THE
CALL OF ELISHA Monday January 18, 2016
Text:
1 Kings 19:19 – 21 Memory
verse: v 21
Elijah found Elisha by Divine direction,
not in the schools of the prophets, but in the field; not reading, or praying,
or sacrificing, but ploughing. Idleness doesn’t bring honour and husbandry isn’t
a disgrace. No wonder the saying that “There is dignity in labour” and that
dusty hand leads to oily mouth. The cloak was the most important article of
clothing a person could own. It was used as protection against the weather, as
bedding, as a place to sit, and as luggage. It could be given as a pledge for a
debt or torn into pieces to show grief. Elijah put his cloak on Elisha’s
shoulders to show that he would become Elijah’s successor.
Throwing the mantle on Elisha may be a
method of calling someone into an office of a prophet or a servant which made Elisha
to have responded the way he did in 19:20 and 21. Later, when the transfer of
authority was complete, Elijah left his cloak for Elisha (2 Kings 2:11-14). By
killing his oxen, Elisha made a strong commitment to follow Elijah. Without
them, he couldn’t return to his life as a wealthy farmer. This meal was more
than a feast among farmers. It was an offering of thanks to the Lord who chose
Elisha to be His prophet. Elisha didn’t waste time to follow Elijah. It was
instantaneous. He destroyed what would have enticed him to go back into
farming. Have you parted with those things you were doing when God called you
that can distract you from running the heavenly race well? If you have not done
that, do something about it now.
Food
for Thought:
Luke 5:11
Prayer: Lord, cut off anything that distracts me from running this heavenly race well in Jesus name.
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