Bible Study

The book 2 Kings – Bible study 2
What lesson does Elisha’s first miracle teach us?
Right after Elijah was taken up, the first miracle Elisha performed was striking the waters of the Jordan River and dividing it into two. This is a very significant act. On that same day, Elisha’s spiritual mentor, Elijah, had done the same—he took his cloak, struck the water, and parted the Jordan.
Although both performed the same miracle, there is one key difference:
Elijah struck the water with his own cloak.
Elisha, however, took up Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen when Elijah was taken up into heaven, and used that to strike the water.
Elisha followed Elijah’s method. But more than that, he focused on God by asking:
"Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?"
Then he struck the waters, and they parted to the right and to the left.
From this, we can learn the following lesson:
It is not wrong to follow the practices of the previous generation. But those practices must glorify the name of God. God must remain at the center.
In many organizations, people strictly follow the exact paths laid down by former leaders. But in doing so, the focus on God is often lost. The ideas and doctrines of past leaders seem to remotely control today’s leaders, even if they no longer align with the present time.
New leaders must seek to understand the will of God, keep Him at the center, and surrender themselves fully to be led by Him.
Yes, Elisha did take Elijah’s cloak. But when he used it, he exalted God. Like his master, Elisha performed a mighty miracle as his first act.
He made a difference.
We don't need to do everything exactly as the previous generation did. Instead, the new generation must, according to God's will, bring about changes appropriate for their time.
Ezekiel Shanmugavel