It was not wrong for Elisha to depend upon Elijah as long as God gave him to be depended upon. But there came a time when God called upon Elisha to no longer look upon Elijah as his guide, his mentor.
2 Kings 2:12 And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. ESV
It’s the same thing for the bride of Christ. We can depend upon the “Elijahs” in our life as long as God allows. But there will come a time for us when we have to step out on our own like Elisha. That’s the time when we are tempted to cling to our Elijah and feel that we cannot go on alone … but God says that we must … it’s time. Our response should also be like that of Elisha:
2 Kings 2:14 Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over. ESV
Elisha stood there at the Jordan river, naked before God with his clothes torn at his feet crying out … Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah? He stepped up and turned to the One who he was ready to listen to. He struck the water and proceeded to cross the Jordan. That poses a question for us. Have we crossed our Jordan River alone, no longer depending upon those who have been leading us and stand alone in total dependence on God? There are three key places where God challenges to do just that.
Alone at Your Jordan – Crossing the Jordan represents a separation from those we have been clinging to and begin to take our Walk With God in total dependence upon Him. There is no longer a dependence upon someone else in determining where we are to go and what we are to do. You have to take what you have learned from Elijah and learn for yourself whether God is the God you have faith to believe Him to be. Then you are ready to proceed on the other side of the Jordan and face your Jericho.
Alone at Your Jericho – Jericho is the place where you will have seen others step out and do great things for the Lord. When you face your Jericho alone there comes a time when you must step out and go if you want to remain true to what your Elijah has taught you. It is there that you will see God standing with you.
Alone at Your Bethel – Bethel is where you find that you are at the end of yourself and at the beginning of God. At the moment of panic, if you stand firm you will see the hand of God come forward on your behalf.
The key to Jordan, Jericho, and Bethel is to put into practice what your Elijah (the one who discipled you and led you) taught you. God has called you to only trust in Him and strike the water with Elijah’s cloak. To no longer trust in Elijah but to determine to trust in God.