1 Kings 19:21, “So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.”
Elisha was just an ordinary farmer until the prophet Elijah came up to him and placed his mantle on him, which meant he wanted him to be his protégé. By faith Elisha received the calling to be trained under Elijah and left his home, family, and comfort to follow and serve the man of God. God wanted Elijah to rise up another prophet to take his place when his time on earth was finished and Elisha was the perfect choice.
Elisha didn’t start off doing great things in man’s eyes, but rather he was the servant of Elijah. His tasks would involve washing Elijah’s hands, running errands for him, and being a source of encouragement for Elijah, 2 Kings 3:11. As time went by, Elijah was called by God to take a chariot to heaven. He commanded Elisha to go from him and carry on the ministry. However, Elisha was not willing to leave Elijah because he loved him dearly. He said, “I will not leave you,” 2 Kings 2:6. Because of Elisha’s persistence Elijah blessed him by basically saying, “If you see me go to heaven then you will be able to double that which I have done for the Lord,” 2 Kings 2:9-10.
Sure enough Elisha followed Elijah all the way until he watched him be taken up into heaven on a chariot of fire. He then saw the mantle that Elijah wore fall from the sky and he put it on. This was the same mantle that was placed on him years ago. Now with Elijah’s mantle in hand Elisha served the Lord just as his leader had taught him.
During Elisha’s life he was able to do more miracles in number and see greater things than Elijah had even seen, like seeing an army of angels with chariots of fire guarding his house, 2 Kings 6:17. I believe Elisha’s greatest accomplishment was starting a “school of the prophets” which multiplied the teachings he had received from Elijah so that Israel would have godly leaders all throughout the land, 2 Kings 6:1.
By faith, Elisha was able to humble himself to be taught by Elijah. Thus, the calling of Elisha to be a disciple of Elijah was an Old Testament shadow of Jesus calling His disciples. Today, may we all have the same faith of Elisha to be a disciple of Jesus Christ that makes new disciples, Matthew 28:19-20!
Reflection
Are you a disciple that makes disciple? In other words, are you being trained by someone more experienced in the things of God so you can train others?
Action
- Ask God to place you under a godly mentor to disciple you.
- Prayerfully look for opportunities to disciple others.
- Like Elisha, by faith, live a life of discipleship!
