The Setting
"So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him" (1Ki_19:19).
1. Let it be noted that the call of God came to Elisha while he was busy in the daily task. God is looking for the man who is doing well his present duty, and not for the idler and the lounger.
The Word of God commends the one who toils. The command, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread", has never been rescinded. God does say: "Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour"; and again: "This we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat".
2. God calls us, ofttimes, to leave our present task, when He desires us to do a definite work for Him.
Christ came to Peter and to John, Christ came to Matthew the publican. He called them. Immediately they left all, whether it was their nets or the "seat of custom," and followed Him.
Elisha, after Elijah had cast his mantle upon him, went and slew a yoke of oxen, and gave to the people and they did eat. "Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him".
We should hold every earthly call, in subjection to a higher call, and be ready at a moment’s notice to leave all and follow Christ.
3. There must be the full consecration to the new task. Elisha manifested no "looking back" toward the old path. He burned the bridges behind him, as truly as did George Washington, when he crossed the Brandywine. He bade adieu, forever, to the old life and old place and gave himself wholly to the new.
Who is ready this day to hear and heed the call of God to some definite service and then to go all the way in that service? No "looking back," as Lot’s wife looked back.
"I’ll go where You want me to go, dear Lord,
Over mountain, or plain, or sea;
I’ll say what You want me to say, dear Lord,
I’ll be what You want me to be."
4. Finally, there must be not only the call, and then the leaving of the old and the dedication to the new task; but there must be the daily "following on" in the new. Herein Elisha is an admirable example of true discipleship. Nothing could deter Elisha from following Elijah.
Whether discouraged by the young prophets, or whether seemingly hindered by Elijah, there was always but one answer from Elisha’s lips: "As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee".
We are only playing at consecration when the first flutter of the leaves alarms us and turns us back from following our Lord. He that putteth his hand to the plow, and looketh back, is not fit for the Kingdom of God.
Let obstacles arise, let circumstances come, God is able to give victory. Fear not: by thy God thou canst run through an host; and, by thy God, thou canst leap over a wall. Any host and any wall that Satan may place over against your pathway of obedience, will easily be overcome, if you follow on.
"I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And I yield my all to Thee;
Yea, I rise to go, and to follow on
In the way Thou leadest me."
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR