How does Elisha's response in 1 Kings 19:20 demonstrate commitment to God's call? Setting the Scene • Israel’s fields are humming with twelve yoke of oxen plowing. • At the twelfth pair stands Elisha—successful, secure, settled. • Elijah walks by, throws his mantle over Elisha, and keeps going. Text in Focus 1 Kings 19:20: “So Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, ‘Please let me kiss my father and mother, and then I will follow you.’ ‘Go on back,’ Elijah replied, ‘for what have I done to you?’ ” Immediate, Unhesitating Response • “Left the oxen” – He stops mid-furrow. No debating, no delay. • “Ran after Elijah” – Eagerness replaces caution; his feet reveal his heart. • Scripture parallels: – Matthew 4:20 “At once they left their nets and followed Him.” – Psalm 119:60 “I hurried and did not delay to keep Your commandments.” Costly Surrender of Livelihood • Twelve yoke of oxen signal substantial wealth (1 Kings 19:19). • Abandoning the plow means forfeiting income, status, and future plans. • Philippians 3:7–8: Paul’s gain-to-loss equation mirrors Elisha’s. • Commitment proves real when it touches the wallet and the calendar. Honoring Family, Yet Prioritizing the Call • “Let me kiss my father and mother” – acts of honor, not hesitation. • Elijah’s reply tests resolve: “Go on back… for what have I done to you?” – Elijah reminds him: the call is God’s, not the prophet’s. • Luke 9:61-62 contrasts would-be followers who stall; Elisha passes the test. Symbolic Break with the Past • Verse 21 (follow-up) shows Elisha slaughtering the oxen and burning the plowing equipment—no safety net, no turning back. • This echoes Hebrews 11:15: “If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.” Elisha eliminates the opportunity. Fruit of Committed Obedience • Elisha serves as Elijah’s attendant (1 Kings 19:21), learning humility before leadership. • He later receives a double portion of Elijah’s spirit (2 Kings 2:9-15). • Wholehearted commitment at the start opens the door to multiplied ministry later. Takeaway Truths • God’s summons deserves immediate, decisive action. • Genuine commitment willingly sacrifices security and status. • Honor family, yet let God’s call outrank every earthly tie. • Burn the plows—remove avenues of retreat to walk forward in faith. |
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