In 2 Kings 2:2, 4 and 6, Elijah tells Elisha to stay put three times.
2 And Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the Lord has told me to go to Bethel.” 4 Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the Lord has told me to go to Jericho.” 6 Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, for the Lord has told me to go to the Jordan River.” 2 Kings 2:2, 4, & 6
It seems that the Lord was sending Elijah on errands. First it was Bethel, then Jericho and then the Jordan River. Each time Elisha responded, “As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I will never leave you.” The Lord seems to be testing Elisha. Elijah was just saying what the Lord was telling him to say. God had a greater plan for Elisha, but before that could unfold Elisha had to pass the test.
Why would the Lord test Elisha? Why would the Lord test us? God wanted to see if Elisha had learned what he needed to learn. God does the same for us. He wants to see if we have learned what He has been teaching us. He rarely announces tests ahead of time. They just come. It might be a set of circumstances or a situation you will face to see if you are where you need to be.
Sometimes we go through storms in life. Sometimes God will allow certain situations in our lives to test our faith. It is very easy to say that I trust God, until you get a call from your doctor with some bad news, or until that person you love doesn’t love you, or until your job comes to an end. These are tests. When you are going through hardship or difficulty, it may seem that God has forgotten about you. But God always has time for you. He loves you. God is fully aware of what you are experiencing. Will you trust God to see you through the storm? Will you pass the test?
Where is the Lord testing you today? Think about a time where the Lord tested you. How did it affect you? What did the Lord teach you through that? In both the Old and New Testaments, the words translated “test” means “to prove by trial.” Therefore, when God tests His children, His purpose is to prove that our faith is real. Not that God doesn’t know, but He wants us to know.
To hear Elisha’s story click here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/series/journey-with-elijah-and-elisha/the-passing-of-the-mantel
Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (2 Ki 2:2, 4 & 6). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.