God Speaks in the Silence

When it comes to the life of Elisha, 2 Kings 2:1-14 is definitely my favorite passage of Scripture. Here we find the prophet’s ministry is about to kick into high gear as he receives the mantle of his predecessor Elijah. Yet for all the signs, miracles and wonders the Lord will work through Elisha, his ministry begins at a time of personal heartbreak and when God seems silent.

From Elisha’s experience, I’ve come to appreciate that it is at these times that God often speaks the loudest.

The inciting incident of Elisha’s ministry is the revelation that Elijah will be taken to “heaven by a whirlwind” (vs 1). This unsettling news is first reinforced by the false prophets at Bethel (vs 3) and again by the false prophets at Jericho (vs 5).

Bethel means ‘the House of God’ and it received its name while God confirmed to Jacob the Abrahamic Covenant in Genesis 28:13-22. During the reign of King Jeroboam, this ‘House of God’ had become the house to a calf of gold used to lead the northern portion of divided Israel into idolatry (1 Kings 12:28-33).

Jericho had been cursed by Joshua at its conquest (Joshua 6:26). The ruins of Jericho’s walls were to be a perpetual reminder to His people of God’s faithfulness and power. However, the destroyed walls were rebuilt during King Ahab’s reign, shortly before Elisha began his ministry (1 Kings 16:33-34).

Upon hearing the distressing news regarding his master’s departure, Elisha is reminded of the foreboding details again from the prophets of pseudo spirituality, and then again by prophets corrupting the testimony of God’s faithfulness and power. Both receive the command from Elisha to “keep silent” (vs 3, 5), which is a good reminder to all of us regarding similar voices in our lives.

Upon reaching the Jordan River, “Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground” (vs 8). When asked, Elisha requests a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Elisha receives the promise of God via His prophet that he will have his request should he witness Elijah being taken to heaven (vs 9-10). Elijah is suddenly taken and Elisha “took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces” (vs 12) as a display of his own heart being torn asunder. Back on the bank of the Jordan, Elisha asks the all too human question, “Where is the LORD God of Elijah?” (vs 14).

Whenever I read this passage, I am always amazed at God’s seeming silence. While Elisha in great heartache and questions where God is, no reply is given.

That is, no reply is given until Elisha acts on the promise of God. Having witnessed Elijah’s translation to heaven, according to the promise Elisha had received a double portion of his spirit. And yet, that spirit was not evident until Elisha acted on the promise by faith. “When he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.” (vs 14) God clearly answered Elisha’s question, leaving no room for doubt that He was with him.

When God seems to be silent, we too are to trust the promises He has already revealed. Peter encourages us that God’s “divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises” (2 Peter 1:1-4).

When God seems silent, may we trust in His Word, and discover, as Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Please join us in our One Year Bible Reading Plan to hear God speak to you personally. You can simply start at today’s date, and continue with us as we daily journey through the Scriptures.

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Written by Pastor Dan Llewellyn