p. 8 | R. D. QUINN by R. D. Quinn

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 9, 1916

R. D. QUINN

By R. D. Quinn

Practical Lessons from the Life of Elisha — No. 1

R. D. QUINN

The close of the career of Elijah is the beginning of the career of Elisha. It was on the way from the wilderness to Damascus that Elijah had found Elisha plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and had stripped off his own mantle and cast it upon the shoulders of this wondering youth. Elisha immediately accepted the prophetic call, and “went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.” 1 Kings 19:21.

A few years passed by, and Elijah was fitted for translation, and Elisha was prepared to become his successor. The time had come when there was to be enacted one of the sublimest scenes in sacred history—the time “when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind.” His days of wandering and conflict were now over.

For the last time he journeyed from Gilgal to Bethel. Only one faithful disciple was with him, the son of Shaphat, who, after the manner of Eastern attendants, stood by him to pour water on the hands of his master. At each successive halt the faith and resolutions of Elisha were put to test. “Tarry here, I pray thee,” Elijah said, “for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel . . . to Jericho . . . to Jordan.” But in each instance Elisha’s answer, “As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee,” expressed his unalterable and unshaken purpose to trust in his master and in his master’s God.

Not even the sons of the prophets, who met him with the mournful message, “Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head today?” could deter this devoted servant from seeing with his own eyes the last moments, and hearing with his own ears the last words, of the prophet of God. “And they two went on.” They went on alone from those high table-lands, descending all the way to the banks of the Jordan. “And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.” The aged Gileadite could not rest until he again set foot on his own side of the river.

“Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee.” Only one gift was in Elisha’s mind to ask for: “I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.”

Elisha knew what he wanted. He had not many requests to make—only this one thing. He knew if that divine gift could be secured, it would bring all other blessings in its train. He held on perseveringly, and his faith was rewarded. O that the church of God today had but this one request to make: Lord, let a double portion of thy Spirit come upon us! What marvelous changes would be wrought! What sweeping sacrifices would be made! What an entire change would be experienced in our lives and labors! As many as are possessors of houses and lands would sell them, as upon a former occasion, and bring the price of the things sold, and lay it down at the feet of the Lord’s ministers. With the gift of their possessions would also be the gift of themselves and their children to God for service. There would be another such scene as was witnessed in apostolic times, when the church was scattered abroad, and went everywhere preaching the word.

Elijah recognized that his colaborer had asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, he said it would be granted on one condition: “If thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but

if not, it shall not be so. And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.” Elisha had fulfilled the one condition of receiving the blessing: “If thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee.” And Elisha saw him taken.

One has well said, “There was nothing arbitrary in this demand. And it would have been hardly possible to have devised a more complete criterion of the spiritual condition of this eager aspirant. To see the transactions of the spirit world requires a spirit of no ordinary purity, and of no ordinary faith. No mere mortal eye could have beheld that fiery cortege. To senses dulled with passion or blinded by materialism, the space occupied by the flaming seraphim would have seemed devoid of any special interest, and bare as the rest of the surrounding scenery. Perhaps there was not another individual in all Israel with heart pure enough, or spiritual nature keen enough, to have been sensible of that glorious visitation. Had we been there, we should probably have been unconscious of anything, save the sudden disappearance of the prophet. But since Elisha saw it all, it is clear that his passions were under control; his temper refined; his spiritual life in healthy exercise; and his whole being of such an order as to admit him into the foremost rank of the spiritual world, without risk. Such must we be, by the grace of God, ere we can aspire to possess or wield similar powers.”—Meyer.

“I indeed baptize you in water unto repentance,” said John; ‘but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.’ The prophet Isaiah had declared that the Lord would cleanse his people from their iniquities ‘by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.’ The word of the Lord to Israel was, ‘I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin.’ To sin, wherever found, ‘our God is a consuming fire.’ In all who submit to his power, the Spirit of God will consume sin. But if men cling to sin, they become identified with it. Then the glory of God, which destroys sin, must destroy them. Jacob, after his night of wrestling with the angel, exclaimed, ‘I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.’ Jacob had been guilty of a great sin in his conduct toward Esau; but he had repented. His transgression had been forgiven, and his sin purged; therefore he could endure the revelation of God’s presence. But wherever men came before God while wilfully cherishing evil, they were destroyed. At the second advent of Christ the wicked shall be consumed ‘with the Spirit of his mouth,’ and destroyed ‘with the brightness of his coming.’ The light of the glory of God, which imparts life to the righteous, will slay the wicked.”—The Desire of Ages, pp. 107, 108.

South Lancaster, Mass.