Elisha Was All In

Synopsis     1Kings 19:14-20:2     6/17/2019 

Elijah climbed high on Mount Horeb. He had gone to meet God face-to-face. And God met him there.

He asked Elijah why he had come. So, Elijah explained that he was the only faithful man remaining in Israel. And he mentioned that the other Israelites were trying to kill him.  

God responded by telling Elijah to return to Israel. And, upon his return, God directed him to anoint a new king for Aram and also for Israel. Additionally, he was also instructed by God to anoint Elisha as his successor.  

Upon returning, Elijah met Elisha. Now, Elisha was a successful man. But in the end, he left all he had in order to follow Elijah. 

Elisha Was All In 

When Elijah approached Elisha, he threw his cloak on him. Of course, this was a call to follow. And Elisha responded by bidding his parents farewell. What’s more, he also took his extensive holdings and destroyed them. He slaughtered his oxen and burned his implements. In other words, he burned his bridges.  

In destroying the equipment and slaughtering the oxen, he eliminated the possibility of returning to his former way of life. Clearly, Elisha was all in. For him, there was no possibility of turning back. 

All In For Jesus 

Sometimes I say I’m “All In”. But the truth is when things aren’t going the way I’d like them to go, I’m tempted to wonder if I’ve made a mistake. And almost unavoidably I find myself wondering if there is some way back to the potential I had before I committed – before I was “All In”.  

Looking back and longing for days past is a habit that wrecks all my present moments. It hijacks my attention away from the obvious thing that’s right in front of me. And it condemns my future to a sullen, regretful lament – a pillar of salt. 

So, may I break the habit. And, may I burn the plow and think no more of what I imagined my life to be before I met Jesus. Accordingly, may I commit to doing the next good thing and leave the rest to God.  

“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.” Matt 10:7-38