SEA
SEA, THE
RIVER
RIVER
RED SEA
RED SEA, PASSAGE OF
EXODUS
RED SEA
I. The Bitter Lakes region
II. The Gulfs of Suez and Aqabah
JORDAN
I. Archaeological sites
II. Topographical features

There are a number of similarities between the ministry of Elijah and that of Jesus. As well as some big differences, for Elijah was very human while Jesus was man and God.

Some of the similarities were:

1. Elijah was supernaturally provided for.

2. Elijah supernaturally provided food.

4. Elijah exposed the ‘religious’ people of the time.

6. Elijah displayed God’s control over nature.

7. God revealed Himself to Elijah.

Of course there were 2 notable similarities to Moses (a type of Jesus) in dividing the waters and living in the presence of God. In other episodes though, notably his ongoing relationship with King Ahab and Jezebel, his humanity was exposed. Elijah passed on his mantle to Elisha, as had Moses to Joshua 650 years earlier and as Jesus was to do to us 850 years later.

Of course Elijah was taken up to heaven immediately after he divided the waters. So we need to move on to the life of Elisha to see the similar message for the end time church that God revealed through the actions of Moses and Joshua after their ‘water dividing’ experiences.

It is generally believed that Elijah’s ministry was one of judgement on the nations, while Elisha primarily brought a message of grace to individuals.

Elisha asked for and received, in terms of recorded volume of miracles at least, a double anointing of 14 v 7. However, Elijah’s miracles were ‘greater’, at least, certainly more spectacular than Elijah’s were.

It is interesting that the two ministries reflected the twin sides of God’s character, love and judgement. Elijah reflected the judgement for disobedience that can be seen through out the Old Testament and will be revealed again at the end of the age on the Day of Judgement. Elisha on the other hand, reflects God’s nature of love and grace, the aspects of His character we are experiencing today under the New Testament Age of Grace.

One of the big problems in both the Church and the community is that there is the mistaken belief that because we have only ever lived in the Age of Grace, it will never come to an end. That God is purely a god of love and so there will never be judgement in this age or the next. This inevitably leads to unrighteous living. In the Church, it surfaces as ‘easy Christianity’, while in the community, God is ignored.

God’s full nature is best reflected in the combined ministries of both Elijah and Elisha.

On Elijah’s final day of life on this earth, he travelled with Elisha to Jericho and then on down to the Jordan. He wanted to cross over out of Canaan, so took his cloak, rolled it up, and struck the water with it. Together the two crossed the river on dry ground.

Elijah, knowing what was about to happen, asked his faithful companion what he could do for him, before his departure.

Then Elijah was on his way! In a typical act of grieving for the times, Elisha tore his clothes.

Fortunately for Elisha, he found Elijah’s clock to replace his own torn one! Then he was then able to divide the waters with it, as Elijah had done shortly before. It served as a sign to those watching that Elijah’s anointing had indeed passed to him.

The first of a two-part look of the amazing way in which God showed the pattern of the church today so long before it ever existed!

We have an amazing spiritual inheritance through our spiritual forefathers, Elijah and Elisha.

The types and patterns they set are of huge value today in helping us understand what is happening now and what will happen in the future as the return of Jesus and the Day of Judgement get closer, day by day.

We ignore these lessons at our peril!

MAP OF TRADE ROUTES AND EMPIRES

Map of Trade Routes and great empires of the 1st Century AD.

Source: http://www.bible-history.com