August 28, 2025 • 26 mins
# 225 - Elijah: The Chariot of Fire - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, Elisha walks the road of grief and inheritance as his mentor is carried into heaven by a whirlwind of flame. Left with nothing but a mantle and a promise, he learns that God’s power rests not on greatness, but on faithfulness—and even in silence, the river still parts.
Episode 225 of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein is inspired by the Book of Joshua.
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For more information about Yael Eckstein and IFCJ visit https://www.ifcj.org/
Today's opening prayer is inspired by Isaiah 40:29, He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
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Show Notes:
(01:41) Intro with Yael Eckstein
(02:31) Elijah: The Chariot of Fire
(24:03) Reflection with Yael Eckstein
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Previously on the Chosen People.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Good you go to Akron, ask bils a pup if
if I will recover.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
My lord, should we not inquire of y'all?
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Do not speak that name to me?
Speaker 4 (00:28):
Tell me, is it because there is no God in
Israel that your fools go to inquire a bel zabab.
You will not reach Akron, and your king will not
rise from his bed.
Speaker 5 (00:42):
He will die.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
They said that you will not rise from your bed,
that you will die.
Speaker 5 (00:52):
Relieshah.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Just send men, a battalion, fifty sorts. Bring him to me.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Now, man of God, by order of King Asiah, you
are to come down at once. If I am a
man of God, let fire fall from heaven and consume
you and your fifty men.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
The sky tore open, not like a storm, not like
rain breaking through heavy clouds. This was violence, a wound
of searing white that burned the shape of its fury
into the retinas of all who dared look upon it.
It's simply erased.
Speaker 6 (01:43):
Shallo, my friends from here in the holy land of Israel,
i'm ya l extein with the International Fellowship of Christians
and Jews, and welcome to the Chosen People. Each day
we'll hear a dramatic story inspired by the Bible, stories
filled with timeless lessons of faith, love, and the meaning
of life. Through israel story, we will find this truth
(02:05):
that we are all chosen for something great. So take
a moment today to follow the podcast. If you're feeling
extra grateful for these stories, we would love it if
you left us a review. I read every single one
of them, and if you're interested in hearing more about
the prophetic, life saving work of the Fellowship, you can
(02:26):
visit IFCJ dot Org. Let's begin.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
The sun hung low in the sky. He shimmered in
the air, bending the horizon like a mirage. It had
been a long road, too long, if Elisha were honest
with himself, he had followed Elijah for years, through storms
and famines, through victories and despair, through fire and whispers
(02:58):
of God. Now the road was coming to an end.
Elisha felt it in his bones. He just wasn't ready
to say it aloud. Elijah walked ahead, his stride purposeful.
He glanced sideways at his apprentice. Something deep inside him resisted.
(03:19):
He would not name the feeling, because naming it would
make it real. He would simply walk and when the
time came he would go. Elisha broke the silence with
a grin.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
So, Master, you're finally getting what you always wanted.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Elijah said nothing. He kept walking, his staff tapping against
the road. Elisha waited, then sighed dramatically.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
After all these years of groaning to the Lord, pleading
for him to take you away, bemoaning the burden of prophecy,
at last.
Speaker 5 (03:58):
Your wishes granted.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Shall I weep for you? Or Gosh, shall I rejoice?
Speaker 7 (04:06):
Weeping would be excessive, and your rejoicing would be insincere.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Elisha smirked, but the humor sat heavy on his tongue.
He did not want this to be their last conversation.
He did not want to walk this road alone.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
So what's the plan. Will you start a fight on
your way out? One last rant at Jezebel. Perhaps you'll
shove a worshiper of all into a ditch, just to
set the tone for the next generation.
Speaker 7 (04:37):
Tempting, But no, it is time for you to deal
with him now. Ahaps, how still lingers like the like
you stink of the dead oks in your sun, his sons,
He's a lion's dizzy, he's witch of a queen All
of it will be your burden.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Not mine.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Oh good, I was so worried I would have nothing
to do upperhead.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
A cluster of figures loomed near the roadside, young prophets,
each of them wearing insufferable grins on their faces. Prophesizing
had become an upper class sport for the elite of Israel.
Every noble and rich merchant sent their sons to school
to become professional prophets to bless the halls of kings, commanders,
(05:30):
and aristocrats. One of them, a sharp nosed man with
the kind of expression that suggested he had corrected many
people's understanding of the terah unprompted, stepped forward, practically vibrating
with self importance.
