So Elisha left Elijah 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.
1 Kings 19:21 NIV
Elisha’s call to be a prophet is such an intriguing passage to me. I preached on this passage last week, and I encourage you to listen to the message if you have time. Elisha after being called destroys his work equipment to cook his work animals, leaving behind no plan B, no nest egg, no fall back plan, if being a prophet for God doesn’t work out. I believe Elisha does all this out of total obedience to God.
Our tendency is partial obedience. You might make change, but as little as possible, with as little impact to the rest of your life as possible. God’s calling, like it was to Elisha is total obedience. Jesus describes total obedience this way, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your entire mind.”
What does total obedience to God look like in your life? Are you ready to burn the plows? To burn the plows, requires focusing on what God lays before you, and less on looking in the rear view mirror. It means stepping out in faith, one step at a time, and leaving behind what was, to live into what God has for you going forward. Are you ready to burn the plows?
Pastor Bill
Discussion Questions
- What would burning the plows look like in your life?
- What has held you back from total obedience to God?