Are You Standing Afar Off?
7 “And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the Jordan.” 2 Kings 2:7 NKJV
On the day that God’s prophet Elijah was taken from this earth in a whirlwind and chariot of fire, his successor Elisha was with him throughout the day. As you read the story in 2 Kings Chapter 2 you realize that Elisha knew through the Holy Spirit that the Lord was going to take his master Elijah from them that very day. Throughout the day Elisha got confirmation of that fact from other sons of the prophets in each city Elijah and Elisha passed through on their way to the Jordan River.
Even as the two prophets of God moved across the Jordan just minutes before the supernatural event, there were 50 sons of the prophets who stood afar off and watched. They knew the Lord was going to take Elijah that day but they stood afar off watching from a distance. However, Elisha stayed with Elijah even when Elijah told him to stay behind. Elisha would not do so. He took an active role in his spiritual walk and stayed with Elijah. As we see in the verses above, he even took the mantle of Elijah which had fallen to the ground when Elijah was taken in the whirlwind. Elisha took up the mantle and the power it represented, from his master and became a prophet who did even greater things than his predecessor. He took the mantle of authority and immediately put it work.
“Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.” 2 Kings 2:14 NKJV
It is easy to get caught up in the things of life and just watch from afar off what the Lord may be doing. But those 50 sons of the prophets did not see the whirlwind, nor did they know what had happened to their master as Elisha did. They did not have the mantle of authority that Elijah dropped; only the one that was with him at that moment had the mantle of authority.
What about you today? Have you been watching from afar off? If so you are going to miss out on so much that Jesus desires to do through you for His glory. Today the mantle of His authority is not only for one, but it is also for each of us if we will pick it up and use it daily as Elisha did. Pick it up, for Jesus paid the greatest price of sacrifice to pass His authority and power of His name onto you as His followers today.
J Todd Hostetler