Speaker 8 (05:47):
Alicia, have you heard? God has revealed it to us today? Elijah,
your master will be taken from you.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Oh what a revelation, What a grand unveiling of the
mysteries of heaven. If only I myself were a prophet,
perhaps I too might have discerned this truth.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
The prophet looked momentarily confused, then offended. Elijah, standing just
behind Elisha, let out a low chuckle. They passed the
group of men with a dismissive wave. The roads stretched ahead,
endless and empty, save for the weight pressing down on
both of them. Elijah began to feel it, the poor,
(06:33):
the nearing moment. He had not wanted Elisha to come
this far, and had tried more than once to leave
him behind. Not because he did not love him, No,
that was the problem. He had taken Elisha under his wing,
expecting another student, another apprentice. Instead he had found a son,
(06:56):
and now he had to leave him.
Speaker 5 (06:59):
Elisia, you do not have to come with me.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
No, I will not leave you, Elijah sighed. The words
were simple, but beneath them was something raw, something unspoken.
The road had always been lowly, perhaps for this last
stretch it did not have to be. They walked on
through the sun, each lower the world held its breath.
(07:33):
The river lay before them, a great, sluggish thing, dark
and wide, a barrier between where they stood and what
lay beyond. The air was different here, thick with the
kind of tension that only came before something irreversible. Elijah,
standing at the water's edge, planted his staff into the
(07:55):
earth and stared across, saying nothing. He had always been
a man of action rather than explanation. He was more
storm than man at this point, a force of nature
used by God for judgment. Yet here now, with Elijah
at his side, for the last time, he felt painfully human.
(08:20):
The sound of the river soothed his anxiety. Elisha, sensing
the tension, pointed to the water.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
So how are we crossing? Shall I fetch you a raft?
Will you call down a pillar of fire to evaporate
the river? That would be quite the farewell.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Elijah exhaled, sharply through his nose, a sound that could
almost be mistaken for amusement. He unfastened his robe, the worn, red,
tattered thing that had hung from his shoulders through years
of drought, persecution, and the fire of Mount Carmel. Rolling
it in his hands, he lifted it high and brought
(09:00):
it down against the surface of the river. The waters recoiled.
A shudder ran through the ground as the river peeled
apart its depths. Standing back in defiance of nature itself,
a dry path stretched before them. The riverbed cracked and waiting.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
Oh, well, that works too, I suppose Moses would be.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Proud, they walked across the walls of water towering around them.
When they reached the far shore, Elijah stopped the road
had ended. For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Then,
without turning, Elijah finally asked.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
Tell me, Elisha, what would you have of me before
I go?
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Elisha had not expected the question. The answer surged out
before he could stop it, roar and unfiltered.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Stay.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
The words sat between them, fragile as glass. Elijah did
not move, but the silence was answer enough.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
You could not even if you wish to. I know,
I just I'm not ready. You doubt yourself, Master, of
course I doubt myself. I've watched you stand alone against
kings and slaughter, false prophets. I've even seen you call
down fire and part rivers, and now you're leaving me
(10:35):
to take your place. I am not you, Master. I
have no fire, no boldness, no strength. The only thing
I know how to do is pray.
Speaker 5 (10:48):
Then you know enough.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
No, I don't, Master, I'm not half the man you are.
If I'm going to survive in this calling, this path,
please grant me a double portion of your spirit.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Elijah stilled. His expression did not change, but something flickered
behind his eyes. For a long moment, he simply studied Elishah,
as if weighing the request. Measuring the man before him.
Speaker 5 (11:20):
You ask me a hard thing.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
I ask because I have no choice. If I am
to carry this mantle, if I am to face what
you faced, then I need what you had, more than
what you had.
Speaker 7 (11:37):
If you see me when I am taken up, taken
in the chariot of the spirits, then you will know
in your heart that Yahweh has granted your request.
Speaker 5 (11:47):
But if not, then it is not my forgive.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
He let the words settle, let them sink in. But
then his gaze sharpened, something quiet amusement glinting at the
edges of his expression. Elisha frowned, his anxiety spread all
over his face.
Speaker 7 (12:09):
You always had so much boldness when you were standing
behind me, Elisha. If only you could see that it
is the Lord who stands behind you.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Elisha's breath caught, tears stung the corners of his eyes.
