The call of Elisha

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SUNDAY 31 JULY 2022

1 KINGS 19 – MR STEPHEN FLETCHER

This chapter is the account of the call of Elisha to be a prophet.  There is so much we can consider – even if we turned to this chapter we could think of Elijah and how he was thrown into depression as a response to a time of trial in his life.  We want to look today at how Elisha was called.  He received the call and burnt the oxen as a sacrifice.  Then his commission was given, and he responded.  It is important to understand the context of the story as it helps us to understand why we find in verse 4 of chapter 19 how Elijah is hiding in the juniper tree and then in a cave in verse 9.  We can see such a contrast, how Elijah was on the mountain top in chapter 18 and then in chapter 19 he is hiding away in despair.  On Mount Carmel he tested the prophets of Baal.  Elijah displayed the greatest witness of God’s power in a public way.  God came down and consumed the sacrifices.  Elijah called on God and he witnessed the one true, living God was real.  What a triumph and victory.  How amazing.  He witnessed God’s power – verse 39.  Sense of victory we find at the close of this chapter.  You would expect him to be full of zeal and passion for God but in chapter 19 verse 1 we see Jezebel threatens him and he responds by running away.  From victory to despair in such a short space of time.  He is now on the run, full of fear, feeling he would be better off dead.  Verse 9 “behold the word of the Lord came to him and he said to him ‘what doest thou here Elijah?’  It was God’s word that challenged him.  “What are you doing sitting here?”  He was feeling sorry for himself.  God continued “do you not know I have redeemed you, called you, give you victory on Mount Carmel?”  In verse 13 we see the same question asked again.  His response was one of pride and self-importance – verse 14 “I even I only am left.”  Do we feel like Elijah?  Sitting discouraged, despondent, wanting to hide away from God himself.  There is a warning here – he reaped the consequences of his own despondency.  Elijah’s best days were behind him.  Verse 16 God was saying to him if that is the way you are going to be I will get someone else to do the job.  God called his successor.  He still had the man for the job ready.  There were still 7000 left who followed God.  He questioned God and whether he should be alive.  Elijah finds it hard to go on.  Elisha is keen to pursue and nothing is going to stop him.  God didn’t leave Elijah in the cave, in his despondency and despair.  He gave him a task, to pick himself up and focus on something.  He was to appoint a king over Syria and another over Israel as well as Elisha to be the new prophet.  Notice the contrast between these 2 men.

The circumstances that Elisha finds himself in.  When God called him, he was working – verse 19.  God chose Elisha to carry on the prophetic work Elijah had started.  He needed a man who was active, willing to work, putting his hand to the plough literally.  What was he doing?  He was busy on the family farm.  A contrast to Elijah sitting in the cave.  Elisha was busy.  When we receive the call of God for service it is not necessarily full-time service but to help out in a task within God’s work.  He finds those willing to work who are already busy.  Gideon was threshing wheat, David was herding sheep, Moses was tending his father-in-law’s flock, Simon Peter and Andrew were fishing, James and John were mending their nets for their father.  They were busy working and serving.  Elisha did not expect to receive the call.  When God called Elisha there was no mistaking the call of God, it was clear.  Elisha understood the challenge.  Are we busy in the work of the Lord?  We all have some responsibility in God’s work.  The next thing we notice is – he was worthy.  God calls everyone rich or poor.  Notice the lifestyle Elisha was accustomed to.  Verse 21 Elisha was blessed here – he was in charge of the twelfth team of oxen.  A large team on his farm, he had servants and workers.  He was prosperous.  Elisha had a lot to give up.  He was prosperous, generating revenue from the farm.  God does not just call those out of school or university with no money to their name, but he calls those later in life who are well off.  We can get too comfortable in our lives.  Elijah was also willing – verse 18.  He was one of those who had not bowed his knee to Baal, one of the 7000.  Elijah now goes from thinking he is the only one left to finding there is someone else.  Maybe we think we are the only Christian in the workplace, in the family in the local area.  The Lord has his people who are faithful to him.  There was not a great time period from God giving instructions to Elijah finds the very man to take his place.  He didn’t have to coax him or convince him.  He passed by him.  His mantle was put upon him.  God has chosen you.  For Peter, Andrew, James and John there was no great ceremony, no great speech but their call was unmistakeable.  He left what he was doing and ran after Elijah.  He was willing. Are you willing to serve God?  Maybe it is to attend the weekly prayer time or reach out to the local children in the kids’ ministry.

The expense to Elisha.  He left his wealth.  He left his work behind.  He left his position as head of the farm.  He also gave up his inheritance.  He gave up his family, home and country to follow Elijah.  While he gave up these things God replaced them with much more.  What will it cost you and I to follow the Lord today?  In the workplace do people know I am a Christian?  Am I prepared to stand up for God? What is it going to cost me to live for the Lord?  What is the small thing God has called you to?  It doesn’t cost you anything.  What is the big thing that God has called you to?  That might cost you everything.  In verse 21 Elisha not only killed the oxen but broke the yoke.  The instrument that signified his work.  By burning the plough, he was showing there was no going back to the old life.  It was the point of no return.  He didn’t wait until he was finished the ploughing.  No, he immediately broke the yoke and slew the oxen.  He removed all temptation immediately.  He didn’t think of the expense.  He didn’t hold anything back for God.  How often do we consider the expense when we serve the Lord?  Or of the relationship we have?  All needs to be severed.  Do we have a desire to bring others to the Lord?

The evidence that Elisha obeyed.  This burning of the plough was unmistakeable.  The first people he witnessed to were his father and mother.  He may not see them again but what a witness it was to them.  Are we so concerned about serving as missionaries on the foreign field?  Are we so concerned about the children in our immediate area that we miss out on our family?  In verse 21 Elisha went into service.  He became an apprentice, worked in the shadow of Elijah.  He learned what it was to serve God in the small things.  “I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” (Psalm 84 verse 10) 

The endurance by Elisha in his call.  2 Kings 2 verse 1 Elisha and Elijah went together to Gilgal.  In verse 2 we see Elisha is dedicated in service.  In verse 3 he knew God’s will but he still followed and continued on.  He carried on Elijah’s work.  In verse 13 he took up his mantle.  In verse 15 he was chosen by God.  The Spirit rested on Elijah.  Can this be said of you and me?  Can our families see the Spirit resting on us?  Can our neighbours see the Spirit resting on us?  Can our work colleagues see the Spirit resting on us?