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Samson, the strong man from the Book of Judges is contrasted with John the Baptist, the prophet who prepared the way for Christ's coming. One man lived out of step with God and suffered the consequences. The other lived passionately and obediently in the center of God's will and changed the world.

Spiritual maturity moves us steadily toward intimacy with God. The greatest tragedy is the Christian who refuses to grow up.

I Kings 19:19-21 THE STORY SO FAR Let’s remember the story so far. After pronouncing a drought, calling fire from heaven, and destroying the false prophets of Baal, Elijah expected a spiritual reformation in Israel. But, when it didn’t happen and Queen Jezebel threatened his life, Elijah took off running. He headed south into Midian in a deep state of depression. After arriving at Mount Horeb, the Lord confronts him and Elijah complains about being the only godly man left in Israel. The Lord meets Elijah’s depression with two solutions. He’s given a new purpose in that he is to anoint two new kings, and he is given a partner by anointing a new prophet in Elisha. Elijah immediately heads out to fulfill his task and goes first to find Elisha. That’s where our passage picks up today. SCRIPTURE So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat while he was plowing, with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah came over to him and threw his cloak on him. Then he left the oxen behind and ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back, for what have I done to you?” So he returned from following him, and took the pair of oxen and sacrificed them, and cooked their meat with the implements of the oxen, and gave it to the people and they ate. Then he got up and followed Elijah and served him. WHEN YOU STARTED A NEW JOB, DID YOU DO ANYTHING TO CELEBRATE YOUR EMPLOYMENT? BACKGROUND With this passage we are introduced to Elisha, whose name means, God is salvation, who would eventually take over Elijah’s prophetic ministry. Elijah and Elisha were two very different men. While Elijah was solitary and withdrawn, Elisha was open, expressive, and a man of the people. We see this right away when Elisha killed two of his oxen to feed the people in his community. Elisha likely came from a family of some means, signified by the fact that he plowed with twelve oxen. Normally, a person would only plow with two. He lived in Abel-meholah, which was likely west of the Jordan river in the territory of the northern kingdom of Israel. There is some thought that Elisha may have already been known to Elijah, but this is doubtful. Elisha was a young man when called, probably in his early 20s as his ministry lasted around 60 years. That he so willingly left his oxen, family, and wealthy lifestyle demonstrates the kind of man that he was, fully committed to the Lord and to following a godly leader as he had in Elijah. Elisha prophesied during the reigns of Jehoram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, and Jehoash of the northern kingdom. During his prophetic ministry he maintained a house in Samaria and also had comfortable quarters with the shunammite woman. He may have continued to have some means even during his prophetic ministry. This is all we hear about Elisha until Elijah is taken up to heaven. But he likely served Elijah for several years during the reigns of Ahab, and Ahaziah and into Jehoram’s reign, likely around seven or eight years total. Unlike Elijah, he was not a man given to fear, as he did not cower before any political leader and was not easily intimidated. Earlier in the chapter, Elijah was commanded by God to anoint Hazael as king of Aram and Jehu as king of Israel, and Elisha as prophet. Though he sought out Elisha right away, Hazael and Jehu were not commissioned until several years afterward. And not by Elijah, but by Elisha’s ministry. We don’t know why there was this delay or why Elijah did not carry out the command himself. However, Elisha’s ministry began as an extension of Elijah’s ministry and so it might have been fulfilled in that way. While Elijah is compared to John the Baptist, Elisha is best compared to Jesus. Like Jesus, he did many miracles and worked openly among the people. Like Jesus, he raised the dead. In fact, at his own death, when a corpse was dropped on his bones, the dead man came to life (II Kings 13:21). When Jesus rose from the dead, other saints also rose with him (Matthew 27:52-53). EXAMINATION (V.19) So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat while he was plowing, with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he with the twelfth. THE LORD GIVES YOU A NEW ASSIGNMENT AND A NEW PARTNER IN YOUR MINISTRY. WHICH WILL YOU SEEK OUT FIRST, THE JOB OR THE PARTNER? WHY? It is likely that Elisha was plowing with servants, each with a pair of oxen, and Elisha with two. There’s