His lips parted slightly as if to respond, but nothing came.
Elijah let the silence linger just a moment longer, Then,
without breaking eye contact, he crouched, picking up a small
(12:44):
jagged stick from the ground, rolling it between his fingers.
Speaker 5 (12:49):
Tell me, Ilusha, which is stronger, the arrow or the archer?
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Elisha stared at his master.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
This is a strange question.
Speaker 5 (13:02):
Shut your mouth and listen.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
Elijah turned the twig over in his palm, as though
weighing it. It was time for one final lesson.
Speaker 7 (13:13):
Let's say a great warrior, a giant like Goliath, stands
before you, and let's say you place an arrow at
his feet.
Speaker 5 (13:24):
What happens?
Speaker 3 (13:25):
He crushes it beneath his heel.
Speaker 7 (13:29):
Because the arrow, by itself is nothing. It's weak, it's poetic.
But if that same arrow rests in the hands of
his killed ulcher, Elisha exhaled.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
He already knew where this was going.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
It flies true through the eye of the giant.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
Elijah let the word settle.
Speaker 7 (13:56):
I have never been powerful, Elisha, I have never been gray.
Speaker 5 (14:03):
I am an old, tired man.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
It is Yaweh who is powerful.
Speaker 7 (14:11):
I have only ever been an arrow in his arms.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
Elijah swallowed his throat tight. The wind shifted, the heat
in the air deepened, heavy and electric, a storm with
no rain. Elijah's gaze lifted to the sky. The time
had come. The ground trembled. Elijah felt it before he
(14:38):
heard it, the vibration in his bones, the shifting of
the dust beneath his feet, a sound, deep and resonant,
like a storm circling inside the earth itself. His breath hitched.
He turned to his master. Elijah stood at the edge
of the world, gazing out at the horizon, his eyes,
(15:00):
old and weary, now burned with something new, something fierce anticipation.
And then the skies split open. A whirlwind of fire
spiraled down from the heavens, splitting the very air apart.
It went through the atmosphere, a force too vast for
(15:23):
mortal eyes to comprehend. Elijah staggered back, raising his arms
to shield his face. The heat blistered his skin, the
light seared his eyes. Then he saw them, the horses,
their lanes burned with celestial fire. Their bos struck sparks
(15:45):
against the air itself. They thundered, a stampede of light
and fury. Behind them was a chariot. It was forged,
a flame and glory of power. Beyond this realm. The
wheels spun, each spoke of whirlmand of fire. The breath
(16:05):
of God filled the air. Elijah's lips parted. He stared
in wonder and acceptance. He raised his hands and beckoned
in the chariot. And then he laughed. Master Elijah turned
(16:29):
to young Elijhah, and for the first time in years,
his face was free of pain, his eyes full of tears,
alight with fire and something deeper peace.
Speaker 5 (16:44):
The time has gone my way, we see.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
Ecourageous Elisha reached for his master. His fingers curled around
the edge of Elijah's cloak, but the wind ripped it
from his grasp. The carrier descended. The whirlwind howled, father fath,
don't leave me. His voice broke, The words tore from
(17:11):
his throat, war and desperate, of the cry of a prophet,
but of a sun losing the man he loved most.
The fire enveloped Elijah, wrapping him in light, lifting him
from the earth. His fall blurred, first flesh, then flame,
(17:32):
then something beyond e than that, And as he rose,
he cast one last look down at Elisha and smirked.
Speaker 5 (17:43):
Right not to burning always nuts.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
Then Elijah was gone, gone. Elisha collapsed, His knees struck
the earth, his hands dug into the dark just where
his master had stood. His breath came in ragged gasps silence.
(18:07):
The fire was gone, The wind had ceased the world
so loud a moment Ago was now unbearably quiet. Only
one thing remained. Elijah's mantle lay in the dust, caught
in the fingers of the breeze, weightless and waiting, the
(18:31):
last remnant of a man who had once called down
fire from the heavens, a man who had defied kings,
slain false prophets, outrun chariots, and walked through famine and
war with nothing but the certainty that God was enough.
(18:53):
Elisha reached out with shaking fingers. He had expected it
to be warm, to still carry the fire of his
master's departure. But it wasn't. It was just cloth, A
weight settled deep in his chest. He sat back on
his heels, gripping the mantle in his fists, his breath
(19:15):
coming fast and uneven.
