The Call of Elisha

Reading 1 Kings 19:19-21. Elijah throwing the cloak over Elisha’s shoulders and walking away as an act of surrender. The action spoke for itself and was a symbolic gesture of Elijah passing on his prophetic authority to Elisha. There wasn't much more for Elijah to say about it in that moment. Elisha responds with celebration. But we also see that Elisah is destroying the job that he had. It is symbolic that Elisha is done with this part in his life. He’s not going back. Four times in the scripture, in Mark 8:34, in Matthew 8:18, in Luke 9:57, and in Luke 14:27. And Jesus teaches that there is a cost to following Him. It is a wholehearted following. Luke 9:62 Jesus tells them, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God”. Here we see Elisah burning his plow from his previous life. There is this true cost to following Jesus that Jesus was not shy about in his teaching. He's talking about following Jesus as putting your hand to the plow, so, it's still work. Romans 5:3-5, We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. God gives directions to Elijah and though it will be hard, there’s hope.