2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14

Summary: Elijah the prophet and his pupil, Elisha, know that the former's time on earth is almost up. (The skipped passage is a little funny, with Elisha twice saying the already part out loud and Elijah twice replying curtly, "I know. Shut up.") Elijah wants to go alone, but Elisha is having none of it. Elijah asks what Elisha wants before he goes; Elisha wants twice the prophetic power as Elijah, which the teacher thinks is a big ask. Eventually, after splitting and crossing a river, a supernatural chariot of fire sweeps Elijah off, and he is gone. Elisha picks up his cloak, does the same action with the river, and carries on. 

Response: As stated before, I do not have a call to full time pastoral ministry. But I feel like the things I'm seeing, of these two men just being human, are struggles of any leader in ministry. The pull to go it alone instead of training up a new generation. At the same time, the thought that Elijah could give Elisha any power. Or Elisha calling on "the God of Elijah," having not yet claimed God as his own. Lord, search my heart and help me in my own ministries. May You be found, honored, and glorified in my work for You.