I Will Never Leave You

A Reflection on the Determination of Elisha

He had everything. Comfort, a wealthy family, and a good life. But one afternoon, he gave all that up to follow one man.

Elisha had always known there was something special about him. Something carrying a heavier weight than his oxen. He saw it in his special farming methods; in his choice of animals, his unconventional planting season, his surprisingly abundant harvests.

It was no wonder his first encounter with Elijah had been less dramatic. No resistance, no confusion, no hesitation. He caught on quickly because he had always known the Lord’s hand was on him. It was never a matter of how, but when.

Meeting Elijah, that would have been the resting point for some others, but not Elisha. He understood the outperforming abilities of certain plants, and how such plants could never blend in with the others. Like these plants, Elisha knew his ministry was not only to be one of a servant.

There was more to him than clearing Elijah’s table, tending to his needs or pruning his garden. Yet Elisha did it all without complaints. He laboured with men he was a few years older than, he trekked long distances by foot, did uncomfortable things when he could have returned to the luxury of his home. Because despite all of these, he saw beyond his present. He sensed the heaviness of his calling. Even though, at some point, he knew he would have to strive for it, he continued regardless.

But on some days, Elisha would sit, confused, wondering what exactly he was doing. Had he been wrong about his master? The calling of YHWH was on him, but it seemed like it was taking long.

One, two, three…six years went by. Six years, still nothing.

In six years, he could have gotten a beautiful maiden for wife. He could have grown a bigger farm, more labourers, bought more oxen, and most importantly, had some level of stability. Something he currently lacked due to his master’s wandering nature.

Six years filled with repetitive menial tasks. He had been so sure when he made his decision to follow Elijah that afternoon, but he wasn’t anymore.

Yet he waited.

When will it be, Lord? He must have wondered.

Until one morning. Elisha woke up as always ready to prepare his master’s sandals for their journey to Gilgal. He wasn’t certain when they would be back, so he had packed extra clothes for Elijah. He was busy tidying up when he heard voices along the corridor.

Before now, he found it highly uncomfortable hearing voices in the corridor. He was never used to that life. He used to live in a bigger house, less people too, he had never had to worry about disturbances. However, when he joined the other sons of the Prophet – disciples of his master – he had to blend in and accept that this was now his new life. It took a while, but he eventually found a way around it.

He almost tuned out the voices as usual, when something caught his attention.

“Did you hear that the Senior Prophet will be taken from us today?”

The cloth in his hand dropped. There was only one Senior Prophet, his master, Elijah. Although he had suspected that it would eventually happen, Elisha didn’t think it would happen soon. He folded the clothes in a rush, packed up and waited for Elijah.

Elisha would have waived what he heard as a speculation, but when his master appeared before him. He knew for a fact that those men were right.

His master never gave much concern to appearance. Wild hair, simple tunic clothes, the same belt for six years. But today, the old prophet’s beard looked trimmed and it shone. He was wearing a colorful garment. This man knew something Elisha didn’t.

Elisha was quiet all through the trip to Gilgal. As he watched his master happily whistling, he steeled his resolve to never leave Elijah’s side until the day ran out.

But the senior prophet had other plans. When the duo got to Bethel, three cities before Gilgal, Elijah stopped and turned to Elisha.

“Stay here. The Lord has sent me on an errand to Jericho,” he said.

Elisha refused. “I swear my loyalty to the living God and to you, I will not leave you.”

Elijah must have seen the determination in his eyes. The man simply stared, pressed his lips into a thin line and continued the journey in silence.

The senior prophet repeated the same thing when they got to Jericho. And Elisha gave him the exact response he had given in Bethel. He was more determined after his encounter, twice, with young prophets like him, who had taunted him about his master leaving.

The young prophet didn’t know which hurt the most; that his master who he had served for six years didn’t want him to witness his leaving, or that he didn’t know what would be his fate after Elijah left.

He still had so much to learn; he felt unprepared. The more he thought it, the more he remembered how lacking he was.

Six years and he had learnt nothing of his calling.

As the two men made it through the Jordan river – one, nursing a fear in his heart, the other, radiating with a calmness on his face – the master turned to his servant, staring at him with those deep gray eyes that has seen both the judgment and the mercies of God.

Elisha took in a deep breath, waiting for what would come next. Is it now? Does it end now?

“What can I do for you before I am taken from you? Ask anything.” Elijah’s voice broke his line of thought.

It was not what he had expected to hear, but he had prepared for this moment. He had stayed six years doing serving and waiting for this day.

The young prophet searched his mind, trying to collect his thoughts. He had to carefully choose his words. For this would be the event that would chart the course of his future.

Staring at his master, even though he never really understood Elijah, the old prophet had something no one else had. Something Elisha had longed for, quietly, desperately, over six long years.

“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” he said, his voice trembling.

He didn’t want to be another Elijah. He wanted to be a man whose life truly reflected the truth about YHWH. And if such spirit came in double portion, he would gladly embrace it.

Elijah drew a long breath. “What you’ve asked for is hard. But…” He paused. “But if you see me when I am taken from you, you will get your request. If you don’t, then you won’t.”

And they continued their journey.

But something changed for Elisha. Even though he had not gotten his request, he was no longer apprehensive. There was no fear or worry in him.

In that moment, everything added up. He realized it was never a mistake that all he did for six years was stay close to his master, because that closeness also made him privy to things most people didn’t know about Elijah. He saw Elijah.

He had been seeing his master for years, just so he wouldn’t miss this moment.

As he mused over this sudden revelation, something happened. Out of nowhere, the skies tore open. A chariot of fire with horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them. Elisha stumbled backward, shielding his eyes from the brilliance of it. His mouth opened, but no words came.

He saw his master, the man he had served, loved, doubted, and admired, being taken up by a whirlwind. He froze on the spot. When it dawned on him that he had seen it, he screamed.

“My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!”

And Elijah was gone, leaving behind his cloak and a dull ache of absence in Elisha’s heart.

He grabbed the cloak as a consolation for the void he couldn’t yet describe. It still smelled like his master, like dust, oil, and a lifetime of obedience. He held it close, but not long. There was work to be done.

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Author’s Note

Scripture reference: 1 Kings 19:19-21, 2 Kings 2

It wasn’t until I began writing this piece that I realized something intriguing about Elisha. A man who owned twelve yoke of oxen in those days wasn’t ordinary. He was wealthy, established, possibly even influential. And yet, he left all of that to follow a prophet. No questions, no hesitation.

What was it about Elisha?

It feels like he knew something we didn’t.

Maybe he had sensed the call of God on his life but was simply waiting for the right moment. And when it came, he didn't delay. Still, the years that followed weren’t glamorous. Serving Elijah must have looked very little like being “called.” Day in, day out, he did the very ordinary and mundane things.

One year. Two. Three. Four. Six. Still nothing.

Did he ever wonder if he had misheard God? If he had made a mistake abandoning everything familiar? These were the questions that stirred in me whrn I wrote this. Maybe they’re questions you’ve asked too.

I’d love to hear from you: what do you think of Elisha’s determination?