The prophet Elisha became sick and died and was buried. This great prophet of God was not able to protect himself from the universal law of death which is an appointment for all men.
Regardless of how long and useful a life may be, this will always be the end of it; an appointment to keep. That fact alone should motivate us to work while it is day and seek the Lord while He yet may be found, and serve Him for the sun is sinking fast.
There are no details regarding Elisha’s death other than he became sick and there are no details of his burial. But according to Josephus, the Jewish historian, his funeral was one of great grandeur and rightly so. Elisha represents the last mighty move of God at the time of his death. He was raised up by God to do a special work in a special time and he was faithful to his calling for sixty years. After the mantle of Elijah fell on him, he received a double portion and performed double the miracles of Elijah; Elijah performed 8 miracles and Elisha 16 miracles. But when a move of God subsides, the people are often left confused and lost; it was a very sad time for the people when Elisha died.
Just because it seems that things aren’t happening doesn’t mean it’s over.
There’s a story about a train traveling through the night in a very violent storm. The flashes of lightning were almost blinding, the rain hitting the windows was deafening and the strong gusty winds rocked the train from side to side. When the lightning flashed and lit up the darkness, the passengers could see the rising water along the tracks, and all this created terror in the minds of the passengers. But several passengers noticed that through all the noise, lightning and wind that a little girl seemed to be perfectly calm. Finally, one of the passengers asked her, “How can you be so calm when all the rest of us are worried sick about what might or could happen?” The little girl smiled and said, “Because my father is the engineer.”
Things might look bleak and dismal but don’t bury me yet because God is the engineer, pilot, and captain. He is sovereign God and He’s still in control regardless of what’s happening.
When one leader dies, God always has someone waiting in the wings.
• Moses had Joshua
• Eli had Samuel
• Elijah had Elisha
• Paul had Timothy
God has a plan and a purpose, and He doesn’t need our permission or our approval.
Isaiah 55:8-9
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Things can be going so well and then something happens that leaves us scratching our heads in disbelief. God didn’t deliver the three Hebrew boys from the fiery furnace, but He kept them safe in the fire. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, but then allowed him to die a second time. God delivered Peter out of prison but then He allowed James to die. Some people are healed by God and others are not. But it’s foolish for us to try and tell God what to do. It’s always best to submit to the sovereign will of God and His plan! One thing you can always count on is that it’s not over until God says it’s over! So, don’t bury me yet!