Read 2 Kings 1-2 at Bible Gateway.
Today’s reading concerning Elijah and Elisha contains a number of threes:
Three companies of men are sent from King Ahaziah of Israel to Elijah, to arrest him and bring him to Samaria;
Elijah went to three places in Israel, asking Elisha to remain behind, which Elisha would not do, and met three companies of the sons of the prophets there;
At the third destination, Elijah was taken up alive by a whirlwind into heaven;
The sons of the prophets searched for three days for Elijah without finding him;
Elisha performed three miracles which showed that a double portion of the Spirit of the LORD that was with Elijah, was now with Elisha (parting the Jordan, healing the water, and cursing the gang of pagan young men who had came out to mock him).
Three is the sign of Messiah in Scripture! So how are these threes prophesying of Messiah Yeshua?
When the companies of men came from the king, fire came down from heaven at Elijah’s word. Messiah Yeshua also baptizes with the Holy Spirit and with fire, and that fire came down from heaven at His word. However, that fire that Elijah called down consumed those men — until the captain of the third fifty came, trembling at the word of Elijah, and humbled himself before him. Then he did not die. So the third company experienced victory over death (Messiah Yeshua was raised from the dead on the third day), and the fire from heaven did not consume the one who was of a humble and contrite heart!
Elisha was Elijah’s servant and disciple. He remained with him until Elijah ascended into heaven alive, then a double portion of the Spirit was given to Elisha, and he began to do the works of his master Elijah, and greater works. Messiah Yeshua’s servants and disciples did not leave Him until they saw Him ascend into heaven alive, and soon after the Holy Spirit fell upon them, and they began to do the same works as Yeshua, and greater works than His, He Himself prophesied His disciples would do by the Spirit (Joh 14:12).
This prophetic history is prophesying of the Spirit- filled ministry of Messiah Yeshua, His ascension alive into heaven, and that His disciples would receive the same Spirit upon them that was upon Him, in order to do the same works that He did, and greater works than He did!
Beloved, that baptism by fire is the heritage of every disciple of Yeshua. The LORD God had a purpose and a reason for Elisha to have a double portion of the Spirit, just as He has a purpose and a reason for us to have a double portion of the Spirit. Let us humble ourselves with a contrite heart, trembling at the word of the LORD, and ask Him for the same Spirit that was upon our Master.
Why? God desires us to be burning bushes that burn and are not consumed. When men see the supernatural sight, they turn aside to look at it, just as Moses did. That is the entire point of miracles! Yes, God loves us and wants to heal us of infirmities and diseases; yes, God’s name is glorified when the supernatural occurs; but the point of miracles is to draw the attention of men — God provides us with a captive audience, so that we can proclaim the word of the LORD (once God had Moses’ attention, He spoke out of the burning bush). It is the word of the LORD that contains the power to transform lives, destinies, and nations!
Leave a Reply