Elijah- The Importance of Mentoring

On Sundays, we're continuing our look at the life of Elijah, the Old Testament prophet.

II Kings chapter 2 records the last moments in the life of Elijah. He knows the end is near and he begins a journey from Gilgal to Bethel to Jericho and on to the Jordan River. At each step along the way, his protege, Elisha, vows to follow his mentor to the end. In verse 9, Elijah asks Elisha "What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you"?; basically providing Elisha an opportunity to glean any additional wisdom or information that my help him in the future. Elisha's response was to request that a "double portion" of Elijah's spirit be upon him. Very possibly, Elisha felt he was only half the man that his mentor Elijah was.

Here's The Point: Elijah had mentored Elisha and gained his respect. Elisha honored his mentor by retracing some major moments in Elijah's life (v. 25) and carrying on the work, in some ways to greater heights than his mentor ever reached. The practice of mentoring is Biblical. Christ and the disciples. Moses and Joshua. Elijah and Elisha.

What about you? If you're not involved in a mentoring process, even an informal one, you're missing out.