Randy Green's Blog - Posts Tagged "elisha"
Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak – Part 1
He (i.e., Elisha) left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you.” And he (i.e., Elijah) said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” [1 Kings 19:20]
Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” [Luke 9:61-62]
Judging by those three verses, we’ve found a contradiction in the Bible. On the one hand, it was okay for Elisha to turn back from following Elijah as the Lord’s chosen prophet-in-training. On the other hand, it was utterly inexcusable for someone else to want to turn back from following Jesus, in order to bid a fond farewell to his family. Hmm. What to make of this. Is it a contradiction or not?
This demonstrates the absolute necessity of reading the Scriptures in context, dear friends. Chapter and verse divisions have cultivated in us the habit of grabbing words and phrases and sentences out of context, as if they occurred in a vacuum. They don’t, and we shouldn’t interpret them as if they did.
In Elisha’s case he was at home, plowing the field with twelve pairs of oxen. This means that Elisha had eleven other men working under him, each person having a plow and a pair of oxen to pull the plow. Elisha was an affluent gent, you see.
Elijah came walking along and tossed his mantle on Elisha. The mantle symbolized the office, and Elijah’s office was that of the Lord’s prophet. In other words Elijah extended to Elisha the Lord’s call to be His prophet.
Elisha was plowing his field, remember. He wasn’t praying for the Lord to call him. He didn’t send his résumé to Elijah or the Lord, applying for the office. The call came to him out of the blue…in more ways than one.
Notwithstanding this context, Elisha straightway embraced the call. Then he requested of Elijah permission to tell his relatives that he had accepted the Lord’s call to be His prophet. This consisted of going back to the house with his pair of oxen and his plow, slaughtering the oxen, then cooking them on the wood from the plow.
Can a more vivid picture story be imagined to declare, “I will no longer be a farmer, dear family. I am leaving that occupation permanently. From now on I will be on the road ministering as the Lord’s prophet!” Elisha slaughtered his oxen and burned up his plow. Obviously he was not intending to farm again!
This is known as being the Lord’s witness, dear people. The Lord calls all Christians to be His witnesses. Elisha did a good thing. No wonder Elijah gave his blessing to this proposal.
Oh, but we’re out of time! We’ll continue the tale tomorrow. For now chew the cud on what we’ve studied today. Allow the Holy Spirit to teach you and move the knowledge down into your heart.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” [Luke 9:61-62]
Judging by those three verses, we’ve found a contradiction in the Bible. On the one hand, it was okay for Elisha to turn back from following Elijah as the Lord’s chosen prophet-in-training. On the other hand, it was utterly inexcusable for someone else to want to turn back from following Jesus, in order to bid a fond farewell to his family. Hmm. What to make of this. Is it a contradiction or not?
This demonstrates the absolute necessity of reading the Scriptures in context, dear friends. Chapter and verse divisions have cultivated in us the habit of grabbing words and phrases and sentences out of context, as if they occurred in a vacuum. They don’t, and we shouldn’t interpret them as if they did.
In Elisha’s case he was at home, plowing the field with twelve pairs of oxen. This means that Elisha had eleven other men working under him, each person having a plow and a pair of oxen to pull the plow. Elisha was an affluent gent, you see.
Elijah came walking along and tossed his mantle on Elisha. The mantle symbolized the office, and Elijah’s office was that of the Lord’s prophet. In other words Elijah extended to Elisha the Lord’s call to be His prophet.
Elisha was plowing his field, remember. He wasn’t praying for the Lord to call him. He didn’t send his résumé to Elijah or the Lord, applying for the office. The call came to him out of the blue…in more ways than one.
Notwithstanding this context, Elisha straightway embraced the call. Then he requested of Elijah permission to tell his relatives that he had accepted the Lord’s call to be His prophet. This consisted of going back to the house with his pair of oxen and his plow, slaughtering the oxen, then cooking them on the wood from the plow.
Can a more vivid picture story be imagined to declare, “I will no longer be a farmer, dear family. I am leaving that occupation permanently. From now on I will be on the road ministering as the Lord’s prophet!” Elisha slaughtered his oxen and burned up his plow. Obviously he was not intending to farm again!
This is known as being the Lord’s witness, dear people. The Lord calls all Christians to be His witnesses. Elisha did a good thing. No wonder Elijah gave his blessing to this proposal.
Oh, but we’re out of time! We’ll continue the tale tomorrow. For now chew the cud on what we’ve studied today. Allow the Holy Spirit to teach you and move the knowledge down into your heart.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak – Part 2
He (i.e., Elisha) left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you.” And he (i.e., Elijah) said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” [1 Kings 19:20]
Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” [Luke 9:61-62]
Yesterday we watched Elijah extend the call of the Lord to Elisha to be His prophet. Elisha accepted with relish. Then he went home and announced to the family that he would no longer live with them and be a farmer. To act out this truth—as the prophets were wont to do—he slaughtered his pair of oxen, cooked them over a fire which burned on the wood of his plow, then fed the family (and Elijah) a hearty meal before departing. This made Elisha the Lord’s witness to his family.
