Elisha’s life was about to change forever. From what we know, he was just a farmer. That all changed the day he met God’s prophet...
It must have been a long, hot day for Elisha. He was out plowing the fields with 12 yoke of oxen in front of him. Suddenly, a man passed by and threw his mantle (garment) on him. It was Elijah the prophet.
NOTE: A yoke is a pair of oxen hooked together with a wooden harness, so Elisha was really plowing with 24 oxen.
Elisha left the oxen and ran after Elijah. He said “Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee.” Elijah told him to go. Elisha quickly made a sacrifice and prepared a meal for his family. Brother Branham said this sacrifice was showing that all the things of the world were dead behind him.
As Elisha returned to follow Elijah, he must have been a little nervous. This was just the start of a new life for him. Nothing would ever be the same.
Their journey started in the city of Gilgal, where Elijah told Elisha to tarry, or wait, because the Lord had sent him to the city of Bethel.
Elisha wasn’t about to leave the prophet now, "As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee." So the two of them went down to Bethel together.
Then the same thing happened again in Bethal, when the Lord again called Elijah to the city of Jericho; then, again, to the town of Jordan, Elisha refused over and over again to leave Elijah's side.
Even though Elijah told him to stay at each place, Elisha never got discouraged. He knew he was following God's prophet, and he wasn't about to give up now.
Elisha followed Elijah down to the Jordan river. As the two men gazed at the mighty river, fifty men were watching from afar.
Elijah took his mantel and hit the waters of the great river. The waters opened up and the two prophets walked over on dry land! Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee." Elisha replied, "I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me." This was a hard thing for Elisha to ask, but Elijah told him that if he saw him being taken up, then he could have it.
You can imagine how close Elisha followed Elijah after this! The two went on talking, when suddenly, a chariot of fire and horses of fire, appeared. Elisha watched as God took Elijah up to Heaven in a whirlwind! Now Elisha was alone, but he knew that God's Spirit was with him.
Elisha took Elijah's mantle and stood by the bank of Jordan. This time it was Elisha who smote the waters, and said, “Where is the LORD God of Elijah? Again, the waters parted just like before, and Elisha crossed over the mighty Jordan. The fifty men were still watching, so they knew the spirit of Elijah was now on Elisha!
Because Elisha chose to follow God’s prophet, and refused to listen to anyone trying to stop him, the Lord granted his request and gave him a double portion of Elijah’s spirit!
Today, the Holy Spirit leads us. Just like Elisha never left Elijah's side, you should never leave the Holy Spirit. Take It with you everywhere you go!
"Oh, I can imagine this type of a witness. One day he started off, and he seen Elijah. And he threw his mantle over him, and blessed him, and he killed the ox and made a sacrifice, showing that all the things of the world was dead behind him.
That's the way to come to God. Kill everything behind you. Burn all the bridges. Don't lay that bottle up so you'll find it tomorrow. And don't lay this other thing up so you'll find it tomorrow. Get rid of the thing; burn it up. Amen. Be a real witness. Come out, brother, bare-footed. That's the way. Excuse those expressions, but that's the only way I know how to say it. All right. Said, "Now, you--you... Things are going to happen around here." All right. Notice."
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