The Calling

It is one thing to be so discouraged that you want to die.  It is quite another to get a fresh touch from God.   Let’s pick up the story in 1Kings 19:15.  Elijah is in a cave on the mountain of God and has just experienced a still, small voice.  Now he's ready to hear what else God has to say.

1Kings 19:15  The LORD said to him,  “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel — all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.”

1Kings 19:19 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. 20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah.  “Let me kiss my father and mother good-by,” he said,  “and then I will come with you.”

 “Go back,” Elijah replied.  “What have I done to you?”

21 So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.

Elijah left the cave on Mt. Horeb with a new commission and a new lease on life.  He now had new marching orders.  And there is something about understanding what God has called you to do that helps you refocus and set out with a fresh determination to follow God.

Notice what one of the key things God tells Elijah. “…and anoint Elisha … to succeed you as prophet.”   In other words, “Elijah, you’re not going to be around forever, and you must (in the vernacular of our day) mentor someone to take over the work.”  Elisha needed to be trained.  He needed to be worked with to prepare him for what was to come.

And so Elijah went and found him hard at work plowing the fields.   Elisha came from a wealthy home.  For he and his servants to be plowing with 12 yoke of oxen showed great wealth.  To have one yoke of oxen was considered fortunate.   But 12 yoke was a sign of incredible wealth.

In our day, a farmer owning one $40,000 John Deere 4x4 tractor would be fortunate.  To have 12 sitting in his barn would show great wealth.

Elisha had grown up working.  He had learned to be faithful in the small things of his father’s household, and now God was about to call him to something greater.  Without a word, Elijah walked up and threw his cloak over the shoulders of Elisha, and then walked on.  Everyone knew who Elijah was and what he represented.  Elisha was stunned as the full impact of what had just happened settled in on him.  He ran after Elijah and said, ““Let me kiss my father and mother good-by,” he said,  “and then I will come with you.”

 “Go back,” Elijah replied.  “What have I done to you?”

Now let me ask you; doesn’t that strike you as a bit odd?  I mean, this whole conversation just seems a bit surreal.  Very different. 

I’ve always tried to picture it in our day.  It would be like one of the great preachers of our day walking up and handing a young man their Bible and then turning around and walking off.   The young man perceives the message that he is to be the next great preacher…runs after him and says, “Ok…let me tell ma and pa goodbye and I’ll meet you at the car.”  And then the preacher says, “Go ahead, what have I done to you?”

At first reading, it strikes one as just a bit bizarre.  But let’s look deeper.  It is not really Elijah doing the calling.  It is God.  Elijah is just the mouthpiece.  Elisha knew God intimately himself, therefore, he recognized God’s call.  And so he was telling Elijah that he was going to tell his folks goodbye and then catch up.  Elijah also knew that it wasn’t his call, but God’s that Elisha was answering.  He knew that God always gives a choice as to whether one will answer the call or not.    So he was basically saying; “It’s not my call on your life, but God’s. I haven’t done anything to you except what God has instructed, so you take your time and make your decision.  If you answer the call, so be it.

Elisha goes back and instantly slaughters his yoke of oxen. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat, and then had a farewell meal with his family.  He had decided to respond to the call of God.  He left the wealth and comfort of his family to live the hardship life of a prophet, and he burned his past behind him. There was no going back.  He was now going to move forward for God.

Sometimes we come to those decisions in life where we have to either go back or go forward.   To go back to our comfort zones, or go forward for God.  Too many times we are like the rich young ruler of Jesus day found in Luke 18.  After being told that he must keep the commandments, and after having replied that he had done all of these things since his youth,  Jesus had this to say:

Luke 18:22 ¶ When Jesus heard this, he said to him,  “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Luke 18:23 ¶ When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.

Which brings me to a question for us today, church.  What is it in your life that keeps you from responding to the call of God to move forward?