What is the spiritual meaning of Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho and Jordan?


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Elisha Bible Study Lesson Snippet

What is the spiritual meaning of Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho and Jordan?

We have looked at the four locations where Elisha was tested at. Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho and the Jordan. And these speak of separation, the presence of God, walking by faith, and death and resurrection respectively.

When I was thinking about those four places, in dawned on me that there is a well know New Testament passage that corresponds to each of these locations. It is Phil 3:6-10. To make things easy (hopefully!), I have added the following table.

Location Principle / Meaning N.T Verse Passage

Gilgal 

Separation
(from the flesh, the past, and unto God)

Phil 3:6-7

If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more...   But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ 

Bethel 

House of God
(a desire to know God and be in His presence.)

Phil 3:8

What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to  the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord  , for whose sake I have lost all things.

Jericho 

Faith
(Walk by faith and not righteousness or strength)

Phil 3:9

I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,  but that which is through faith in Christ - the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith  .

Jordan 

Death & Resurrection
(Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground...)

 Phil 3:10

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings,becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.


We are back to where we were at the end of the first study on Elisha. And that is with what was spoken about Elisha and his master Elijha -

2 Kings 2:6 '...So the two of them walked on...'

Or, in the language of the New Testament passage of Philippians 3:

'I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me... But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.' 


From: Elisha's Journey - How far do you want to go? (Part 2)