Elijah was known as the prophet of fire.   He called down fire and it lapped up the water on the sacrifice (1 Kings 18).   He called down fire on the soldiers and they were consumed (2 Kings 1).   But Elisha is the prophet of water:

  • He struck the water and it separated into two so he could cross the Jordan on dry ground (2 Kings 2:14)
  • He cleansed the water with salt (2 Kings 2:19-22)
  • He cleansed the deadly stew (2 Kings 4:38-41)
  • He directed Naaman to wash in the water for a leprousy cure (2 Kings 5)
  • He caused an Ax head to float (2 Kings 6:1-7)

Why is this?  It’s a common prophetic theme and we find this in John the Baptist.  He spoke of the fire of God’s judgment and the cleansing of the water in baptism.   Just as Elijah used fire for judgment and Elisha used water for cleansing, the same is with us.  We will face the fires of judgment or the water of cleansing.

Just like Naaman who almost refused to submit to the ways of God for his cleansing, man can also refuse to submit to God and not be healed and cleansed.