Skip to main content

Elisha’s example

1 Kings 19:19-21
"19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?
21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him."

In Luke 9:54, after James and John sought to call down fire on a Samaritan village that rejected Jesus, they referenced Elijah, saying, “even as Elias did?” Jesus then taught three lessons about rejection:

1- Discipleship demands sacrifice, embracing hardship and forgoing earthly security.
2- Following Jesus requires immediate, unwavering commitment.
3- Bid farewell and don’t look back. A plowing metaphor illustrates this: a farmer must focus on the furrow ahead for straight rows; looking back creates crooked ones.

These lessons emphasize resolute commitment to Christ, free from hesitation or worldly distractions, echoing Elijah’s call to Elisha in 1 Kings. Fleeing Queen Jezebel’s threats after confronting Baal’s prophets, Elijah was directed by God to find a successor. He found Elisha plowing with twelve yoke of oxen—a humble task showing that honest work does not hinder a divine calling.

Elijah cast his mantle, a symbol of prophetic authority, upon Elisha, marking him as his successor. Elisha promptly left his oxen, requesting only to bid farewell to his parents. Elijah allowed this, affirming Elisha’s free choice, reflecting God’s grace preserving human liberty.

Elisha returned, slaughtered his oxen, and cooked their flesh using the plow and yoke as fuel, sharing the meal with those around him. This farewell feast expressed joy and gratitude for his divine call, not sorrow. By destroying his tools, Elisha ensured he could not return to his old life. He then followed Elijah, serving him and God.

James and John rightly looked to the prophets as examples but chose the behavior to emulate. We can learn from their mistake, discerning how to apply God’s Word to our lives. Calling down fire may seem appealing, but it may not align with God’s plan. The example to leave our old way of life and serve God with all our heart is the important lesson. 
Amen.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

to be taller

Matthew 6:27 "27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?" Jesus has questions... Beginning our study this week with "Why Do You Worry?" Questions have always been a cornerstone of education, used to assess students’ knowledge, promote comprehension, and stimulate critical thinking. Well-crafted questions lead to new insights, generate discussion, and promote the comprehensive exploration of the subject. It makes sense that GOD would use questions VERY effectively. In yesterday's verses, Jesus asked "Are you not MUCH BETTER than birds?" His questions do not end there. In today's verse we read another one, "Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?" This is a sentence our culture needs to learn. No anxiety, no thinking, no wanting will alter our bodily height, or any other condition of our life that is fixed by God’s laws. We often wish things were different than they are, but our "wo...
Post a Comment
Read more

we also...

Romans 6:3&4 "3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." In our studies we are striving to understand God’s love and care. God's unconditional love for His followers, appreciating that we are part of GOD’S family! God is with us from cradle to grave. His divine presence is always giving us purpose and guidance. One of the most important milestones in the life of a Christian is baptism. When we are baptized, an indelible mark is made on our soul. This mark signifies a permanent transformation and dedication of the individual to God. The act of Baptism involves water and the invocation of the Holy Trinity. This ritual is seen as a symbolic washing away of original sin and a new birth into the life of Christ. Baptism is a foundational s...
Post a Comment
Read more

in roads

Acts 2:7&8 "7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?" The Holy Ghost is the only way this happens. They were very surprised to be hundreds and, some cases, thousands of miles from "home" and hearing their language spoken! It was astonishing! Appreciate that these devout Jewish people whose families had been carried away from Israel generations before. Taken in captivity by armies that invaded and conquered Israel. (A little like Joseph was taken captive to Egypt. All by God's plan to save the Israelites during a time of famine.) Over the years, these Jewish "captives" would adopt the language and some of the customs of their captors. However, they remained Jewish. By the time of the events recorded in the book of Acts, they made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem for Passover and the Feast of Weeks. They just happe...
Post a Comment
Read more