Sacrifice
The Call of Elisha
So he (Elijah) departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him, and he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what I have done to you?” And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.
1 Kings 19:19-21
How much do you love your parents? Your kids? Your job? Yourself?
How much do you love GOD?
How much are you willing to go for GOD?
Elijah is a known prophet in Israel. His brave heart was not in the whirlwind, was not in the earthquake, not in the fire, but it is in the still small voice.
He was known as the prophet who seized the prophets of Baal in Mount Carmel after God answered his burnt sacrifice with a fire.
Elisha on the other hand, was a plower. He owns a yoke of 12 oxen. Having that ownership means you came from a wealthy family. When Elijah found him, he was plowing- and his life began to change when the mantle, the cloak of God came. It began to change when the calling of God came.
Elisha knew this was a new beginning for him and there is no compromise with his past life.
We can see 3 responses of Elisha to the calling of God:
1. Immediate response- (v.19-20)
He leaves immediately his oxen and runs after Elijah- instant obedience!
2. Humble response- (v.20)
He asked Elijah for permission to say farewell to his parents. Elisha loved his family.
3. Human response- (v.21)
He says farewell, burned his plow and follow him.
From being a plower to a prophet’s assistant. Elisha became an apprentice or OJT of prophet Elijah.
It takes great faith and sacrifice to follow God’s call.
I remember I once had a dream I was saying farewell to my family as I am leaving and ready to ride a bus, I saw myself wearing a BIG CROSS as my necklace. That was the time God is revealing me what it means to follow Him. I was reminded of what He has said in Luke 14:26-27
From being a plower to a prophet’s assistant. Elisha became an apprentice or OJT of prophet Elijah.
It takes great faith and sacrifice to follow God’s call.
I remember I once had a dream I was saying farewell to my family as I am leaving and ready to ride a bus, I saw myself wearing a BIG CROSS as my necklace. That was the time God is revealing me what it means to follow Him. I was reminded of what He has said in Luke 14:26-27
If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
That is the cost- the true cost of following God.
Following Jesus always lead to a cross where our dreams are crucified.
It means leaving behind the old life when the call of God comes. Even Elisha burned his plow- so he cannot turn back on it- on his old life. So he had no reason to look back because his riches his own plow can be a hindrance to what God is calling him to do and to be.
Following God means trusting Him with full confidence and faith. It was like Elisha saying
“I don’t know what you’re going to do with me, LORD, but I’m going to drop all those things, I don’t know what you’re going to substitute for them but I’m going to let them go. I will trust in You.”
Following means letting go of something and leaving them behind. Because following Him means no compromise with our old self and old life.
Following God means sacrifice. We arise count the cost, leave the past behind and follow Him.
Elisha ran after Elijah, he ran after God. He ran after’s God’s call.
How much are you willing to go with God? What are the hindrances why we can’t obey and follow Him?
Are you willing to burn your plow? To take up the cross and follow Him?
Are you willing to sacrifice yourself and your life to God?
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