Chariots of Fire

2 Kings 2:1-15

     God was about to take Elijah, the prophet of Israel, up to heaven in a whirlwind.

     Elijah and Elisha, his friend and follower, were walking to a town named Bethel. There was a group of men in Bethel called sons of prophets. These men came to Elisha and said, "Do you know that today God will take your master away?"

     "Yes, I know," said Elisha. "Don't talk about it."

     Then Elijah told Elisha, "Stay here, God has told me to go to Jericho. But Elisha would not leave him. In Jericho another group of prophets again told Elisha that Elijah would be taken away.

     A second time Elijah told Elisha, "Please stay here. God has called me to come to the Jordan River." But again Elisha would not leave him, so they went to the Jordan together. Fifty sons of prophets followed them. They stood at a distance to watch what would happen.

     Elijah took his cape, called a mantle, and rolled it up. Then he touched the water with it, and the river stopped so that Elijah and Elisha could walk across on dry land.

     Then Elijah said, "If you have anything to ask from me, do it now." "Let me have a double share to your spirit," said Elisha.

     "This is a hard thing," Elijah told him. "Here is what you must remember, If you see me as I am being taken from you, you will have what you ask. If you don't see me, then you will not have it."

     They walked and talked, and suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, pulled by horses of fire. Then Elijah was taken into heaven, and Elisha saw all of this.

     "My father! My father!" shouted Elisha. "I see the chariots and horses of the God of Israel!" And then he could not see Elijah any more.

     Elijah's mantle lay on the ground. Elisha picked up the mantle and hit the water in the river. He said, "Where is the God of Elijah?" Then the river parted, and Elisha walked to the other side.

     When he got across, the sons of the prophets said, "The spirit of Elijah is now on Elisha." And Elisha was now the prophet of Israel.