Scripture Reading(s)
1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21
19:15 Then the LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram.
19:16 Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place.
19:19 So he set out from there, and found Elisha son of Shaphat, who was plowing. There were twelve yoke of oxen ahead of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle over him.
19:20 He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” Then Elijah said to him, “Go back again; for what have I done to you?”
19:21 He returned from following him, took the yoke of oxen, and slaughtered them; using the equipment from the oxen, he boiled their flesh, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out and followed Elijah, and became his servant.
Reflections
What an interesting exchange between Elijah and Elisha. God chose Elisha to the the successor of Elijah and the process by which that occurred was quite unceremonial. No long prayers. No miracles or signs and wonders. Just Elijah showing up and calling Elisha by placing his mantle upon him. Elisha naturally wanted to say goodby to his parents but Elijah’s call was immediate and definite. The call was do definite that Elisha got rid of his farming equipment and gave the meat of his livestock to the people.
Like Elisha, God is calling us to an follow after Jesus immediately and permanently. There is nothing more important that we should be waiting for. There is nothing more important than would take us back to our old ways of life. We are on a new journey. We are new creations in Christ. We are the prophets and priests of the Lord and we have a destiny designed by the Lord for us. May we all be like Elisha and walk boldly into that calling, no looking back.