Family Roots

There’s no doubt that genealogies were important throughout the Old Testament and into the New. As modern readers, we don’t really get it and the long lines of genealogy to us can seem boring and even useless to some degree. However, scientific discovery and the work of DNA have brought the role of genetics back to the forefront of modern thinking, although for very different reasons than in biblical times. Several months ago I was tested for “cancer genes.” (Yes, I have one. No, I’m not shocked, I’m also not worried. Let’s move along.) It was a very interesting process that got me thinking about family lineage, the role it plays on our physical and mental health; but also our spiritual health. I absolutely believe that certain spiritual legacies and anointings can pass from one generation to another. Does this mean that if you weren’t born into a Christian family you’re excluded? Absolutely not. Through the death and resurrection of Christ, anyone who believes in Him becomes an heir of God, our heavenly Father (Romans 8:14-17). I also believe that there are “spiritual mothers and fathers” who have born many “spiritual children” through discipleship and mentoring. Elijah and Elisha are wonderful examples of this. Elijah mentored Elisha for many years and when he was about to be taken into heaven, a most interesting thing happened. Second Kings 2:7-14 states:

Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”

“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.

“You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.”

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.

Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

Read this passage again, paying particular attention to the cloak (some versions call it a “mantle”). The cloak is significant here as it seems to be a symbol of the transfer of spiritual power between Elijah and Elisha. Elijah had parted the Jordan River with the cloak and then Elisha did the same. There were about 50 other prophets standing around watching and they witnessed this miraculous transfer take place, saying, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha” (v. 15). 

Now, fast forward to chapter 13. In this chapter, “Elisha had been suffering from the illness from which he died” (v 14). The chapter talks about an interaction between Elisha and Israel’s king-of-the-moment; and then it simply says, “Elisha died and was buried” (v 20). Even though Elisha had twice the anointing as Elijah, there are only five words related to his death. We can only assume he was buried with his cloak–particularly because verse 21 has a very odd little story, almost a footnote to Elisha’s death: “Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet.” Elisha was buried with his power; so much power that when a dead body was thrown on top of him, that person was resurrected. This leads me to ponder a few questions for those in spiritual authority as well as those under spiritual authority (and aren’t most of us in at least one of those two positions, if not both at the same time?).

Those in spiritual authority:

1. Do you disciple anyone? I don’t mean by osmosis (“I lead by example”), I mean by intentional time spent with that person(s). If not, maybe it’s time to “be fruitful and multiply” your spiritual children.
2. If you do mentor, is there anything that might hold you back from passing your “cloak” on to them? Maybe it’s something in you (ambition, insecurity, etc.) or something in them (immaturity, etc.)

Bottom line: Don’t be buried with your cloak.

Those under spiritual authority:

1. Have you asked for a double portion of someone’s anointing lately? “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8).
2. Are you spiritually mature enough to handle a double portion? If not, ask God and yourself some hard questions about why not.

Bottom line: Don’t allow someone to be buried with their cloak.

Next week, I’m going to visit my mom’s hometown and the city where she grew up (they’re about an hour apart). I’m meeting new friends and visiting family whom I haven’t seen since my mom passed away. I’m also hoping to find out some things about my family roots. My mom didn’t talk about it much. It was only after she passed away that I found out she was Spirit-filled and prayed in tongues. I unknowingly allowed my mom to be “buried with her cloak.” Maybe I’ll find out some stuff on my trip next week, maybe I won’t. Either way, I’m hoping that I’ll be able to move on from this weird feeling that there’s something I’m missing. It is also my prayer that if God blesses me with a husband and children someday, He will begin a spiritual legacy within us to pass along to future generations.