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Friday, September 30, 2011

10/1/11 The parting of water and the Presence of God

 8 Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.
9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you." Elisha said, "Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit." 10 He responded, "You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not." 11 As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. 12 Elisha kept watching and crying out, "Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
13 He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, saying, "Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" When he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over. (1 Kings 2:8-14)

(Elijah and the Chariot Giuseppi)
Click below for "Swing Low Sweet Chariot"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVyBjqY3r0k&noredirect=1


Thoughts: Rivers represented borders and turning points. The parting of the waters was a symbol of an important turning point that had God in it.  When the Israelites crossed the Red Sea they had begun their journey to the promised land.  When they crossed the Jordan under Joshua they had entered into their new land.  When Elijah crossed (vs. 8) he was about to enter into the promised land (who says the afterlife was not believed in until the New Testament times).  Elisha's parting of the waters was also a sign that the prophet who at one time was the only one left, now had a successor and the story of God continued.  Is there a turning point in your life that you are crossing?  We should ask like Elisha did, "Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?" 

Prayer: In my crossing over the boundaries of life, do not leave me Lord.  I can only go if you go before me and prepare the way.  Yet, when I am in your will, may I not doubt your power and ability to make a way when there is no way. 

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