no way a single man could have directed twelve large oxen together while plowing. The text notes that the other oxen were ahead of him, meaning that others were plowing the field in a line in front of him. Elisha’s parents likely had a large amount of land as there were twelve oxen being used to plow it. How much land is not known, but it was likely large. On average, a pair of oxen would plow an acre of land in a day. With twelve oxen, the land must have been large, at least twelve acres or more considering if it took more than a day to plow their land, which is likely. So, we’re talking about nine football fields of land. (V.19) And Elijah came over to him and threw his cloak on him. Elisha did not come into his ministry with a traditional anointing of oil. Rather, Elijah threw his cloak over him. This is interesting because when Elijah was later taken up to heaven, his mantle fell on Elisha. In both cases then, we see the investiture of authority being bestowed on Elisha through both acts. Be throwing his cloak over him he was not simply calling Elisha as a prophet, he was signifying that Elisha was to carry out a special role, following in his ministry. Some commentators note that by wrapping Elisha in his cloak he was conferring son-hood on the younger man. Elisha recognized this right away as we see in his response to Elijah in the next verse. (V.20) Then he left the oxen behind and ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you.” HAVE YOU EVER HAD TO START OVER IN LIFE? DID YOU ABANDON YOUR OLD LIFE COMPLETELY OR TAKE SOME OF IT WITH YOU INTO YOUR NEW LIFE? This is reminiscent of Jesus’ words saying he who looks back to the plow is not worthy to follow him (Luke 9:62). However, the situation is completely different. Elisha is asking to honor his parents by saying goodbye to them. He is not asking to follow Elijah after a long interval. (V.20) And he said to him, “Go back, for what have I done to you?” Elijah gives permission by saying, “Go back.” His words, “What have I done to you,” are not a rebuke, but a confirmation of his calling Elisha into the ministry. In other words, go say your goodbyes as you will be with me from now on. What he has done for him is to confer upon him a special honor. Remember the cloak. Elisha was not simply being called to serve Elijah, he was being called to replace him. Elisha likely knew what kind of prophet Elijah had been, knowing about the drought and Elijah’s role in it, and calling fire from heaven, and killing the prophets of Baal. So, to know he was being called by this man into the same prophetic office was significant indeed. So, Elijah gives him leave to say his goodbyes. (V.21) So he returned from following him, and took the pair of oxen and sacrificed them, and cooked their meat with the implements of the oxen, and gave it to the people and they ate. WOULD YOU BE READY, LATE IN LIFE, TO START ALL OVER AGAIN? ABRAHAM 75. MOSES 80. JOSHUA IN HIS 60s. Elisha is making a complete break with his old life. He not only sacrifices the oxen, but cooks them with his plowing implements. He is leaving nothing to go back to. Then he feeds the people. How many people did he feed? One ox can feed around 1,000 people in single meals. This does not mean that Elisha fed a thousand people. Some may have taken meat home. But the point was that it was a lot of people. Likely a whole town. We should see this as a celebration. Elisha is celebrating being called into the ministry. The kiss of his parents was symbolic of their blessing for his new life. And slaughtering the oxen was celebratory in nature. In other words, he’s throwing a party. Remember the prodigal son. The father slaughtered the fattened calf to celebrate his son returning home. Here, Elisha slaughtered the oxen to celebrate the start of his new life. Consider the contrast between Elijah and Elisha. Elijah was seeking to die, to end his prophetic ministry. He wanted to be done. Then he goes to recruit Elisha to succeed him and Elisha goes wild for the chance to serve. Might there be a small rebuke here for Elijah in Elisha’s response? Elijah had lost his passion. Elisha had it in spades. Elisha was just the kind of person that Elijah needed. (V.21) Then he got up and followed Elijah and served him. IS IT EASIER TO SERVE SOMEONE’S NEEDS OR TO HAVE YOUR NEEDS SERVED AS A LEADER? Imagine how Elijah must have felt seeing Elisha celebrate this way. He just came from a long journey, running for his life from Jezebel, seeing his ministry as a failure with no repentance by Israel from their idol worship. Then he sees this young man, Elisha, celebrating to start his new ministry with Elijah. I suspect he may have been overwhelmed and honored. Remember, in our last lesson we noted that Elijah was suffering from depression, so God gave him a purpose and a partner. The first thing Elijah did was to find that partner. And what a