Elijah – his reassignment
I Kings 19:15-21
Disobedience may affect our service for the Lord. Paul was concerned about being disqualified (I Cor 9:27), and we need to be just as concerned for ourselves. Elijah never does achieve the same national potential that he had at Mount Carmel. In verse 18, God points out that while Elijah did not see the results he had expected, his ministry was still being used by the Lord in that 7000 people had remained true to God. The same hold true with us, even if we do not readily see any results from our service to the Lord.
In verses 15-18, Elijah is told to appoint three others, who would be used to carry out God’s purposes. This reveals the sovereignty of God and that nothing will stop the purposes of God. Jehu and Hazael were not godly men but God would use them to accomplish his will. This should cause us to know that who ever God places in power they are there only by the grace of God. Secondly it shows the Lord’s grace to his people. Elijah is refitted for new service. God is in the business of restoring us. We all get discouraged at times, but thru the Word (Rom 15:4) and other believers (II Cor 1:4; I Thess 5:11) he restores us back into service.
Verses 19-21, we see the call of Elisha. There is a dual purpose going on here. Elijah needed a companion to assist him in the ministry and Elisha, who is going to be Elijah’s replacement, needs to be trained for the ministry. Elisha is found busy working the fields when Elijah threw his cloak on him which was symbolic of God call to the ministry. Today, when a person is saved they are placed into service and given gifts to assist them. I Peter 4:10 “as each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God”. Each one of us here in this local church is involved in the ministry of “building up one another”. Elisha responding to Gods call by honoring his parents and then making a definite commitment to follow Elijah by sacrificing his oxen, which in effect cut all ties.
May we do the same as we follow after our Lord.