In order to signify the passing of his prophetic authority and power, Elisha took up Elijah’s cloak or mantle. From this we get the expression “passing of the mantle” to indicate the transfer of authority or power from one person to a successor. This is true not only in the church and ministry, but in the business world as well. The person who takes up the mantle deserves as much respect and honor as his/her predecessor. The other prophets we see here acknowledged this with Elisha. They realized that he was the one anointed by Yahweh to replace Elijah. They display no bitterness or envy but only joy accompanied by a humble awareness regarding what the Lord was doing in the midst of an evil world.
When Elisha took up the mantle he immediately began to assert his authority through the power of the Holy Spirit. His first actions are reminiscent of Moses. He parted the waters of the Jordan as Moses parted the waters of the Red Sea. He made a spring of poisoned water palatable also as Moses did in the wilderness. The prophets saw that Elisha was the Lord’s prophet but not everyone agreed with them. The youths who called him “bald head” were not merely poking fun at him. Elijah had been a hairy man and his hair was taken as a sign of prophetic power. Elisha was bald so these young men rejected both him and his authority. In doing so they showed great disdain and disrespect for the Lord. That is why they were punished. This serves as a warning that we must not show disrespect for those God has called to be in authority in the church, but should love them and heed the words the Lord speaks through them.
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