Covered with the Robe
Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground. – 2 Kings 2:8 NKJV.
Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over. – 2 Kings 2:14 NKJV.
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. – Isaiah 61:10 NKJV.
Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. – Revelation 4:4 NKJV.
Ojo Obaniyi, who lives in Ibadan, Nigeria, has found a unique way to attract people to his raffia palm cane weaving business. He uses his pickup truck to gain the attention of people to his artistic ability to weave the raffia palm cane. What he has done is to weave a covering for every surface of his vehicle. Inside and out of Ojo’s pickup there is a beautifully weaved cane covering. The seats, the steering wheel, the dashboard, and the body of the pickup are all covered with a beautiful raffia palm cane weaving. Ojo has 20-years of experience in cane weaving and says, “I wanted to prove a point that it is not only the educated elite that can make positive changes in society. We, the artisans also have talents to effect a change and make a positive impact in the society.” (African Spotlight 01.14.13)
How would you like to have a car or a pickup covered in raffia cane weaving? Or, even better to have a suit of clothes made of cane weaving to cover your body? Our Lord and High Priest, Jesus Christ, wore a one-piece robe which covered his body (John 19:23). The high priests of the Old Testament wore a one-piece garment, the robe of the ephod, which covered their bodies (Exodus 28:31-32). The Old Testament prophets, at least Samuel, Elijah, and Elisha all wore a one-piece covering of their bodies too called a “mantle.” The Hebrew words for the Robe of the Ephod and the word for mantle are different, but there does appear to be great similarity between the two garments.
The mantle that Elijah and Elisha wore was not only their clothing, but it was a symbol of God’s power. The symbol of the power of God given to Moses was the rod (Exodus 4:1-4). The mantle and the rod, however, in the hands of these men of God were not just symbols. Through the mantle and rod these men of God were empowered with the supernatural power of God. When Moses stretched out the rod, the waters parted. When Elijah and Elisha struck the waters with their mantle, the waters parted.
The prophet Isaiah was clothed with a Robe of Righteousness. Although this is not a physical robe or mantle which covered Elijah and Elisha, Isaiah is still a God empowered mighty prophet. We are given a brief view of the church in Heaven in Revelation 4-5. The family of God is symbolically represented here in the 24 elders who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and are clothed in “white robes.” If you are a believer in Jesus Christ you too have been clothed in a “Robe of Righteousness.” Your “Robe of Righteousness” is just as powerful if not more so than the “mantle” of Elijah and Elisha. Why? How? Jesus says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it (John 14:12-13).”
(Believers are covered with a Robe of Righteousness.)