TRANSLATION – PART 10
2 Kings 2:11,12 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces.
Elijah became discouraged, gave up his job and fled. Eventually his journey ended in a very dark cave on Mount Sinai. But it was then, when he came to the end of his tether, that God caught up with him and encouraged him.
The Elijah message says:
When you become discouraged and runs away, God runs with you. When you want to die of thirst and hunger, He will supply your needs.
And when you hide in a dark cave of sinlessness and despair He tells you that He loves you and that He wants to use you.
QUESTION REPEATED
When you read the story you notice that God asked the same question twice at Horeb: “What are you doing here Elijah?”
Twice he gave the same answer. Listen what it sounds like:
1 Kings 19:14 And he said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”
VOICE INTONATION
When Elijah first spoke these words, he was very upset.
But then the Lord revealed Himself. Not in the tornado, the earthquake or the fire, but in a soft, kind stilness created by God Himself.
The exact same question is repeated: “Elija, what are you doing here?”
The rebellious tone is gone. He answeres God in a subdued voice telling how he fled because of a death threat.
Listen to his reinstatement as the messagenge of the Lord:
1 Kings 19:14 Then the LORD said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria.
He didn’t give him a menial task of scrubbing the palace floor of the king of Damascus. No.
The Hebrew word for the verb to anoint is mashach and is the root of messiah, which means “anointed one.”
The basic idea of anointing in the Old Testament culture is a hygienic practice of applying oil or grease to soften and protect the skin in a dry climate It can be used of pouring or smearing. This would be very soothing and refreshing. Oil and grease were also used to protect wounds and aid their healing.
Elijah the cave man at stage, had to go and anoint a king. Can you see him gently applying olive oil to Hazael?
And stand dignified next to the king and announce him officially as the king of Damascus.
From a cave to a palace. I think Elijah smiled at his new royal assignment.
Archaeologists found an ivory inlay depicting Hazael. When I looked at it I saw Elijah with a big smile anointing the king.
Ivory inlay possibly depicting Hazael of Damascus
The Elijah message says a desponded person can do a great word for God. The Elijah message says there is always a new beginning.
What else was Elijah told to do?
1 Kings 19:16,17 Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill.
Elijah had to learn the lesson that God is not dependent on one man to do the work of reform.
When you read the history of Elisha and king Jehu you notice that they were eventually responsible for the eradication of Baal worship.
One can see read the mention of Jehu on the Black Obelisk in the British museum.
And Elijah made another mistake when he declared that he was the only prophet left. Obadajah mentions a hundred prophets of the Lord that he hid in a cave.
And what did Elijah think of the next revelation that came from God?
1 Kings 19:18 Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
SPRITUAL DECLINE
There is a parallel between the spiritual decline in Elijah’s and our day. As people worshipped both Baal and God at the same time, so we find it today as well. Syncritism.
Are you aware of how many heathen practices have crept into the churches.
But dont despair, there is good news. There are “7000” who did not bow to Baal.
Honest, seekers after God which have accepted the righteousness of Christ as their only means of salvation.
WORK TO BE DONE
The Lord has called Elijah to expose the deceptions of his day. Are their deceptions in our day? Why should we sound a warming alarm?
False religion destroys its worshippers and we must help them.
Have you become despondent like Elijah? Are you inactive? Have you ceased your witness for the Lord?
Listen to the voice that speaks to you: “What are you doing right now? Why are you inactive.”
While the souls of men are dying,
And the Master calls for you,
Let none hear you idly saying,
“There is nothing I can do!”
Gladly take the task He gives you,
Let His work your pleasure be;
Answer quickly when He calleth,
“Here am I, O Lord, send me.”
While Elijah was still in the cave of despondency and inactivity, the Lord had a great plan for him. What was that all embrancing plan?
15. Terwyl Elia in die grot van onaktiwiteit gaan wegkruip het, het die Here vir hom werk beplan en planne gemaak om hom lewend hemel toe te neem.
What an amazing God of mercy. I have so more good news for you.
Can has a work for each one of us before He takes us to heaven.
You may not be a mighty preacher but maybe you can give a smile that will uplifth someone.
Maybe you can hug a lonely old woman of a lonely old man.
To me this is at times more uplifting than a powerful sermong.
God as a work for you and He wil1 reveal it to you.
INADEQUECY?
Do you feel idadquate? Do you feel your nothingness?
Nothing is apparently more helpless, yet really more invincible, than the soul that feels its nothingness and relies wholly on God. {PK 174.3}
Elijah allowed God to lift him out of his depression by giving him a work to do. And what a work he accomplished.
CONQUER WHERE YOU WERE DEFEATED
There was one specific victory God wanted to give Elijah just before he was translated.
1 Kings 21:17,18 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 18 “Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who lives in Samaria. There he is, in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone down to take possession of it.
