September 23 True Testimony

2 Kings 2:15-18 Now when the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho saw him opposite them, they said, "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha." And they came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. And they said to him, "Behold now, there are with your servants fifty strong men. Please let them go and seek your master. It may be that the Spirit of the Lord has caught him up and cast him upon some mountain or into some valley." And he said, "You shall not send." 17 But when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, "Send." They sent therefore fifty men. And for three days they sought him but did not find him. 18 And they came back to him while he was staying at Jericho, and he said to them, "Did I not say to you, 'Do not go'?"

FIRST, the reference to "sons of the prophets" refers to a group of men whom God had anointed to prophesy in Israel. They are not necessarily physical children of other prophets. They are, instead, among the generations of prophets God had appointed in Israel and Judah. The sons of the prophets are God's spiritual children. This is similar to those saved in Christ's blood today whom God calls "children of God" as the Apostle John declares in John 1:12-13 "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God."

    The prophets' response to Elijah's ascension to Heaven seem to suggest they doubt he is really gone. Or they want to be sure of what they have seen. Maybe they are hoping to ease Elisha's grief or their own. Or perhaps they need to check on their faith. Could God do this one final miracle in Elijah's life? In any case, their request is so persistent, Elisha, who has now assumed the mantle of leadership, cannot deny them.

    Here's a leadership lesson. Elisha is being a good leader here. He knows the search is useless. But yet, he honors the prophets. They are passionate to search for Elijah. Why hold them back? If he does refuse them, wouldn't these men always be wondering, "Is Elijah really gone to Heaven?"

    In another sense, the men are searching for God. They want to be assured of the Lord's authority. After the search proved Elijah is gone, they will be settled in their hearts and minds that God has acted so powerfully before them and so graciously into Elijah's life. There was no death's door for Elijah!

    Think of the testimonies they would tell the rest of their lives. Assured in God's power, they would repeatedly tell of this grand event they had personally witnessed. In a fashion, these men represent Jesus' disciples at his resurrection. The disciples doubted. Then they saw. They believed. Convinced of the evidence that Jesus is alive, nothing could stop them from repeatedly testifying to the good news of eternal life in Jesus!

    Be assured, it's good to search for God. When you do, you will see the magnificent work he does. You will be assured and amazed. You will be willing to repeatedly tell the good news.