Where is the God of Elijah?

Elisha at the banks of the Jordan asked the above question when His spiritual Father Elijah was taken from him in a chariot of fire.

What was He asking? Let me try to paraphrase to add depth to His exclamation.

'Where is the God who judges and acts for His own reputation, in the land of His people, who works and acts in righteousness, that His glory might not be sullied and hidden in the dirt.' 'Where is this God who rains fire on false priests, and false Gods and the armies of wicked men, who prooves and shows Himself evidently to the nation, who rebukes the nation for it idolatries in drought, who preserves the faithful, a loving God who raises the poor from the dead? it is a dire time, a time that we need Him to act, to show Himself now more than ever.'

Elijah was a father to the nation and carried the nation on his heart before God. Elisha was to walk in his footsteps to know this God and work His mighty wonders in the land. A modern day equivalent to Elijah in history would be Martin Luther who against armies and kings was passionate for his glory.

John the baptist also had an Elijah ministry to Father and turn a whole nation back to God. Let us remember the poor and lowly esteemed in man's eyes, like the prophet John, can be so preciously esteemed in the eyes of God. Who died in prison, poor, without a ministry, without material possessions. But totally fulfilling the pleasure of God in bringing a nation to repentence for the messiah who was among them. What then was His earthly reward? He says: to bring pleasure to the bridegroom. God's kingdom and our kingdom and worldviews are clearly at odds.

In the midst of a turbulant (Kings ascending and decending) and wicked generation, Elisha was asking for God's hand, mighty power and glory to be seen again. ''Where is the God of Elijah?'. Let that be the cry of our own hearts as well. Lord Jesus, come!