Elijah and Elisha

One day Elijah walked to a town and saw a young man plowing the ground. Elijah walked beside the man and threw a shawl over him.

The man, whose name was Elisha, was surprised! He left his oxen and ran to Elijah. Young Elisha told Elijah, “Please let me kiss my father and mother good-bye, then I will follow you.” From that day on, Elisha was with Elijah and learned from him.

The two men were together a long time, and Elijah grew old. He knew he would not live much longer, and he would go to be with God.

One day Elijah knew it was time. Elijah told Elisha that God wanted Elijah to go to Bethel.

Elisha wanted to go with his friend Elijah. But Elijah told Elisha to stay home. But Elisha answered, “I will not leave you.”

Then God told Elijah to go to Jericho. Again, Elisha wanted to go with Elijah. Next, the men went to the Jordan River.

At the river, Elijah asked Elisha what he could do for him. Elisha said he wanted to serve God even more than Elijah had.

It was time for God to take Elijah to heaven. Elisha watched and was sad for Elijah to leave. Elisha was alone. He already missed his good friend Elijah.

Then Elisha picked up Elijah’s shawl and went back to the Jordan River. This is when Elisha began to take over Elijah’s work of helping people know about God.