Today I want to take a look at the call of Elisha. It can be found in 1 Kings 19:19-21:
“So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and then walked away. 20 Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, “First let me go and kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you!”
Elijah replied, “Go on back, but think about what I have done to you.”
21 So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the townspeople, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant.” (NLT2)
Elijah had just come off a wonderful Mountain top experience in 1 Kings 18— its a wonderful account of God making a huge campfire… read it... you’ll enjoy it.
After his mountain top experience, Elijah received a threatening word from the Queen of the day, and he was scared, so he ran away… Met with God, was replenished by God, and God told him to go and anoint a new prophet.. Which brings us to this passage.
Elisha was out in the field gardening, he is bringing up the rear of a team of oxen, Elijah approaches him, throws his cloak over him, and Elisha stops right where he was and wanted to go say goodbye to his family and when he came back, he did something interesting… look again at verse 21: “So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the townspeople, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant.”
Before, Elisha left to follow Elijah, he completely destroyed his old life. killed the oxen, used the wood from the plow that he had been using to make a fire, which allowed him to cook the meat, and when the meat was cooked, he shared it with those gathered around, and then Elisha left to go.
It wold have been super hard for Elisha to go back to work if the following after Elijah thing didn't work out. He had nothing let. He got rid of it all.
When we follow after God, we are supposed to make a U-turn like this too. (thats a 180, not a 360).
Jesus said: “no one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62
We can’t follow God and still have one foot in our old way of life. Its all or nothing. You're in our you're out. Sitting on the fence does no good. It divides your loyalty, and it divides your heart.
I wonder what “plows” God might want you to burn in order to fully follow Him? What do you need to give up in order to go deeper in your walk with Jesus?
It might be your job— it was for Elisha. It might not be as big as that. It could be your TV viewing habits. It could be the books you read. It could be, well, it could be anything.
Jesus isn't asking you to give something up because He wants to harm you, He's asking you to give something up because He loves you, and His ways are much better than our ways.
We only see a small part of His plan, while He knows the entire plan, so if He is asking— or has been asking—- you to give something up, then take a few moments today and “burn the plows.”
Give it up and give it over to God, and then follow along. I promise you that His plans will be much better than anything you or I cold ever come up with.
What will you set fire to today?
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