II Kings 2: 8 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 walked over on dry ground.

This is the second time in the Word of God where we read that the waters of the Jordan River was parted long enough for people to walk through it on dry ground. In both instances it happened for ordinary men, Joshua and Elijah, who were empowered by God to lead extraordinary lives before him.

In this second instance Elijah whom I call the fearless prophet was on a special journey accompanied by his student Elisha. Elijah knew it was his last day on the earth but so did Elisha and the other prophets of the towns they would pass through that day. Elijah was trying to spare Elisha the pain of his departure. Each time they arrived in another town Elijah told him to remain there but Elisha was not buying it. Having gone through Gilgal, Bethel and Jericho they finally arrived at the Jordan. Elijah made a final appeal to Elisha but he insisted he would not leave him. Talk about persistence! So Elijah used his cloak to strike the water which parted in front of them so they could cross over on dry ground while 50 men of the company of the prophets of Jordan watched.

Elisha had seen many miracles performed by Elijah and his desire to live under the same anointing was so intense that he requested from Elijah that he would inherit a double portion of his spirit. And so he did. As a result he was able to part the Jordan for his return journey with Elijah’s cloak which fell to him when Elijah was taken up by a whirlwind to heaven.

As I contemplated these repeat miracles of Bible times, I found myself wondering if God would repeat similar miracles in our day. In that moment the Holy Spirit responded to my musing:

“The Lord God can and does repeat miracles for those who trust in him. There is no limitation on what God can and does do from time to time. It is all according to his good pleasure. That he repeated for Elijah and Elisha what he did for Joshua is evidence that God’s presence goes with his people not only from place to place but from generation to generation. He is the Lord God after all, not subject to any restraints by man.”