Speaker 3 (19:17):
He's gone, He's actually gone. What am I supposed to do?
Speaker 8 (19:23):
Now?
Speaker 1 (19:24):
The wind shifted. The river murmured before him, a slow,
unyielding barrier. He had crossed it with Elijah. Now he
stood before it alone.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
Oh, this is ridiculous. He was one man who did
all of this, the fire, the power, the miracles, him,
not me.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
The whisper of doubt dug deeper. What if it was
not enough? What if he was not enough. Elijah turned,
looking over his shoulder, half expecting, half hoping to see
Elijah standing there, watching, grinning, giving him one last impossible
task before vanishing into the wilderness. But there was no one.
(20:12):
He was alone.
Speaker 3 (20:14):
This mantle should have gone to someone else, someone stronger,
someone worthy.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
The river didn't move.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
God, what am I supposed to do? You took him?
And now I'm supposed to what walk in his place?
Speaker 1 (20:33):
The doubt curled around him like a snake.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
I can't I'm not Elijah.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
I'll never be. And then a still small voice, not
from the sky, not from fire, but from memory the errow.
The wind stirred. Elijhah sucked in a sharp breath. The
river whispered before him, waiting. The choice was his. He exhaled, stood,
(21:08):
stepped forward, and lifted the mantle high. His voice rang out,
steady and unchanged, but no longer uncertain.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, God of Joseph
and Moses, God of Elijah, My God, I am your servant.
Speaker 7 (21:30):
Show me your power.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
Elijha lifted Elijah's roll and struck the water. The river
recoiled the same way it had for his master. The
waters peeled away, shuddering, parting. A dry path yawned before him.
The answer had come. His heart thundered in his chest,
(21:54):
His mind warred against itself. This is real, this is happening.
The mantle his mine, this calling his mine, this weight
his mine. He took a step forward, then another. Then
he walked straight through the river, the waters standing still
(22:18):
around him until he reached the far shore. The prophets
were waiting. Their expressions, once doubtful, now carried something new.
They had seen what he had done. They had seen
the waters move at his word, and they knew. They
(22:38):
fell to their knees.
Speaker 8 (22:41):
The spirit of Elijah rests on at leisure.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
Elishah said nothing. He did not bask in their reverence,
nor did he rebuke them. He simply stood there, feeling
the weight settle on to his shoulders. One of the
younger prophets stepped forward, wide eyed, staring at him as
if seeing him for the first time.
Speaker 8 (23:05):
Master, Alisha, you parted the waters.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
Elisha turned to look at the river behind him, now
whole again, as if nothing had ever happened. He exhaled
through his nose. No, The young prophet blinked, Confused. Elisha
turned back to them, adjusting the mantle on his shoulders.
His voice was steady, quiet, but unshakable.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
It was the Lord who parted the waters, not I.
He is the archer. I am just the arrow.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
The road ahead stretched wide and uncertain. Ahab's house still
lingered like a disease. Jezebel still breathed. There was work
to do. Elisha walked on, but he knew he did
not walk a lot.
Speaker 6 (24:05):
If your faith has been kindled by this podcast and
it has affected your life, we'd love it if you
left her review. We read them, and me personally I
cherish them as you venture forth boldly and faithfully. I
leave you with the biblical blessing from numbers six Iva
Hashem vishmerechra Yeah Heir hashempanave ele y sa hashempanavelera.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Shalon.
Speaker 6 (24:35):
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the
Lord make his face shine upon you. May he be
gracious to you. Made the Lord turn his face towards
you and give you peace.
Speaker 1 (24:47):
Amen. You can listen to the Chosen People with Isle
Eckstein add free by downloading and subscribing to the pray
dot Com app today. This prey dot Com production is
only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents.
Steve Gattina, Max Bard, Zach Shellabarger and Ben Gammon are
(25:07):
the executive producers of The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein,
edited by Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are
voiced by Jonathan Gotten, Aaron Salvado, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan,
Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and
(25:27):
Mitch Leshinsky, and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore.
Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Aaron Salvato, bre
Rosalie and Chris Baig. Special thanks to Bishop Paulinier, Robin
van Ettin, kayleb Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller, Rabbi Edward Abramson, and
the team at International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. You
(25:49):
can hear more Prey dot com productions on the Prey
dot Com app, available on the Apple App Store and
Google Play Store. If you enjoyed The Chosen People with
Yile Eckstein, please rate and leave a review,
Previously on the Chosen People.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Good you go to Akron, ask bils a pup if
if I will recover.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
My lord, should we not inquire of y'all?
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Do not speak that name to me?
Speaker 4 (00:28):
Tell me, is it because there is no God in
Israel that your fools go to inquire a bel zabab.
You will not reach Akron, and your king will not
rise from his bed.
Speaker 5 (00:42):
He will die.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
They said that you will not rise from your bed,
that you will die.
Speaker 5 (00:52):
Relieshah.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Just send men, a battalion, fifty sorts. Bring him to me.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Now, man of God, by order of King Asiah, you
are to come down at once. If I am a
man of God, let fire fall from heaven and consume
you and your fifty men.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
The sky tore open, not like a storm, not like
rain breaking through heavy clouds. This was violence, a wound
of searing white that burned the shape of its fury
into the retinas of all who dared look upon it.
It's simply erased.
Speaker 6 (01:43):
Shallo, my friends from here in the holy land of Israel,
i'm ya l extein with the International Fellowship of Christians
and Jews, and welcome to the Chosen People. Each day
we'll hear a dramatic story inspired by the Bible, stories
filled with timeless lessons of faith, love, and the meaning
of life. Through israel story, we will find this truth
(02:05):
that we are all chosen for something great. So take
a moment today to follow the podcast. If you're feeling
extra grateful for these stories, we would love it if
you left us a review. I read every single one
of them, and if you're interested in hearing more about
the prophetic, life saving work of the Fellowship, you can
(02:26):
visit IFCJ dot Org. Let's begin.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
The sun hung low in the sky. He shimmered in
the air, bending the horizon like a mirage. It had
been a long road, too long, if Elisha were honest
with himself, he had followed Elijah for years, through storms
and famines, through victories and despair, through fire and whispers
(02:58):
of God. Now the road was coming to an end.
Elisha felt it in his bones. He just wasn't ready
to say it aloud. Elijah walked ahead, his stride purposeful.
He glanced sideways at his apprentice. Something deep inside him resisted.
(03:19):
He would not name the feeling, because naming it would
make it real. He would simply walk and when the
time came he would go. Elisha broke the silence with
a grin.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
So, Master, you're finally getting what you always wanted.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Elijah said nothing. He kept walking, his staff tapping against
the road. Elisha waited, then sighed dramatically.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
After all these years of groaning to the Lord, pleading
for him to take you away, bemoaning the burden of prophecy,
at last.
Speaker 5 (03:58):
Your wishes granted.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Shall I weep for you? Or Gosh, shall I rejoice?
Speaker 7 (04:06):
Weeping would be excessive, and your rejoicing would be insincere.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Elisha smirked, but the humor sat heavy on his tongue.
He did not want this to be their last conversation.
He did not want to walk this road alone.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
So what's the plan. Will you start a fight on
your way out? One last rant at Jezebel. Perhaps you'll
shove a worshiper of all into a ditch, just to
set the tone for the next generation.
Speaker 7 (04:37):
Tempting, But no, it is time for you to deal
with him now. Ahaps, how still lingers like the like
you stink of the dead oks in your sun, his sons,
He's a lion's dizzy, he's witch of a queen All
of it will be your burden.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
Not mine.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Oh good, I was so worried I would have nothing
to do upperhead.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
A cluster of figures loomed near the roadside, young prophets,
each of them wearing insufferable grins on their faces. Prophesizing
had become an upper class sport for the elite of Israel.
Every noble and rich merchant sent their sons to school
to become professional prophets to bless the halls of kings, commanders,
(05:30):
and aristocrats. One of them, a sharp nosed man with
the kind of expression that suggested he had corrected many
people's understanding of the terah unprompted, stepped forward, practically vibrating
with self importance.
