How God Uses Us to Bless Others. (2 Kings 2: 1-25)

The Bible Project Daily Podcast is a daily, in-depth study of the entire Bible, chapter by chapter, verse by verse. 

Episode Notes: How God Uses Us to Bless Others. (2 Kings 2: 1-25)

Straight fact: God wants to use you to bless other people.

 Now, I can imagine someone hearing that and thinking, Yes, but I don’t know how, I’m not trained. Well, that’s exactly what I want us to talk about today.

 There’s a fascinating story in 2 Kings 2 about a man who knew how to bless others—how to minister to people—and from that story, we can glean some very practical insights as to how to do that in our own lives....

Transcript

How God Uses Us to Bless Others. (2 Kings 2: 1-25)

God wants to use you to bless other people.

Now, I can imagine someone hearing that and thinking, Yes, but I don’t know how, I’m not trained.

Well, that’s exactly what I want us to talk about today.

There’s a fascinating story in 2 Kings 2 about a man who knew how to bless others—how to minister to people—and from that story, we can glean some very practical insights as to how to do that in our own lives.

So, join me in 2 Kings 2…..

The first part of this chapter focuses on Elijah. 

The Lord has told him that his time on earth is almost over, and his final days are spent with the man he has been training, Elisha. They travel together from place to place and embedded in that journey is a principle we need to see.

Let’s begin with verse 1:

“And it came to pass, when the Lord was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.”

There are several things to notice here.

First, Elisha suddenly appears in the narrative. So let me give you a little background.

Back in 1 Kings, after the showdown on Mount Carmel, when Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal, Jezebel threatened to kill him. Elijah ran for his life. He went south, deep into the desert, and poured out his heart to God: “I alone am left, and they seek to take my life.” He felt utterly alone.

And God responded by telling him three things:

He was to anoint three people:

Hazael, as king of Syria,

Jehu, as king of Israel,

And Elisha as the prophet who would take his place.

That’s back in 1 Kings 19. 

But after that moment, Elisha disappears from the story until we reach 2 Kings 2. And now, in this opening verse, we learn two new important details:

God has told Elijah his departure is near, not his death, his departure.

Only two men in the Old Testament were taken to heaven without dying: Enoch and Elijah.

The text also notes that they are at Gilgal…. That location becomes important as the story unfolds.

So, Elisha is with him…. Now look at verse 2:

“Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Bethel. But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So, they went down to Bethel.”

Notice, it’s not a command—just a suggestion. But Elisha refuses. He takes an oath: “I will not leave you.”

It’s Elijah’s last day on earth. Elisha knows it. And he is determined to stay by his mentor’s side.

Verse 3:

“Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, 'Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?”

And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”

A few things are happening here.

The “sons of the prophets” were not the biological children of prophets. They were disciples, students, living in a community, a sort of prophetic school. They appear in several places in Scripture, and it seems there were groups of them in Gilgal, Bethel, and Jericho.

So, Elijah and Elisha arrive in Bethel, and the sons of the prophets say, “Do you know Elijah is leaving today?” And Elisha says, “Yes, I know. Let’s not talk about it.”

Why?

Because he’s grieving.

Imagine you had a mentor—a spiritual father, someone who shaped your life. And he told you, “This is my last day on earth.” Would you grieve? Of course. That’s what’s happening here.

And that leads to a simple but important observation: People grieve differently.

You don’t need a psychology degree to see that. Just look at how different people and even different cultures grieve. Some weep loudly. Some sit silently. Some people want to talk. Some don’t want to talk at all.

So, if you’re ever walking with someone who is grieving, remember this:

Ask them what they need.  

Sometimes the best ministry is silence.

Sometimes the best ministry is listening.

And that is in fact the first lesson in today's passage in how God uses us to bless others.

Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Jericho”. But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So, they came to Jericho.

(2 Kings 2:4)

They started at Gilgal, then they went to Bethel and at each stop, Elijah said, “You don’t have to come with me. Stay here. And each time Elisha said, “No. I’m not leaving you.”

Now they arrive at Jericho, and the same thing happens again. Elijah says, “Stay here.” Elisha says, “I will not leave you.”

Verse 5:

“Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, 'Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?” So, he answered, “Yes, I know; keep silent!”

So, Elijah is moving from one prophetic community to another—Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho—likely to say goodbye. And everywhere they go, the sons of the prophets say to Elisha, “Do you know he’s leaving today?” And Elisha says, “Yes. I know but I don’t want to talk about it.”

He’s grieving, and grief often sounds like, “Not now. Not today. I just can’t talk about this.”

Verse 6:

“Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So, the two of them walked on.”

Some commentators think Elijah is testing Elisha’s resolve. That may be true. But it seems more likely that Elijah is simply giving him the option to stay behind. And Elisha refuses. “This is your last day on earth. I’m not leaving you.”

Three times he says it; three times he stays.

Verse 7:

Fifty men from the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan.