find! Elijah was likely very encouraged by all that he saw of Elisha’s attitude. WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED? When still suffering from depression, Elijah sought out his new partner first. When called by God into service, Elisha immediately sought to obey by wrapping up his affairs. Elisha made a complete break with his old life to pursue ministry with Elijah. Elisha’s attitude about entering ministry was celebratory in nature, he was glad to serve. INTERPRETATION What is the author’s big idea? When called by God into service, we should embrace it, and rejoice in the opportunity. When God called our family to Mongolia we had no idea what awaited us. We had many great victories, but we also had many great trials. Some of those trials broke me. But, each stage of our lives there required new sacrifices and greater commitment. We initially agreed to go for two years. Then our board asked us for five. Then five became seven and eventually, ten. In the end it was only when our Mongolian leadership was able to take over that we knew it was time to go. Then, returning to the States had sacrifices of its own. We returned, expecting one thing, but then living with the uncertainty of the future. Now, while we’re settled, we still live with the awareness that God could call us to something new, and we always have to be ready. APPLICATION (1) God Often Calls in the Middle of Ordinary Work. Elisha was plowing with oxen when Elijah found him. He wasn’t in a temple or a moment of prayer—he was working. Other biblical figures experienced the same thing. Abraham was shepherding when God called him. Moses was caring for the sheep when God called him. Gideon was threshing wheat. Saul was looking for his father’s donkeys when God called him to be king. David was tending the sheep when God called him. Peter and John were fishing. Application: God’s call often comes in the middle of everyday responsibilities. Faithfulness in ordinary work prepares you for extraordinary calling. (2) The Call of God Requires a Personal Response. Elijah throws his cloak over Elisha—a symbolic act—but Elisha still has to respond. Everyone whom Gods called into his service had to give a response of obedience. We cannot ignore God or put him off when he calls. Jonah put God off, and look what happened to him. Saul disobeyed God and lost his kingdom and his sons. Application: God may initiate the call, but you must choose to follow. No one can respond to God on your behalf. (3) Following God May Require Letting Go of the Past. Elisha asks to say goodbye to his parents, then returns and sacrifices his oxen and burns his plowing equipment. The past serves to direct us to our future, not to hold onto it in jeopardy of that future. Application: Obedience sometimes requires a clean break. You cannot fully step into God’s future while holding tightly to your old life. You can’t go swimming without jumping in the water. (4) True Commitment Is Demonstrated Through Action. Elisha doesn’t just say “yes”—he takes decisive action by destroying his means of livelihood and feeding the people. Sometimes God calls us to make a difference where we already are. But, sometimes he calls us to a dramatic change. When God called us to Mongolia we had to make a dramatic change in our lives. But, it was the best decision we ever made. Application: Real calling leads to visible commitment. It moves beyond intention into decisive, even costly, action. Real commitment always requires cost and sacrifice. (5) Serving Comes Before Leading. Elisha becomes Elijah’s attendant before ever stepping into a prophetic role. Leadership is learned through service. Application: God often shapes leaders through seasons of service. Humble service is not a delay—it is preparation.

When believers give the Bible its rightful place of authority in their lives, they intimately experience its Author in life-changing ways.

Spiritual mothers and fathers do not see God as distant, inspecting or disappointed. They are intimate with God and have a right view of Him.

As image-bearers of Christ, we are refined throughout our lives; suffering and brokenness are integral parts of God's sanctification process.

We mature spiritually by processing through identifiable stages of development: children, young men and women and spiritual mothers and fathers.

Spiritual children are often immature and dependent on others for care. They are just learning to apply scripture and struggle with fear and faith.

Spiritual young men and women use their spiritual gifts, are outward-focused, generous givers and are secure in their identity in Christ.

Man is body, soul and spirit. Cultivating the inner spirit is critical because that is where God the Holy Spirit indwells and speaks.

We must let God put away our pride, leading to a humble state of brokenness that puts Christ on display. Pride sabotages relationships.