When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. – 2 Kings 2:1

Today’s Scripture Reading (March 5, 2026): 2 Kings 2

Many years ago, I worked in a local pharmacy. Part of the job was receiving all the advertising materials that went along with selling various companies' products. Advertising campaigns could be complex or exceedingly simple. I remember one year, Hallmark Cards sent out advertising that included one simple statement: “Christmas, December 25.” I admit, we mocked Hallmark that year. “Did you know Christmas falls on December 25 this year?” “I wonder when New Year's is this year? I’m sure Hallmark will send us advertising to tell us.”

The dates for Easter and related special celebrations might shift through late March or early April. Thanksgiving in the United States has been on the fourth Thursday of November since 1941, so the actual date changes, but Turkey Day is always on or between November 22 and 28. In Canada, Thanksgiving always falls on the second Monday, which again is always between a certain set of calendar days. Some special dates remain fixed every year. Christmas, regardless of the Hallmark advertising, is always on December 25. New Year’s Eve always falls on December 31. These dates never change. And I have friends who are already actively preparing for next Christmas Day, which will once again happen on December 25. They anticipate it. And they annoy me with social media posts throughout the year, letting me know how many sleeps are left before Christmas.

It appears that Elijah’s departure from the earth was a well-known event. We aren’t quite sure how so many people knew, but it was expected. Elisha knew that this was the last day for his friend, as did the prophets in Jericho. There were probably others. Something was going to happen on this day. Even Elijah seemed to understand that something special was about to take place.

It was a time like no other. Enoch also appears to have just disappeared without enduring death. Genesis states that, “Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away” (Genesis 5:24). But the event with Enoch doesn’t seem to have been prophesied. The prophecy of being taken away was something that only Elijah experienced. The Prophet had fulfilled his task, and now he was passing the mantle of leadership on to those who would follow him, including his friend Elisha.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 3