God empowers His chosen servants to carry out His will.
In 2 Kings 2:14 we read: He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over. (v.14) This event takes place on the Jordan River, the geographic waterway running from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea. It is the same river where Elijah had just miraculously parted the waters (2 Kings 2:8) before being taken up by a whirlwind, leaving behind his mantle. The Jordan River itself is historically significant as the gateway for Israel’s entry into the Promised Land under Joshua (Joshua 3:14-17) and later as the setting for John’s baptisms in the New Testament (Matthew 3:13). Here, Elisha stands on the banks, facing the challenge of stepping into Elijah’s prophetic role on behalf of God’s people.
Elijah was a formidable prophet in the 9th century BC, confronting King Ahab (874-853 BC) and calling Israel to repent from idol worship. His succession by Elisha shows how God’s work often continues seamlessly from one servant to another. In this verse, He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters indicates Elisha’s acceptance of God’s calling. The mantle symbolized a transfer of authority, implying that God’s power would now operate through Elisha just as it had through Elijah. When Elisha asks, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he is placing his faith in the same sovereign God who worked so mightily through his mentor. In response, the waters were divided here and there, a miracle showing that the God of Elijah was indeed with Elisha.
This demonstration of power also points ahead to the way God equips His people for His purposes throughout Scripture. The parting of the Jordan parallels earlier miracles, such as Moses parting the Red Sea (Exodus 14), confirming that the Lord’s authority knows no bounds. In the New Testament, the Jordan River appears at Jesus’s baptism, where God the Father speaks from heaven (Matthew 3:17), echoing the truth that God is present with those He commissions. Elisha’s question—Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?—ultimately finds its answer in the unchanging nature of God, who continues to work powerfully through those who trust Him.
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2 Kings 2:14 meaning
In 2 Kings 2:14 we read: He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over. (v.14) This event takes place on the Jordan River, the geographic waterway running from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea. It is the same river where Elijah had just miraculously parted the waters (2 Kings 2:8) before being taken up by a whirlwind, leaving behind his mantle. The Jordan River itself is historically significant as the gateway for Israel’s entry into the Promised Land under Joshua (Joshua 3:14-17) and later as the setting for John’s baptisms in the New Testament (Matthew 3:13). Here, Elisha stands on the banks, facing the challenge of stepping into Elijah’s prophetic role on behalf of God’s people.
Elijah was a formidable prophet in the 9th century BC, confronting King Ahab (874-853 BC) and calling Israel to repent from idol worship. His succession by Elisha shows how God’s work often continues seamlessly from one servant to another. In this verse, He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters indicates Elisha’s acceptance of God’s calling. The mantle symbolized a transfer of authority, implying that God’s power would now operate through Elisha just as it had through Elijah. When Elisha asks, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he is placing his faith in the same sovereign God who worked so mightily through his mentor. In response, the waters were divided here and there, a miracle showing that the God of Elijah was indeed with Elisha.
This demonstration of power also points ahead to the way God equips His people for His purposes throughout Scripture. The parting of the Jordan parallels earlier miracles, such as Moses parting the Red Sea (Exodus 14), confirming that the Lord’s authority knows no bounds. In the New Testament, the Jordan River appears at Jesus’s baptism, where God the Father speaks from heaven (Matthew 3:17), echoing the truth that God is present with those He commissions. Elisha’s question—Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?—ultimately finds its answer in the unchanging nature of God, who continues to work powerfully through those who trust Him.