One of the most exciting events in athletics competitions are relay races. During a relay race, members of a team take turns running parts the distance of a race (usually with a baton in the fist). Typically, the total distance of the race is divided in four and four racers run one of the four parts, respectively. The first runner starts of the race with a baton on his fist. Then, at the end of his portion of the race he must pass on the baton to the next runner, which will pass on the baton to the third runner. The third runner will in turn pass on the baton to the last runner. Besides, the speed, there are other reasons for the excitement of the race. One is that the winning team does not always win all four parts of the race. This uncertainty adds to the drama of the race. Another reason is that the passing of the baton can go wrong. One thing is taken for granted in this race: the runner always has a baton; this implies that only those with a baton can run.
The expression: passing the baton is applied metaphorically to other events. For example in leadership, if someone passes the baton to another person, they pass responsibility for their position to that person. If someone picks up the baton, they take over responsibility for position. If I am leading an organization, then I hold the baton. If I retire and leave a successor in charge, I passed my baton to my successor. In the race the baton determines who is running, for only the racer can have a baton. In leadership, the baton becomes a metaphor for who is in charge. He who holds the proverbial baton is in charge.
Elisha is Elijah's successor. The mantle is this case is akin to the baton. In Bible times a mantle was a loose sleeveless garment worn over other clothes. It is thought that it was probably made of sheepskin made into leather (see Eaton's Bible Dictionary). Twice we see the mantle used as a way of showing Elisha would follow Elijah. We read from 1 King 19: 19,
1 King 19:19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
The Lord had instructed Elijah to anoint Elisha as his successor. To let Elisha know Elijah threw his mantle on Elisha. Elisha seemed to know what it meant. He was to leave all behind and follow Elijah. The second time we see the mantle in relation to Elisha is in 2 Kings 2. If we recall, as Elijah and Elisha walked and talked together, a fiery chariot from heaven swooped between them and took Elijah along in its terrific wind up into heaven (v.11). It was over in an instant. Elisha could but cry out in amazed tribute to his departed master (v.12). Elijah was gone. The era in which he lived ended; another began. Elijah's mantle fell as Elijah went up. We read what happens with the mantle in 2 Kings 2:13,
2 King 2:13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
As Elijah was taken to heaven, the mantle fell to the ground and Elisha took it and kept it as his own (2 Kings 2:13). In giving his mantle to Elisha, Elijah symbolized the passing of the authority of prophetic leadership from himself to Elisha. The significance is that Elisha would be clothed with the Spirit of prophecy as the divinely appointed successor to Elijah.
Elijah was now gone. Only his mantle remained. This mantle signified the power of God in the life of Elijah, who declared drought, who asked God to send fire from heaven while on Mt. Carmel, who caused nations to tremble with his messages, and who raised the dead. It was now taken up by Elisha who carried it back to the river Jordan and asked, "Where is Elijah's God" (2 Kings 2:14)? Next he struck the water with this mantle just as Elijah had done previously (v. 8).
So, when Elisha smote the water with the cloak, he discovered that although Elijah was gone, the Lord was not, because the water separated before Elisha just as it had done when Elijah earlier smote it with his mantle. The sons of the prophets who witnessed this scene understood that the Spirit of God rested now upon Elisha in zeal and in great power.
So the implication is that Elisha does not preach his message, but Elijah's message. Elisha does not do his work, but continues Elijah's work. Paul says that he went a step further. He not only spoke and did Christ work, he lived Christ life. Let us read Galatians 2:20
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
And, we are not to do our work nor preach our message, but do Christ's work and preach His message. We are to live His life. Let us put on the mantle of Christ so we can continue His work by living His life on this earth.
--
Raul Diaz
www.wolfsoath.com
