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 2:14

Today’s Scripture Reading (November 2, 2016): 2 Kings 2

There is an old Latin proverb “Natura abhorret vacuum” – Nature abhors a vacuum - which was then made popular by the French Renaissance writer Francois Rabelais. Rabelais’ legacy is that he was a writer marked by a gross robust humor and he was the master of exaggeration. Which begs the question, did he consider the Latin saying that has become associated with his name a truth, or a gross exaggeration.

It is hard to argue with the Latin Proverb. There is no place in nature where a vacuum is easily tolerated. And even within the realm of sociology and political science, we need someone to be in charge. It also hasn’t discouraged us from playing with the formula. First century B.C.E Roman Statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero said that “Nature abhors annihilation” – just another form of a vacuum. And one of my favorite adjustments to the proverb comes from the reporter and critic H. L. Mencken “Nature abhors a moron” – probably a comment about what it is that we often seem to fill the political vacuum with.

Elijah was gone. He did not die, he just disappeared. And there appears to be considerable concern about the event. It is not just Elisha who is bothered by the prophet’s disappearance; we are told that the company of the prophets at Bethel and Jericho both showed concern. There were probably others, but these are the ones that come out to meet Elijah and Elisha as they pass by their city. The problem is that the disappearance of Elijah will produce a political vacuum in Israel. After the departure of Elijah, who is it that will speak to power?

After the disappearance, Elisha’s mourning seems to be relatively short. He tears his cloak in despair and then picks up Elijah’s cloak, which Elijah had dropped, and headed back toward Israel. When he gets to the Jordan River, a river that divided at the command of Elijah – an echo of that river’s division when Israel had first entered into the Promised Land – there is a question on Elisha’s mind. And it isn’t the question that I think is the obvious one – “Where is Elijah?” The question is “where now is the God of Elijah.” That was the important issue – the only one that mattered. The power of Elijah had never originated from him - it only rested on him, a gift given by the God of Elijah.

David Guzik elaborates on the question asked by Elisha. Elisha was asking –

Where is the God who kept Elijah faithful when the whole nation turned from God?

Where is the God who mightily answered prayer from Elijah?

Where is the God who provided miraculously for Elijah?

Where is the God who raised the dead through Elijah?

Where is the God who answers prayer by sending fire from heaven?

Where is the God who encouraged the discouraged prophet?

Where is the God who carried Elijah away into heaven?

And then he hits the water with his cloak. The water divides and the question is answered. The vacuum has been filled. Elisha will continue in place of Elijah. God’s power now (remember the question – Where now is the Lord?) rested on him. He would be the one to confront political power with the word of God. He would be the new Elijah.    

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 3