Kristi Burchfiel

Passage. It was time to cross over the Jordan. God was leading Elijah and Elijah used his mantle to part the waters of the Jordan and cross over on dry ground. This is now the third time that this miracle has been used by God. First was the Red Sea and the Israelites leaving Egypt. Second was the Israelites crossing the Jordan into the Promised Land. And now Elijah crossing the Jordan as he prepares to enter the eternal promise land. Read 2 Kings 2:7-8. Now fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood opposite them at a distance, while the two of them stood by the…

The third time. Once again Elijah asks Elisha to stay behind. Once again, Elisha says no. Read 2 Kings 2:5-6. The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho approached Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?” And he answered, “Yes, I know; be still.” Then Elijah said to him, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” And he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. 2 Kings 2:5‭-‬6 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/2ki.2.5-6.NASB Elisha still knows what is going…

Try again. Elijah had tried to go be by himself before, but once again, Elisha would not let him. Read 2 Kings 2:3-4. Then the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?” And he said, “Yes, I know; be still.” Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. 2 Kings 2:3‭-‬4 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/2ki.2.3-4.NASB Here, we see…

Not alone. As we near the end of the story of Elijah, we see him try to be alone again, but Elisha won’t let him. Read 2 Kings 2:1-2. And it came about when the Lord was about to take up Elijah by a whirlwind to heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here please, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 2 Kings 2:1‭-‬2 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/2ki.2.1-2.NASB Elijah has tried to be alone before, when he sent his…

God’s truth remains. Elijah sent a message to the king with God’s word. Now that the king has requested to see Elijah in person, the word from God still has not changed. Read 2 Kings 1:16-18. Then he said to him, “Thus says the Lord , ‘Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron-is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of His word?-therefore you shall not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but shall surely die.'” So Ahaziah died according to the word of the Lord which Elijah had spoken. And because he had no son, Jehoram…

Afraid. Apparently Elijah would have had reason to be afraid of the other two captains, but not this one. So, God directs him to go with this third captain. Read 2 Kings 1:14-15. Behold fire came down from heaven and consumed the first two captains of fifty with their fifties; but now let my life be precious in your sight.” The angel of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So he arose and went down with him to the king. 2 Kings 1:14‭-‬15 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/2ki.1.14-15.NASB This third captain had humbled himself before God and Elijah and had shown respect and value…

Something different. As mentioned yesterday, doing the same thing typically yields the same results. So, this third captain does something different. Read 2 Kings 1:13. So he again sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. When the third captain of fifty went up, he came and bowed down on his knees before Elijah, and begged him and said to him, “O man of God, please let my life and the lives of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight. 2 Kings 1:13 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/2ki.1.13.NASB This captain showed respect to God and to Elijah. He came and bowed down. He still addressed him as a…

What is the definition of insanity? According to the old saying, it is doing the same thing and expecting the results to change. That is exactly what happened in this story with Elijah. God just consumed a group of soldiers for being disrespectful and now, another group of soldiers arrives and does the exact same thing. Read 2 Kings 1:11-12. So he again sent to him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he said to him, “O man of God, thus says the king, ‘Come down quickly.'” Elijah replied to them, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and…

Respect. Elijah didn’t feel it and it resulted in fire from heaven. Read 2 Kings 1:9-10. Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him, and behold, he was sitting on the top of the hill. And he said to him, “O man of God, the king says, ‘Come down.'” Elijah replied to the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty. 2 Kings 1:9‭-‬10 NASB https://bible.com/bible/100/2ki.1.9-10.NASB Elijah wasn’t intrested in the captain respecting…

What kind of man (or woman) are you? An interesting question, but first, in full transparency, I just want to apologize for missing the last several days. Satan and his temptations are alive and well and I do not have a good reason for it, other than to say that I struggle with wondering if these are valuable to anyone. It’s times like that in which I have to remember that I read and study God’s word because I love Him and want to be obedient to Him. I don’t do it for you. Now, I hope that if you take the time to dig into His Word that you…