Elisha had accepted God into his life years before. He had daily learned the lessons of hard work and humility. He had been taught the lessons of kindness and faithfulness to duty. He had been told that God had a special plan for his life. But when it came time to answer the call, he had to count the cost. He had to make a decision to leave the comforts of wealth and live the life of a wandering prophet, often misunderstood, often ignored, often abused. Yet that was his calling. He had to make a choice. And Elisha determined that nothing would stand in the way of his following God. So he ate his farewell meal and then went to learn from Elijah.
Elijah was moving into another phase of his calling. For years he had stood tall in Israel as God’s chosen mouthpiece. He had rebuked and called the people back. Day in and day out he had instructed, pleaded, preached and tried to arouse the people to remember the God of their fathers and to return and follow Him. Finally, at God’s command, he had prophesied no rain and then, three and a half years later, had his big day on Mt. Carmel.
And now God was calling Elijah to a new phase of ministry. He would still rebuke sin. He would still preach and call the people back. He would still deliver the word of the Lord wherever the Lord instructed him to, but now, instead of doing it alone, he was to mentor God’s next man. He was to prepare him for the ministry. He was to allow Elisha to work alongside him and ask questions and watch and learn. He was to give Elisha the full inside scoop on a prophet’s ministry. And it was to be day in and day out for the next few years.
That may not seem like that big of a deal to you, but just think what that would mean in your life, at your job, if you were called on to mentor and train one of the next generation of new workers, day in and day out, for two or three years, and then they went home with every night. That’s huge! That’s what Elijah was being called to. And he had to make a decision as well. Would he really follow God’s command at the risk of having his style cramped; his life intruded upon.
So maybe God isn't calling you to have someone move in, but perhaps He is calling you to share with the next generation. Could be your kids, younger siblings, or perhaps a kid with no dad in your church or neighborhood. Maybe it's time for you to move to a new phase of ministry. Maybe.
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