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In 2 Kings 2, a significant transition takes place between two great prophets. Elijah leaves as Elisha begins. In the transition, Elijah stands as a contrast to Ahaziah from chapter 1. Elijah also serves as a shadow of the Savior who is to come. Furthermore, Elisha shows us the greatness of the Holy Spirit’s power.
First, let us consider Elijah’s contrast to the wicked king Ahaziah. In 2 Kings 1, Ahaziah sent three groups of fifty soldiers to confront the prophet Elijah. But Elijah stood against his enemies, and the wicked king ended in death. In 2 Kings 2, we see quite a contrast. Instead of confrontation from soldiers in groups of fifty, Elijah has a group of fifty prophets following him. Rather than prophesying Ahaziah’s death, Elijah’s own life ends without death. In verse 11, he is taken by chariots of fire and a whirlwind into heaven. The contrast shows the Lord at work in two different ways. The Lord presented Himself as the righteous Judge in chapter 1. God now shows His work as the Deliverer and Victor over death itself in chapter 2. Elijah receives deliverance from death itself. When the Lord delivers Elijah from death, He also gives us a shadow of the Savior to come.
We see the shadow of our Savior in two ways through the prophet Elijah. The first moment comes in his dialogue with Elisha in verses 2–6. On Elijah’s journey to his ascent, he asks Elisha to stay put three times. Each time Elisha responds by saying, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” Elijah is preparing us for our Savior, who would have a far more difficult journey to Calvary. Rather than a threefold confirmation of support, Christ would receive denial three times from His disciple Peter (Matt. 26:69–75). Furthermore, Elijah points to the shadow of our Savior in his whirlwind ascent (2 Kings 2:1, 11). In a unique, miraculous way, Elijah is taken to heaven (so shocking that servants go looking for Elijah in vv. 16–18). The prophet’s end serves as a prophecy, for after Christ conquered death and rose again, He too would be carried up to heaven (Luke 24:51).
Finally, we see the greatness of the Holy Spirit in the prophet Elisha. Once Elijah is taken to glory, Elisha takes his cloak (2 Kings 2:13), parts the Jordan, and crosses it (v. 14). He then returns to Jericho (v. 15), and the servants can see that Elisha is different, for “the spirit of Elijah rests on [him].” The power of the Holy Spirit is upon Elisha, and he advances out to Bethel (v. 23). Elisha’s advance points us forward to the power of Pentecost. Christ proclaimed in Acts 1:8 that “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” By the Holy Spirit’s power, Elisha went from servant to prophet, just as the disciples would become Apostles.