Since You're Here, Elisha...

By Mary Vee
II Kings 2

From the Elisha's Journals

Before Elijah left me, he asked, "What can I do for you." 

More than anything in the world, I wanted to serve God and the only way I knew I could do that well was to ask for a double portion of the spirit that was in Elijah. So I did.

After Elijah left me I took his coat and wondered how I should get back across the Jordan River. God spoke to me plainly. I knew immediately what to do. 

I had an amazing sensation, a knowledge of God's presence.

I hit the water with Elijah's coat as he had and God divided the waters for me to cross. He did that just for me!

If God is willing to do something so big for one so unworthy as me, than He is willing to take care of all of those who love Him.

The fifty prophets of Jericho met me on the shore of the river. They asked if they could go look for Elijah. They thought God moved him to a high mountain or a valley. I knew they would never find him. God had taken him up to the heavens. But they didn't understand. I finally gave them permission to search for him. 

While they were gone, I went to Jericho and waited for them there. At some point the prophets would return. Perhaps confused. Perhaps understanding.

The fifty men did return days later. They came to me and said what I knew they would: "We didn't find Elijah." 

Yes, of course they could not find him. They had to see for themselves, though. 

Men from the city joined our conversation. One man said, "Since you are here, Elisha, we'd like to present our problem to you. Jericho is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive."

The Almighty spoke to me right away. He told me what He wanted me to do. I asked for a bowl and requested salt to be poured into it. The men did as I asked.

I took the bowl with the salt to the spring and threw the salt into it and said, "This is what the Lord says: 'I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.'" 

I didn't have to go back days or months later to see if the water was good. I knew it would be, because God said so.

Still, there have been a few occasions when a man from Jericho came to me and happily reported the water was still delicious and the land grew healthy crops thanks to the good water..

And they thought it wouldn't? If God says it is--it is.

****************************************
Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

1. When the prophets returned from searching for Elijah the men of Jericho told Elisha about a problem. What was the problem.
2. What did Elisha do?
3. What did he ask for?
4. What did he do with those objects?
5. What message did he give the people as he poured salt into the spring?
6. Did the water stay good?