this spiritual truth:—

There is a certain rock, called bitumen, used in Dalmatia for building purposes. It is said to be porous and filled with pitch. When the natives have constructed their homes with this material, they set them on fire, and all the inflammable substance is quickly burned up, leaving a beautiful white structure that ever afterward is fireproof.

Elisha had passed through the ordeal, and having complied with the conditions, he claimed the promised blessing, in these words: “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.” “And he saw him no more.” Elisha had fulfilled the condition; he had seen Elijah taken up to heaven. That was enough: the blessing was his. As Elijah swept heavenward, his mantle fell from him, and Elisha took hold of his own clothes and rent them asunder. Then he took the mantle of Elijah and went back to the Jordan, and said, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” “When he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.”

Possibly Elisha did not realize that any particular change had come over him, yet the sons of the prophets immediately recognized it, and said, “The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha.” “And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.”

From that time, Elisha's miracles were twofold those of his predecessor. God had sent one chariot of fire and horses of fire to take Elijah home; but later, when Elisha and his servant were shut up in the little town of Dothan, which was surrounded by the Assyrian armies bent on destroying Elisha, at the prophet's request God opened the eyes of the young man, “and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” 2 Kings 6: 17.

The Bible is essentially the book of life. Its pages teem with the sayings and doings of men while they lived, but contain very meager details of their death. Elijah and Elisha, however, did not take their departure from among men without leaving in their parting testimony the secret of their wondrous lives. We have already noted how Elisha sought and obtained the mighty anointing of the Spirit at Elijah's translation. Now we come to the close of the long and eventful career of Elisha. Surely his farewell words will likewise have in them a message for us.

“Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof”—the very same words that Elisha had uttered nearly sixty years before, and with which he had claimed and secured the promised blessing. The obvious mission of Joash to the side of Elisha at his death was that he might receive through the intercessions of Elisha the very same blessing that Elisha had obtained at the time of Elijah's departure. And forthwith Elisha brings his test to bear upon the king.

“Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows. And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands. And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the Lord's deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them. And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed. And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldst have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.”

Elisha had asked for great things, and received them, but Joash “smote thrice, and stayed.” His vision was small, and his deliverance and blessing were in proportion to his faith. Alas, that there should be so many more Joashes than Elishas! We are too easily satisfied. It would be pleasing to God if we made the very highest demands upon him. We dishonor the Lord when we show a lack of faith in his power and willingness to help us.

South Lancaster, Mass.