Who Is Looking?

Then Elisha died and was buried. Groups of Moabite raiders used to invade the land each spring. Once when some Israelites were burying a man, they spied a band of these raiders. So they hastily threw the corpse into the tomb of Elisha and fled. But as soon as the body touched Elisha’s bones, the dead man revived and jumped to his feet! [2 Kings 13.20-21]

This little quip of information is tucked neatly in the historical records of 2 Kings.

Imagine, the power of God so mighty upon a person (Elisha), that a dead man touching his bones would be revived to life!

But how do we reconcile this event with the fact that Elisha himself died? The text reveals that Elisha died from illness:

When Elisha was in his last illness, King Jehoash of Israel visited him and wept over him. “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” he cried. [2 Kings 13.14]

But wait, ...what? Jehoash got in the presence of dying Elisha and he saw what? The "...chariots and charioteers of Israel."

Compare King Jehoash's experience with Elisha to Elisha's servant's experience with him:

“Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes and let him see!” The LORD opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire. [2 Kings 6.16-17]

Okay, so back to dead Elisha... Yes, Elisha got sick and died. The same Elisha who apparently had a contingency of chariots and charioteers at his disposal at all times. That contingency of chariots and charioteers represented the power of God upon Elisha's life. That power of God surrounding Elisha's life obviously did not depart from Elisha just because he was dead! Which brings up an interesting point to consider:

The power of God surrounding Elisha's life REMAINS to this day through the preservation of Elisha's life and story through the Bible! Elisha's bones have by now deteriorated into dust, but the chariots and charioteers of Israel remain poised to act upon the behalf of anyone who will "see" them. 

Remember how Elijah told Elisha to get a double portion of his spirit when Elisha asked for it?

When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.” And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.” “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah replied. “If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won’t.” As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” And as they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his clothes in distress. [2 Kings 2.9-12]

Elisha got a double portion of Elijah's spirit by "seeing..." 

The question should be asked then, "Who is looking?" The answer is found in Elisha's example! It was Elisha who was looking. However, there is an element to this story that cannot be overlooked: Elisha was PERSISTANT in his pursuit of the power of God as seen before this passage in 2 Kings 2. Elisha is on record three times of telling Elijah these words: “As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you!” (verses 2, 4, & 6). So "seeing (looking)" needs to be qualified by "persistence!"

The power of God survives any and all human death. In fact, the power of God existed before Elisha and it exists long after Elisha's death as evidenced in the dead man coming to life who touched Elisha's bones.

Father, open my eyes to see the chariots and charioteers of Israel that are in no way limited to the lifespan of a single person! Help me to understand that that "double portion of Elijah's spirit" that was upon Elisha is available to all those who are persistently looking for it. And, as Your power was seen but not limited by Elijah's death, and seen but not limited by Elisha's death, so may it be seen but not be limited by my death! And, may I be found persistent in this request as long as I live! AMEN.