​Burn Your Plow

​Burn Your Plow (I Kings 19:19-21)
 
I Kings 19:19-21, 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. 20 And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee? 21 And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.
 
As Elijah journeyed, he came upon Elisha, the son of Shaphat, who had twelve separate plows being pulled by twelve yoke of oxen. When Elijah came to the one Elisha was using, he cast his mantle upon him.
 
Elisha understood the significance of what Elijah had done. He had not only called him ‘into the ministry’ but had tapped him to be his successor. Therefore, Elisha asked leave to bid farewell to his parents. Elijah in effect said, if that be case, go back to plowing. He in effect asked, do you not realize what I have done to you? God has called you to be my successor.
 
It seems that Elisha did in fact bid farewell to his parents and then returned to Elijah. He then butchered one of the yoke of oxen, cooked its meat, and gave to perhaps his servants and family who came to honor his departure. He then departed with Elijah, becoming his servant and a student of the great prophet whom God had so mightily used.
 
Elisha's name means "God has salvation." Elijah didn't say a word to the young man but merely cast his mantle (outer garment) over him to indicate that the Lord had called him to serve the prophet and then be his successor. Elisha and his family were part of that "remnant of grace" that God had set apart for Himself. No matter how bleak the days may seem, God has His people and knows when to call them.
 
There was Elijah's call to Elisha demanded surrender and obedience to the Lord. Elijah left Mt. Sinai and struck out to pursue the new mission God had given him. He went to Elisha to issue the most important call assigned him, the call of his replacement. When he found Elisha, the young man was not idle but, rather, working hard in the fields plowing.
 
Elijah, the prophet of Israel walked by Elisha, the young farm boy, and unexpectedly threw his mantle around Elisha, while he was working. Elisha chased after his newfound mentor and began ministering to him. Throwing the mantle around the shoulders of a person was a symbol of God's call. In this case, it was a symbol that the young man was to be Elijah's successor, that he was being chosen to bear the mission of the prophet.
 
Responding immediately to God's call, Elisha ran after Elijah and requested time to say farewell to his father and mother (I Kings 19:20-21). Elijah granted him permission to say his farewells, but he strongly encouraged Elisha to consider God's call, not to change his mind (I Kings 19:20).
 
With permission granted, the young appointee returned briefly to his family to celebrate his appointment and departure with a final meal (I Kings 19:21). Note what else Elisha did: as a symbol of turning from his old life to a new life, he slaughtered his oxen and burned the plowing equipment. He was definitely breaking with his old life and beginning a new service for the Lord. Sitting down with his family and friends, he enjoyed a final meal with them. Then he set out to join Elijah to become his successor-in-training.
 
When God calls us to a particular task, we must surrender to His call. We must obey Him. No greater joy exists upon this earth than the joy of serving the Lord. For this reason, when the call comes to serve the Lord, we must surrender and obey. We must get up and go forth to do the task He is calling us to do. When the Lord calls us to serve Him, we must surrender to His call.
 
1)  Abraham surrendered to the call of God (Genesis 12:1-4).
 
2)  Noah surrendered to the call of God (Genesis 6:22).
 
3)  Moses surrendered to the call of God (Exodus 3:9-10).
 
4)  Gideon surrendered to the call of God (Judges 6:14).
 
5)  David surrendered to the call of God (I Samuel 16:11-13).
 
6)  Elisha surrendered to the call of God (I Kings 19:20).
 
7)  Isaiah surrendered to the call of God (Isaiah 6:8).
 
8) Jeremiah surrendered to the call of God (Jeremiah 1:4-10).
 
9)  Paul surrendered to the call of God (Acts 9:6).
 
10)  Christ Himself surrendered to the call of His Father (John 4:34).
 
However, just before he followed Elijah, Elisha did something amazing, he burned his plow, and killed his oxen. Elisha's conduct seems to contradict what Jesus said in (Luke 9:57-62), but this is not so. Elisha was wholehearted in his obedience to follow after Elijah, he was "burning his bridges behind him." He had no intention of taking his hand off the plow and then going back to it.
 
Elisha made sure he had nothing to go back to. For Elisha, there was no plan alternative. He accepted the invitation of God, and sold-out to his call. He realized that in order to latch on to the will of God, he had to first let go of those things that could potentially hold him back.
 
Most believers want the blessings of God on their lives; however, when it comes to letting go of certain things, we have a tendency to keep hanging on. Those things we hold on to can keep us from fully and completely following after God. We all have our plows. But God calls us to set them aflame. What holds you back? What keeps you from wholly pursuing God? Whatever it is –let it go. Get on fire for God, and with that very fire, burn your plow.
 
PRAYER: Lord, I surrender my life to your plan and divine will. Help me to orchestrate my desires with yours and to walk in obedience to your leading. May your will be done in every part of my life. Teach me to surrender my desires and dreams, knowing that your plans are far greater than anything I could ever envision for myself. Mold me and shape me into the person you have created me to be, so that I may bring glory to your name. In surrendering to your will, I find true freedom and peace. Help me to let go of my own understanding and to fully trust in your wisdom and sovereignty. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
 
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