Speaker 8 (05:47):
Alicia, have you heard? God has revealed it to us today? Elijah,
your master will be taken from you.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
Oh what a revelation, What a grand unveiling of the
mysteries of heaven. If only I myself were a prophet,
perhaps I too might have discerned this truth.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
The prophet looked momentarily confused, then offended. Elijah, standing just
behind Elisha, let out a low chuckle. They passed the
group of men with a dismissive wave. The roads stretched ahead,
endless and empty, save for the weight pressing down on
both of them. Elijah began to feel it, the poor,
(06:33):
the nearing moment. He had not wanted Elisha to come
this far, and had tried more than once to leave
him behind. Not because he did not love him, No,
that was the problem. He had taken Elisha under his wing,
expecting another student, another apprentice. Instead he had found a son,
(06:56):
and now he had to leave him.
Speaker 5 (06:59):
Elisia, you do not have to come with me.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
No, I will not leave you, Elijah sighed. The words
were simple, but beneath them was something raw, something unspoken.
The road had always been lowly, perhaps for this last
stretch it did not have to be. They walked on
through the sun, each lower the world held its breath.
(07:33):
The river lay before them, a great, sluggish thing, dark
and wide, a barrier between where they stood and what
lay beyond. The air was different here, thick with the
kind of tension that only came before something irreversible. Elijah,
standing at the water's edge, planted his staff into the
(07:55):
earth and stared across, saying nothing. He had always been
a man of action rather than explanation. He was more
storm than man at this point, a force of nature
used by God for judgment. Yet here now, with Elijah
at his side, for the last time, he felt painfully human.
(08:20):
The sound of the river soothed his anxiety. Elisha, sensing
the tension, pointed to the water.
Speaker 3 (08:28):
So how are we crossing? Shall I fetch you a raft?
Will you call down a pillar of fire to evaporate
the river? That would be quite the farewell.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Elijah exhaled, sharply through his nose, a sound that could
almost be mistaken for amusement. He unfastened his robe, the worn, red,
tattered thing that had hung from his shoulders through years
of drought, persecution, and the fire of Mount Carmel. Rolling
it in his hands, he lifted it high and brought
(09:00):
it down against the surface of the river. The waters recoiled.
A shudder ran through the ground as the river peeled
apart its depths. Standing back in defiance of nature itself,
a dry path stretched before them. The riverbed cracked and waiting.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
Oh, well, that works too, I suppose Moses would be.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
Proud, they walked across the walls of water towering around them.
When they reached the far shore, Elijah stopped the road
had ended. For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Then,
without turning, Elijah finally asked.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
Tell me, Elisha, what would you have of me before
I go?
Speaker 1 (09:50):
Elisha had not expected the question. The answer surged out
before he could stop it, roar and unfiltered.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Stay.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
The words sat between them, fragile as glass. Elijah did
not move, but the silence was answer enough.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
You could not even if you wish to. I know,
I just I'm not ready. You doubt yourself, Master, of
course I doubt myself. I've watched you stand alone against
kings and slaughter, false prophets. I've even seen you call
down fire and part rivers, and now you're leaving me
(10:35):
to take your place. I am not you, Master. I
have no fire, no boldness, no strength. The only thing
I know how to do is pray.
Speaker 5 (10:48):
Then you know enough.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
No, I don't, Master, I'm not half the man you are.
If I'm going to survive in this calling, this path,
please grant me a double portion of your spirit.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Elijah stilled. His expression did not change, but something flickered
behind his eyes. For a long moment, he simply studied Elishah,
as if weighing the request. Measuring the man before him.
Speaker 5 (11:20):
You ask me a hard thing.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
I ask because I have no choice. If I am
to carry this mantle, if I am to face what
you faced, then I need what you had, more than
what you had.
Speaker 7 (11:37):
If you see me when I am taken up, taken
in the chariot of the spirits, then you will know
in your heart that Yahweh has granted your request.
Speaker 5 (11:47):
But if not, then it is not my forgive.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
He let the words settle, let them sink in. But
then his gaze sharpened, something quiet amusement glinting at the
edges of his expression. Elisha frowned, his anxiety spread all
over his face.
Speaker 7 (12:09):
You always had so much boldness when you were standing
behind me, Elisha. If only you could see that it
is the Lord who stands behind you.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Elisha's breath caught, tears stung the corners of his eyes.
His lips parted slightly as if to respond, but nothing came.
Elijah let the silence linger just a moment longer, Then,
without breaking eye contact, he crouched, picking up a small
(12:44):
jagged stick from the ground, rolling it between his fingers.
Speaker 5 (12:49):
Tell me, Ilusha, which is stronger, the arrow or the archer?
