Taking A Little Trip

When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were traveling from Gilgal. And Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the LORD has told me to go to Bethel.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you!” So they went down together to Bethel. [2 Kings 2.1-2]

As I read and pondered this story today, I wondered, "Why did Elijah go to Bethel?" Likewise then, why did Elijah go to Jericho? Naturally, as the progression goes, why did Elijah go on east from Jericho and cross the Jordan River?

Bethel, Jericho, and the Jordan River. Is there significance to these three places?

First, Bethel means, "house of God." It has significance in the lives of Abraham (Abram) and later, Jacob (who actually named it Beth-El, or house of God). Elijah took Elisha to Bethel first.

Jericho is the first city the Israelites conquered upon their entry into the Promised Land 40 years after their exodus from Egypt. While there is certainly significance of this, it might also be concluded that Jericho was simply on the way to the Jordan River from Bethel.

The Jordan River dried up for Israel to cross into Jericho just as today's story indicates it dried up for Elijah and then Elisha. What are the chances that Elijah and Elisha crossed in the same exact location as Israel did many years before? If so, what are the chances the two men saw the twelve stones placed as a monument in the bed of the river by Joshua and Israel during their crossing into Jericho?

There appears to be no logical reason for Elijah to have led Elisha across the Jordan River. Elisha, in fact, immediately crossed back over the Jordan upon Elijah's fiery chariot exit in an historical "third" dry crossing of the Jordan. The only conclusion we can draw is that, for whatever reason, Elijah knew his portal out of earthly existence would be found there on the east side of the Jordan River.

Interestingly enough, after Elisha crossed back westward across the Jordan River, he returned to, and evidently stayed a while in, Jericho.

Is it just ironic then that when Elisha left Jericho that he returned to Bethel at least for a short time on his way back north to Samaria after visiting Mount Carmel even further north?

What might serve as further intrigue is the fact that the two men Elijah and Elisha started their journey in today's OYCB reading in Gilgal. If this was the same place Israel first arrived to upon their crossing of the Jordan river into the Promised Land, it would have been just east and a little south of Jericho between Jericho and the Jordan River which would identify Israel's crossing location perhaps close to that area.

Upon looking at modern maps, that same area of the Jordan River is identified as the historical site of Jesus' baptism. So this Jordan River crossing area is site to three miraculous dry crossings across the River and the baptism of Jesus.

Is any of this by chance? I think not. I don't understand what it all means, but I am certain it means something!

In John 5.39, Jesus said this:

You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! [John 5.39]

Isn't it cool that the place Elijah was taken up was near where the Holy Spirit came down upon Jesus? 

Father, thank You for piquing my interest today in the geography of today's OYCB reading. I want to understand the significance of Elijah's and Elisha's little trip as it relates to other significant events in those same areas. I am so thankful that in my research today, I came to the baptism of Jesus!