“And he (Elisha) took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over” (2 Kings 2:14, KJV)
How many of us have not asked the same question at some point in time in our lives? Times when it seems that God is/was nowhere to be found? Times when we have stood at our respective Jordans, be it sickness, the death of a loved one, financial and / or marital problems, trials, abandonment, hurt, to name a few, not being quite sure how we would get over. The devastating feeling of loneliness, as we feel that even God Himself has left us to fend for ourselves. For some of us, it seems as if right after experiencing great spiritual renewal, we are led directly into the wilderness for a period of testing. We go to Church, we are blessed by the Lord, yet as soon as we are outside of the hallowed halls, and even sometimes before we leave, the devil seem to snatch that blessing and we are confronted again with the harsh realities of our circumstances. Can you identify? I have been there far too many times than I care to remember.
In the background to our reference text, God had just taken Elijah from Elisha, whom, by virtue of seeing him depart in the heavenly whirlwind, had also received a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. He was now on his way back to the other prophets but lo, he had to cross Jordan; this time all by himself. Elijah had previously chosen Elisha as his successor and in fact had cast his mantle on him (1 Kings 19:19). The first time they crossed Jordan, it had parted “hither and thither” when Elijah smote its waters with his wrapped mantle (v8). It was here that out of seeming desperation, and alone, that Elisha asked the question “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” We have no idea how long he anguished or for how long he felt abandoned. We do not know if he sang the songs of Zion, or whether he was weighed down by his circumstances. What we do know is that he needed to get over; he needed an answer.
Space limitations do not permit an actual description of the river, but suffice it to say it was very deep in parts and not easily navigated. What is important however, is the fact that we can all, to some degree, identify with having come face to face with an obstacle. The one thing, or set of things, that caused or cause us to come close to giving up on God. Indeed, some gave up on Him as somehow the enemy convinced them, and sometimes us, that He really does not care. Of course, that is not true. In the words of my local pastor, “The devil is a liar!” and as far as I am concerned, every time that Accuser of the brethren opens his mouth, he is lying!
Our Heavenly Father does love us with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3) and just as important, He will never leave nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). Despite the circumstances, He is always there. Despite the evidence, despite how things seem, despite the doctor’s report, despite your bank balance, despite the state of your relationships, the Lord declares “I AM the Lord that healeth thee” (Exodus 15:26). No matter how deep your Jordan, and no matter what the devil tells you, it is important to bear in mind that it is not over until God says it is over. In the very same way Elisha called upon Him while the evidence said otherwise, and saw the manifestation of God’s power, God says to you “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and might things, which thou knowest not” (Jeremiah 33:3).
There is nothing too hard for the Lord. There never has been, and there never will be, a situation that He cannot handle. As a matter of fact, He is a specialist in the things that seem impossible. After all, this is the same God who created the heavens and the earth out of nothing! It was He who measured the seas in the palm of His hands; He whom when He spoke, the thunders roll. Ah, He is the God of miracles and wonders. He is the only God who is capable of causing nature to reverse itself and open a highway in the middle of the Red Sea, and if that was not enough, He did it at Jordan as well. It is He who stands with you right there at your Jordan, asking the question “What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?” (Luke 18:41) What can you bring to Him that He cannot handle?
“Where is the God of Elijah?” The answer is, He is right there in the midst of your circumstances. Does He care? In the words of the songwriter “Oh yes He cares, I know He cares His heart is touched with (your) grief. When the days are weary and the long nights dreary, I know my Saviour (your Saviour) cares”. Do rest in that knowledge. He is God and it is His intention that you get over the other side of your situation. Are you going to trust Him to take you over?