Everyone knows what’s coming. Elijah has said the Lord will take him today and fifty young prophets stand at a distance to watch.

Verse 8:

Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

Sound familiar?

Moses lifted his rod and parted the Red Sea.

Joshua had also previously parted the Jordan.

Now Elijah does the same.

Perhaps this is one final lesson for Elisha going on here.

The God who worked in Moses’ day is the same God who works today.

Same power. Same faithfulness. Same presence…. A good mentor always leaves you with that truth. 

So, the first lesson in blessing others is to be loyal.

Proverbs 17:17 says: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”

Proverbs 18:24 says: “There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

Loyalty is one of the greatest gifts you can give another human being. If you want to minister to people without any training, just be a loyal friend. Be there. For them

Let me give you a quick walk through the Biblical “Hall of Fame of Loyalty.”

1. Ittai the Gittite.

When David fled from Absalom, Ittai had just arrived in Jerusalem. David said, “You’re a foreigner. You don’t need to come with me.” And Ittai replied: “Wherever my lord the king shall be—whether in death or life—there also your servant will be.”

That’s loyalty….

2. Ruth.

Naomi told Ruth to stay in Moab. Ruth said: “Where you go, I will go… your people shall be my people, and your God my God… nothing but death shall part you and me.”

That’s loyalty….

3. Elisha.

On Elijah’s last day, he said, “I will not leave you.”

That’s loyalty.

And notice, all three of these people showed loyalty in difficult times of crisis, danger and grief.

Loyalty is not proven in time of comfort; it’s proven in times of adversity.

So, how to bless people? Be loyal, which means be there for them.

Let me be very practical about how you might do this.

1. Be there.

In all three stories, the loyal friend said, “I’m not leaving you.”

Sometimes the greatest ministry is presence.

2. Listen.

I’ve learned over the years that one of the deepest human needs is simply to be heard.

Sometimes our ministry is not in the speaking, it’s in the listening.

People just need someone to listen to them. I had a fellow meet me for coffee recently and say, “I just need a gripe. Would you listen for a while?” I said, “Gripe on.”

People need that sometimes they just need someone who will simply listen.

If you want to be used of the Lord, be an ear — not a mouth and just listen.

Now of course, if there’s something practical you can do, do it. It doesn’t have to be profound. Sometimes the smallest gesture is the biggest blessing. We just need to be there for each other sometimes

Sometimes blessing someone is as simple as showing up. Sometimes it’s as simple as sending a text.

Maybe all you can do is text someone and say, “I’m praying for you.”

Would that be something you could do today for someone, could you do that, then do it?

Congratulations — you’ve just received all the training you need.

Next, we come to the most well‑known part of this chapter. Elisha’s request for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit.

Verse 9:

“When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,”

Imagine someone you love saying, “I’m about to leave this world. What would you like me to leave you?” Most people would think of money, property, something tangible.

But Elisha doesn’t ask for wealth. Also, he doesn’t ask for comfort or for security.

He says, “I want to be used of the Lord — even more than you were.” 

That’s amazing….

He’s saying, “I want to minister to people. I want to bless people. I want to carry on your work. That’s the inheritance I want.”

Now the “double portion” was the inheritance of the firstborn son, meaning Elisha wanted to be Elijah’s rightful successor. Another points out that Elijah performed eight recorded miracles, and Elisha performed sixteen. I haven’t counted them myself, but it seems he received exactly what he asked for.

Verse 10:

“You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.”

Why was it hard?

Because Elijah couldn’t give that blessing. Only God could. But apparently God revealed to Elijah that if Elisha witnessed his departure, the double portion would be granted.

Verse 11:

As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.

Like Enoch, Elijah didn’t die, a whirlwind took him. The fiery chariot and horses were the heavenly escort, a symbol of God’s power, God’s army, God’s presence.

Verse 12:

Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.

“And Elisha saw it…” That’s the key. He saw it, which meant he received the double portion. And then he tore his clothes — a sign of grief.

He loved Elijah, but he lost Elijah and he grieved Elijah…. But he also received what he asked for.

The Second Lesson in Blessing Others: Desire to do it.

Here’s the point.

If you want to be used of the Lord, you have to desire it. You have to want it.

Not everyone does. Some people live such self‑centered lives that the idea of blessing others never crosses their mind. But if you’re a believer in Jesus Christ, one of the things that ought to motivate you should be a desire for the Lord to use you.

And how does God use people?

….By helping them minister to others.

So, do you desire that, do you want to be used? ….Then ask Him.

The Third Lesson: Step Out in Faith

“Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

(2 Kings 2: 13-14)

He wasn’t doubting. So he called God to show up and demonstrate his faithfulness, and God did.

The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. Look,” they said, “we your servants have fifty able men. Let them go and look for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the Lord has picked him up and set him down on some mountain or in some valley.” “No,” Elisha replied, “do not send them.” But they persisted until he was too embarrassed to refuse. So, he said, “Send them.” And they sent fifty men, who searched for three days but did not find him. When they returned, they recognized God’s hand on him. The people of the city said to Elisha, “Look, our lord, this town is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive.”

