A thought on Elijah and a thought on Elisha

Elijah

1 Kings 19:1-18

In 1 Kings 18 Elijah had seen the incredible power of God on Mount Carmel, God had defeated the prophets of Baal and had brought fire down from heaven to consume Elijah's sacrifice. It seems that Elijah would be on a spiritual high from the whole event. He had just witnessed God's great power. And yet, in chapter 19 when Queen Jezebel threatened his life, he runs. He asks that God would take his life because he can no longer live all alone, running from Jezebel. Elijah seems to be experiencing the opposite of a spiritual high right here. He seems to have forgotten about God's great power. I mean, if God just destroyed the prophets of Baal, I think He could protect Elijah from one women. Remember God is bigger than any death threats, and we are never alone.

Elisha

1 Kings 19:19-21

Elisha is plowing his field with twelve oxen when Elijah comes up to him. Elisha was in the middle of his work and Elijah came up to him and threw his coat on him. Elisha knew that this meant Elijah was telling him to follow him. Elisha not only stopped his work to follow Elijah, he also burned his farming equipment and cooked his oxen. He was not only leaving his old life behind him, but burning it so that he could never come back. I am sure his neighbors though he was crazy and I am sure he made an impression on them. He completely let go of his old life to follow Elijah. We have to do this too, it isn't enough to leave our old lives behind when God calls us to follow Him, we also have to make sure that we can never come back to it! And leave an impression on those around you in the process.