Would you like to know where exactly this vineyard was located? Chapter 21 tells us it was next to the palace of Ahab and Jezebel.
Can you still recall what happened here? It is the place where Elijah slept after the victory at Carmel.
What message did he receive from Jezebel? What connotation did he attach to this place?
“It was here that I ran away from a stupid woman. I should have told her…”
My dear friend. Have you had a Jezreel experience of shame. How do you handle experiences of defeat?
The Elijah message says that God can give us the victory where we once were defeated. It is possible to rectify where we previously mess up situations.
Can you see our friend Elijah walking back to the place where where he failed. This time the test was a little more difficult. He had to walked inside the city.
And maybe he will see Jezebel’s body guard who threatened him with death.
The vineyard is located next to the palace and this means that he will have to pass it when he arrives. What if Jezzebel sees him?
Isnt this a case of looking for trouble. And what is Ahab going to do when he sees Elijah?
TRUSTING GOD
But this time Elijah was ready to meet a thousand Jezebels and a thousand Ahab’s. He is not going in his strength but in the strength of his God who picked him up when he fell.
He lost his self reliance and now he relies exclusively on God’s unlimited power. He will never ever run away but do exactly what God wants him to do.
What was the message of God that he had to convey to Ahab?
2 Kings 21:19 You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Have you murdered and also taken possession?” ’ And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD: “In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood, even yours.” ’ ”
While Ahab was strolling in the beautiful vineyard of Naboth which he murdered, he suddenly saw…Elijah coming towards him. I think this time the king wanted to run away.
Elijah speak with the conviction of his Carmel speach.
“In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood, even yours.”
And maybe Madam Jezebel heard the conversation and walked a little closer. Elijah delivered a message which he could have delivered some time ago.
Guess what he said about this wicked woman?
2 Kings 2:23 “And concerning Jezebel the LORD also spoke, saying, ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’
“Jezebel”, says Elijah. “The place where I slept in the rain outside the city wall; the place where your body delivered your death sentence to me, at that exact same spot the dogs are going to have you for breakfast.”
VICTORIOUS
Two people in terrible shock watch as Elijah leave the vineyard. He walks as a victor with all his trust in the God who sent him.
PROMISES OF THE ELIJAH MESSAGE
There are precious promises in the Elijah message. Where you and I have failed in the past, the Lord wants to give the power to blot it out with a new victory.
Before you go to heaven, God will give you the victory over the Jezebel’s threats. More than that. He wants to give you the victory over the weak points in your character.
I thank God for the Elijah message that promises a life of victory instead of defeat.
VICTORY A GIFT
When you read the verses that mentions “Victory”, you make a marvellous discovery. It is a gift from God
Psalm 44:7,8 I do not trust in my bow,
my sword does not bring me victory;
7 but you give us victory over our enemies,
you put our adversaries to shame.
8 In God we make our boast all day long,
and we will praise your name forever. Selah
How do we gain the victory over the internal and external enemies?
God gives it to us. We dont have the capacity to generate victory.
Please dr. Paul tell us if this is really true that gives us the gift of overcoming? verduidelik vir ons presies hoe die Here vir ons die geskenk van oorwinning skenk:
1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
THE ASCENTION
The Bible does not tell when God revealed to Elijah that he will not see death, which he so desired during his depression,but the he would be translated like Enoch and taken alive to heaven.
How will this kind of news affect you?
2 Kings 2:1 And it came to pass, when the LORD was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
Put yourself in Elijah’s position.
I would have been so excited. Just to think that withing the next few days I will receive an immortal body with no inclination of sinning.
To think I will be looking into the eyes of the One who created me and who died for me.
Never more pain, never more tears, never worries, never more…
Elke keer wanneer ek Jerigo besoek, dink ek aan die dag toe Elia en Elisa aangekom het. Die opgewondenheid in Elia se binneste was onuithoudbaar. Hoe nader die oomblik van sy hemelvaart gekom het, hoe vinniger het sy hart geklop.
2 Kings 2:1-5 Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel. 3 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?”
And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”
5 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from over you today?”
So he answered, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”
6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan.”
But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So the two of them went on.
What happened when they got to the Jordan?
Verse 8 Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
It was the same mantle that Elijah used to cover his face in tears when God appeared to him at Horeb.
As Israel crossed the Jordan to the promised land, so Elijah crossed the Jordan to the Heaven Promised land.
It was also here that Moses was resurrected.
2 Kings 2:11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
Gabriel who brouhgt him food in the desert is there to welcome him. God the Father and God the Son welcomes him. What an embrace!
As Elijah ascends on high he passes a billion galaxies in all their speldor in just a moment.
Please tell me what did this experience mean to Elijah?
Who did Elijah meet in heaven? What did they talk about?
My dear friend the Elijah message, is a good message. God saves sinners and takes them to safe happy place. A place in His presence. Let us become excited, let us prepare for a coming air space experience.