“Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” This is the question asked by Elisha in 2 Kings 2:14.

Elisha had been the understudy of the great and mighty man of God, Elijah. Elijah had just been caught up into heaven, and Elisha was left alone on the banks of the Jordan River.

Elisha was a God-seeker. He desired to know the power and presence of God. From the day Elijah recruited him (1 Kings 19:19-21), Elisha was intent on being everything God wanted him to be. Elisha knew God was about to take Elijah from the earth. Elisha followed Elijah closely.

Elijah asked Elisha what he could do for him before he was taken. Elisha told Elijah he desired to inherit a double portion of the power of God that Elijah had (2 Kings 2:9).

Elijah, in essence, said, “OK, if you see me taken up into heaven, you will have your request.” Elisha would not take his eyes off Elijah. When the chariots of fire swooped down and took up Elijah, Elisha saw it (2 Kings 2:11-12).

Elisha, the God-seeker, could not wait to experience the power of God. He turned from the place where Elijah was taken by the Jordan River and cried to the Lord to divide the river so he could cross over. The waters parted and Elisha knew God was with him.

We will not likely part any rivers, but we do desire to know the power and presence of God. We know Jacob wrestled with God, in Genesis, Chapter 32, and held on tenaciously. Jacob was such a God-seeker that he said, in Genesis 32:26, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” God blessed him.

Job was under great testing and desired to meet with God. In the book of Job 23:3, Job said, “If only I knew where to find him” (i.e. God). Job said that he went in every direction to find God (Job 23:8-9) and could not see Him, but Job rightly concluded that God knew all about everything that was going on. Job’s conclusion is recorded in Job 23:10: “He (God) knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”

Elisha, Jacob and Job all had one thing in common. They believed God was and is, and that he rewarded all who would earnestly seek him (Hebrews 11:6). Jacob wrestled, Job questioned, and Elisha desired, but they were all God-seekers. No matter what they were going through, the number one thing was to know God.

Are we any different? We may not declare it as boldly as these Bible characters did, but we all want to know God.

We have a promise in the book of James 4:8: “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” How do we do that? By coming to God through Jesus Christ, like a blind beggar sitting on the corner begging. He cannot see who is passing by; he just knows he is in need. The beggar passionately extends his open hand; he asks, he seeks, he knocks.

When our hands are open and we come to God through faith in Jesus, we find him.
Where in the Lord God of Elijah? Right here, right now; just reach out to him.

The Rev. Dan Puckett is a minister with Life Action Ministries.