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Elisha stared at his master.
Speaker 3 (13:00):
This is a strange question.
Speaker 5 (13:02):
Shut your mouth and listen.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
Elijah turned the twig over in his palm, as though
weighing it. It was time for one final lesson.
Speaker 7 (13:13):
Let's say a great warrior, a giant like Goliath, stands
before you, and let's say you place an arrow at
his feet.
Speaker 5 (13:24):
What happens?
Speaker 3 (13:25):
He crushes it beneath his heel.
Speaker 7 (13:29):
Because the arrow, by itself is nothing. It's weak, it's poetic.
But if that same arrow rests in the hands of
his killed ulcher, Elisha exhaled.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
He already knew where this was going.
Speaker 3 (13:47):
It flies true through the eye of the giant.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
Elijah let the word settle.
Speaker 7 (13:56):
I have never been powerful, Elisha, I have never been gray.
Speaker 5 (14:03):
I am an old, tired man.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
It is Yaweh who is powerful.
Speaker 7 (14:11):
I have only ever been an arrow in his arms.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
Elijah swallowed his throat tight. The wind shifted, the heat
in the air deepened, heavy and electric, a storm with
no rain. Elijah's gaze lifted to the sky. The time
had come. The ground trembled. Elijah felt it before he
(14:38):
heard it, the vibration in his bones, the shifting of
the dust beneath his feet, a sound, deep and resonant,
like a storm circling inside the earth itself. His breath hitched.
He turned to his master. Elijah stood at the edge
of the world, gazing out at the horizon, his eyes,
(15:00):
old and weary, now burned with something new, something fierce anticipation.
And then the skies split open. A whirlwind of fire
spiraled down from the heavens, splitting the very air apart.
It went through the atmosphere, a force too vast for
(15:23):
mortal eyes to comprehend. Elijah staggered back, raising his arms
to shield his face. The heat blistered his skin, the
light seared his eyes. Then he saw them, the horses,
their lanes burned with celestial fire. Their bos struck sparks
(15:45):
against the air itself. They thundered, a stampede of light
and fury. Behind them was a chariot. It was forged,
a flame and glory of power. Beyond this realm. The
wheels spun, each spoke of whirlmand of fire. The breath
(16:05):
of God filled the air. Elijah's lips parted. He stared
in wonder and acceptance. He raised his hands and beckoned
in the chariot. And then he laughed. Master Elijah turned
(16:29):
to young Elijhah, and for the first time in years,
his face was free of pain, his eyes full of tears,
alight with fire and something deeper peace.
Speaker 5 (16:44):
The time has gone my way, we see.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
Ecourageous Elisha reached for his master. His fingers curled around
the edge of Elijah's cloak, but the wind ripped it
from his grasp. The carrier descended. The whirlwind howled, father fath,
don't leave me. His voice broke, The words tore from
(17:11):
his throat, war and desperate, of the cry of a prophet,
but of a sun losing the man he loved most.
The fire enveloped Elijah, wrapping him in light, lifting him
from the earth. His fall blurred, first flesh, then flame,
(17:32):
then something beyond e than that, And as he rose,
he cast one last look down at Elisha and smirked.
Speaker 5 (17:43):
Right not to burning always nuts.
Speaker 1 (17:47):
Then Elijah was gone, gone. Elisha collapsed, His knees struck
the earth, his hands dug into the dark just where
his master had stood. His breath came in ragged gasps silence.
(18:07):
The fire was gone, The wind had ceased the world
so loud a moment Ago was now unbearably quiet. Only
one thing remained. Elijah's mantle lay in the dust, caught
in the fingers of the breeze, weightless and waiting, the
(18:31):
last remnant of a man who had once called down
fire from the heavens, a man who had defied kings,
slain false prophets, outrun chariots, and walked through famine and
war with nothing but the certainty that God was enough.
(18:53):
Elisha reached out with shaking fingers. He had expected it
to be warm, to still carry the fire of his
master's departure. But it wasn't. It was just cloth, A
weight settled deep in his chest. He sat back on
his heels, gripping the mantle in his fists, his breath
(19:15):
coming fast and uneven.
Speaker 3 (19:17):
He's gone, He's actually gone. What am I supposed to do?
Speaker 8 (19:23):
Now?
