Before Elijah was taken up to heaven, a curious thing happened.

As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.

2 Kings 2:11-12 (NIV)

However, when Elisha was about to die, something more curious happened.

Now Elisha had been suffering from the illness from which he died. Jehoash king of Israel went down to see him and wept over him. “My father! My father!” he cried. “The chariots and horsemen of Israel!”

2 Kings 13:14 (NIV)

Elisha and Jehoash, the king of Israel, cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” When Elijah was taken up, it made sense that Elisha lamented Elijah’s “passing” with this expression because Elisha saw “a chariot of fire and horses of fire” (2 Kings 2:11). But why did Jehoash say the same thing? Did he also see a chariot and horses?

Before I provide my “answer” to these questions, I want to point out another time in Elisha’s life where there’s a reference to horses and “chariots of fire.” That time was in 2 Kings 6:17.

And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha (emphasis added).

2 Kings 6:17 (NIV)

In 2 Kings 6:8-15, we learn that Elisha was supplying the king of Israel with information regarding Aramean troop movements. When the king of Aram heard about this, he sent an army to capture Elisha in Dothan. Therefore, when the Aramean army surrounded Dothan and Elisha’s servant saw this army, he was afraid.

When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.

“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

2 Kings 6:15-17 (NIV)

Thus, “chariots” and “fire” are mentioned twice in the Bible. The first time is when they separated Elijah and Elisha before a whirlwind took Elijah to heaven. The second time we see chariots and fire mentioned is when they surround Elisha and his servant in 2 Kings 6:17. Although the Bible doesn’t say this army is the Lord’s army, I see it as such. Indeed, this is the army I see encamped around all those who believe. Yet, I digress. For the sake of this devotion, our focus is on the appearance of horses and chariots of fire twice in Elisha’s presence.

Given Jehoash’s identical exclamation to Elisha’s when Elijah was taken up, we can presume that Elisha spoke of this event to Jehoash since, as far as we know, there were no other witnesses to it. Indeed, it’s also likely that Elisha’s servant spoke of his incredible vision at Dothan too. Therefore, our deduction that Jehoash was familiar with these events is not unmerited.

A second reason for Jehoash’s cry is what the horses and chariots of fire represent. Again, we look to the incident in Dothan from 2 Kings 6 to see that these horses and chariots of fire represent the Lord’s army. Therefore, they represent the might and power of God. Indeed, we can say they represent God’s omnipotence.

Thus, when Jehoash exclaims, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” in 2 Kings 13:14, he’s lamenting Elisha’s passing as one who protected Israel like the army of God. Who will intercede for Israel now that Elisha is dying? Hence, Elisha’s response to Jehoash’s lament.

Elisha said, “Get a bow and some arrows,” and he did so. “Take the bow in your hands,” he said to the king of Israel. When he had taken it, Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands.

“Open the east window,” he said, and he opened it. “Shoot!” Elisha said, and he shot. “The Lord’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram!” Elisha declared. “You will completely destroy the Arameans at Aphek.”

Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and the king took them. Elisha told him, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped. The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times.”

2 Kings 13:15-19 (NIV)

Elisha assured Jehoash that Israel would be victorious over Aram at Aphek, but Jehoash failed to take hold of Elisha’s prophetic word through his lackluster and uninspired striking of the ground three times with the arrows, it was evident that Jehoash’s faith and devotion to the Lord were half-hearted at best.

Elijah and Elisha were extraordinary prophets of God who performed many miracles. However, these two men were no different than you and I. They were ordinary people with incredible faith, and because of their faith, God did amazing things through them. Indeed, as with the apostles and people of great faith we read about throughout the Bible, the one thing these folks all have in common is their incredible faith in God. It’s this faith that heals the sick, cures the blind, casts out demons, and raises the dead.

As Christians, we each have the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish whatever God has for us to do in this life. We, too, can heal the sick, cure the blind, cast out demons, and raise the dead because of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. Consider this verse from Romans 8:

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

Romans 8:11 (NIV)

However, we must remember the Holy Spirit within that accomplishes miracles. It is not the person through whom they come. When we fail to understand who performs the miraculous, we can be like Jehoash who credits the man with the power instead of the Spirit with the power. If that happens, where is our faith? It’s not in God but in his servants.

As I write this, I’m reminded of how easy it is to “forget” where the power comes from. Too often, we think of those who regularly pray as “prayer warriors” and believe they can get a prayer through to God as if our God doesn’t hear our prayers. As if we are somehow “less” because of what? Because those folks are “holier” than we are? Because we said that thing yesterday and did that other thing?

Indeed, we see pastors, preachers, ministers, evangelists, and every flavor of those who serve the Lord with a title as if they aren’t like “us.” However, this belief, whether we acknowledge it or not, is a lie because God does hear our prayers and with him, there is no favoritism. As Paul reminds us:

For God does not show favoritism.

Romans 2:11 (NIV)

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, remember that the Holy Spirit within you guarantees your salvation. However, he’s also an instrument of power that reflects our faith in God and for that faith to work wonders we need only a mustard seed’s worth.