(2 Kings 2: 15-19)

Then comes the strange part.

These prophets from Jerico say, “Let us go look for Elijah. Maybe the Spirit dropped him somewhere.” Elisha says, “No. I saw him go. He’s not coming back.”

But they insist, they pressure and nag him and finally, he says, “Fine. Go look.”… And they search for three days….

….Nothing. Then they return, and Elisha says, “I told you so.”

Sometimes the best way to teach a sceptic is to let them go find out for themselves.

Then the people of Jericho come to Elisha with a problem: “The land is pleasant, but the water is bad, and the ground is barren.”

In other words:

“We accept that you’re Elijah’s successor. Now — we need help.”

Verse 20:

“Bring me a new bowl,” he said, “and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him.

A new bowl — not Elijah’s bowl. A new instrument for a new prophet…. And salt?

Salt doesn’t purify bitter water it makes it worse, especially if you’re trying to grow crops.

But that’s the point. If salt pollutes the water, everyone knows it wasn’t the salt. It was the Lord.

Verse 21:

Then he went out to the spring and threw the salt into it, saying, “This is what the Lord says: ‘I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.’”

Salt was the symbol. But God was the healer.

And the water has remained pure to this day, according to the word Elisha had spoken.

Verse 22 says the water remained healed “to this day”. Meaning to the day the book was written. This wasn’t a temporary fix, it was permanent.

So, what’s happening here?

Elisha has received the double portion of Elijah’s spirit. And the first thing he encounters is a very basic human need, water. And he uses the power God gave him to meet that need.

Now, I’m not suggesting you or I can purify a spring. But I am suggesting that Elisha simply stepped into an opportunity that came his way, an opportunity he had the ability to meet.

Remember the Good Samaritan?

He saw a need.

He had the means to meet it…. And he did.

In the bible a neighbour is anyone whose need you see and whose need you are able to meet, that’s exactly what’s happening here.

You may not have Elisha’s power, but you have something.

You have abilities.

You have resources.

You have compassion and you have time.

And God uses what you already have to bless others.

The Closing Section: Judgment on Mockers.

Verse 23:

From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some boys came out of the town and jeered at him. “Get out of here, baldy!” they said. “Get out of here, baldy!”

Now, what’s going on here?

“Baldhead/Baldy” was an insult. But it’s not about someone prematurely losing their hair, it’s about holiness. People with leperrosy shaved their heads. Outcasts were forced to shave their heads. It was a way of saying, “You’re unclean. You’re worthless.”

And remember — Bethel was the center of idolatry. This is where the golden calf was worshiped. Now, these “youths” were not little children. The Hebrew word used refers to young men — likely false prophets of Baal.

They weren’t mocking Elisha’s appearance; they were mocking Elisha’s God.

Verse 24:

So, he turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.

Elisha didn’t summon the bears. He didn’t act out of personal pride.

This was God’s judgment on a group of young men who were openly defying Him. And the fact that forty‑two were mauled suggests this was an organized demonstration not just a couple of teenagers causing trouble.

Final verse, verse 25:

“Then he went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.”

Two opportunities came to Elisha — one to bless, one to judge.

He didn’t go looking for either, they just came to him. And that’s often how God works. f your heart is open, opportunities will come.

So, let’s sum this up.

Elisha was loyal to Elijah. He desired to be used of the Lord. He received the double portion, and he used what God gave him to bless people, and to confront evil.

And from this story, we can glean some very practical ways God uses us to bless others.

1. Ask God for opportunities.

Paul said in Colossians 4: “Pray… that God would open to us a door for the word.”

Start there. “Lord, give me opportunities this week.”

2. Redeem the opportunities when they come.

Ephesians 5 says: “Redeem the time.”

The Greek word refers to buying up a bargain in the marketplace — grabbing the opportunity while it’s available. 

Put those two ideas together: And ask God to open the door…. And when He does — walk through it.

Which means

3. Do what you can.

Not what you can’t.

What you can.

John Wesley said:

“Do all the good you can,

by all the means you can,

in all the ways you can,

in all the places you can,

at all the times you can,

to all the people you can,

as long as ever you can.”

That says it all.

William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, once learned he was going blind. His son had to break the news. Booth paused and said:

“I have done what I could for God and His people with my eyes.

Now I will do what I can for the Lord without them.”

That’s the heart God uses.

Not perfection.

Not brilliance.

Not training.

Just willingness.

Outro:

In our next episode, we’ll step into 2 Kings chapter 3, where we’ll see how God uses ordinary believers to bring blessing into complicated, messy situations,  even when the people involved don’t deserve it.

It’s a chapter about God’s surprising mercy, His unexpected provision, and how He uses His people to bring hope into dry places…. Literally and spiritually.

I’d love for you to join me as we continue learning how God uses us to bless others.