Speaker 1 (19:24):
The wind shifted. The river murmured before him, a slow,
unyielding barrier. He had crossed it with Elijah. Now he
stood before it alone.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
Oh, this is ridiculous. He was one man who did
all of this, the fire, the power, the miracles, him,
not me.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
The whisper of doubt dug deeper. What if it was
not enough? What if he was not enough. Elijah turned,
looking over his shoulder, half expecting, half hoping to see
Elijah standing there, watching, grinning, giving him one last impossible
task before vanishing into the wilderness. But there was no one.
(20:12):
He was alone.
Speaker 3 (20:14):
This mantle should have gone to someone else, someone stronger,
someone worthy.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
The river didn't move.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
God, what am I supposed to do? You took him?
And now I'm supposed to what walk in his place?
Speaker 1 (20:33):
The doubt curled around him like a snake.
Speaker 3 (20:37):
I can't I'm not Elijah.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
I'll never be. And then a still small voice, not
from the sky, not from fire, but from memory the errow.
The wind stirred. Elijhah sucked in a sharp breath. The
river whispered before him, waiting. The choice was his. He exhaled, stood,
(21:08):
stepped forward, and lifted the mantle high. His voice rang out,
steady and unchanged, but no longer uncertain.
Speaker 3 (21:18):
Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, God of Joseph
and Moses, God of Elijah, My God, I am your servant.
Speaker 7 (21:30):
Show me your power.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
Elijha lifted Elijah's roll and struck the water. The river
recoiled the same way it had for his master. The
waters peeled away, shuddering, parting. A dry path yawned before him.
The answer had come. His heart thundered in his chest,
(21:54):
His mind warred against itself. This is real, this is happening.
The mantle his mine, this calling his mine, this weight
his mine. He took a step forward, then another. Then
he walked straight through the river, the waters standing still
(22:18):
around him until he reached the far shore. The prophets
were waiting. Their expressions, once doubtful, now carried something new.
They had seen what he had done. They had seen
the waters move at his word, and they knew. They
(22:38):
fell to their knees.
Speaker 8 (22:41):
The spirit of Elijah rests on at leisure.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
Elishah said nothing. He did not bask in their reverence,
nor did he rebuke them. He simply stood there, feeling
the weight settle on to his shoulders. One of the
younger prophets stepped forward, wide eyed, staring at him as
if seeing him for the first time.
Speaker 8 (23:05):
Master, Alisha, you parted the waters.
Speaker 1 (23:11):
Elisha turned to look at the river behind him, now
whole again, as if nothing had ever happened. He exhaled
through his nose. No, The young prophet blinked, Confused. Elisha
turned back to them, adjusting the mantle on his shoulders.
His voice was steady, quiet, but unshakable.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
It was the Lord who parted the waters, not I.
He is the archer. I am just the arrow.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
The road ahead stretched wide and uncertain. Ahab's house still
lingered like a disease. Jezebel still breathed. There was work
to do. Elisha walked on, but he knew he did
not walk a lot.
Speaker 6 (24:05):
If your faith has been kindled by this podcast and
it has affected your life, we'd love it if you
left her review. We read them, and me personally I
cherish them as you venture forth boldly and faithfully. I
leave you with the biblical blessing from numbers six Iva
Hashem vishmerechra Yeah Heir hashempanave ele y sa hashempanavelera.
Speaker 1 (24:34):
Shalon.
Speaker 6 (24:35):
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the
Lord make his face shine upon you. May he be
gracious to you. Made the Lord turn his face towards
you and give you peace.
Speaker 1 (24:47):
Amen. You can listen to the Chosen People with Isle
Eckstein add free by downloading and subscribing to the pray
dot Com app today. This prey dot Com production is
only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents.
Steve Gattina, Max Bard, Zach Shellabarger and Ben Gammon are
(25:07):
the executive producers of The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein,
edited by Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are
voiced by Jonathan Gotten, Aaron Salvado, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan,
Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and
(25:27):
Mitch Leshinsky, and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore.
Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Aaron Salvato, bre
Rosalie and Chris Baig. Special thanks to Bishop Paulinier, Robin
van Ettin, kayleb Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller, Rabbi Edward Abramson, and
the team at International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. You
(25:49):
can hear more Prey dot com productions on the Prey
dot Com app, available on the Apple App Store and
Google Play Store. If you enjoyed The Chosen People with
Yile Eckstein, please rate and leave a review,
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