It was quite otherwise with the man who volunteered to follow Jesus. On his own unsolicited initiative, he claimed he wanted to be Jesus’ disciple and serve Him. But then he added a condition to keeping his word to the Lord. First he wanted to return home and tell his family good-bye.
Do you see the difference? This man wasn’t Elisha. He had ties to the world from which he wasn’t prepared to make a clean break. He should have kept his mouth shut and fulfilled his commitments at home. When he was truly ready to leave the world and its lifestyle, then he could request of Jesus permission to be His disciple.
Jesus wasn’t much impressed with this man. Ostensibly the man wanted the glory of “following Jesus”. He wanted the praise of other men for his selfless sacrifice. He wanted to appear holy, you see, but he didn’t really want to be holy. That would entail giving up his own dreams and plans, and laying down his life as a whole burnt offering in service to His Lord.
This is heavy stuff, my dear friends. Let’s hie off to the prayer closet a while and visit with Jesus now. Let Him reveal the truth of our hearts to us. Do we really want to walk with Jesus as His disciples? Are we prepared to leave all the things of the world which we cherish so dearly, in order to be His willing bond slaves? That is heavy…not some quixotic promise to be uttered by our lips.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” [Luke 9:61-62]
Yesterday we watched Elijah extend the call of the Lord to Elisha to be His prophet. Elisha accepted with relish. Then he went home and announced to the family that he would no longer live with them and be a farmer. To act out this truth—as the prophets were wont to do—he slaughtered his pair of oxen, cooked them over a fire which burned on the wood of his plow, then fed the family (and Elijah) a hearty meal before departing. This made Elisha the Lord’s witness to his family.
It was quite otherwise with the man who volunteered to follow Jesus. On his own unsolicited initiative, he claimed he wanted to be Jesus’ disciple and serve Him. But then he added a condition to keeping his word to the Lord. First he wanted to return home and tell his family good-bye.
Do you see the difference? This man wasn’t Elisha. He had ties to the world from which he wasn’t prepared to make a clean break. He should have kept his mouth shut and fulfilled his commitments at home. When he was truly ready to leave the world and its lifestyle, then he could request of Jesus permission to be His disciple.
Jesus wasn’t much impressed with this man. Ostensibly the man wanted the glory of “following Jesus”. He wanted the praise of other men for his selfless sacrifice. He wanted to appear holy, you see, but he didn’t really want to be holy. That would entail giving up his own dreams and plans, and laying down his life as a whole burnt offering in service to His Lord.
This is heavy stuff, my dear friends. Let’s hie off to the prayer closet a while and visit with Jesus now. Let Him reveal the truth of our hearts to us. Do we really want to walk with Jesus as His disciples? Are we prepared to leave all the things of the world which we cherish so dearly, in order to be His willing bond slaves? That is heavy…not some quixotic promise to be uttered by our lips.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
How to Take Up the Mantle – Part 1
(Elisha) took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over [2 Kings 2:14-15].
In keeping with the Word of God, Elijah summoned Elisha to the prophetic ministry. Elisha would be Elijah’s replacement. Well, the days went by and it was time for Elijah to exit the scene. Elisha would need to step up and fulfill the Lord’s task at hand.
So Elijah headed for the east bank of the Jordan River, where the Lord would remove him from the earth and promote him to eternity. At three separate locations Elijah told Elisha to wait behind, but Elisha would not budge. He had committed himself to the Lord and to Elijah, and he wasn’t about to leave Elijah at such a solemn time. So Elijah desisted from his attempts to dissuade Elisha.
Just before they crossed the Jordan, Elijah, knowing that his time was moments away, asked Elisha what he could do for him. Elisha responded to Elijah’s question, Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me (v.9).
A double portion in the Bible represented the right of the firstborn son. In effect Elisha put Elijah on notice that he wouldn’t be content to be just another prophet. He had to be Elijah’s replacement. Elisha admired Elijah and wanted to follow in his footsteps, you see. Elijah was the chief prophet at the time.
Elijah acceded to Elisha’s request, but with this proviso: You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so (v.11).
Well, lo and behold, as they walked along horses of fire and a chariot of fire came between them to separate them. Then a whirlwind carried Elijah to heaven. Elijah was raptured, you see. He went to heaven without first dying physically on the earth.
Elisha obtained his request. He did see Elijah when he was taken. He received a double portion of the spirit of Elijah. This spirit was the Holy Spirit, dear friends. Elijah’s spirit was under the control of the Spirit of God. This is what enabled Elijah to do such outstanding miracles. The Lord worked in and through Elijah, and Elijah served as the Lord’s body on earth.
Now it was Elisha who was full of the Spirit of God. It was time for him to be surrendered to the Spirit and perform miracles, in order to continue Elijah’s ministry of leading the Israelites out of Baal worship. So what was Elisha’s first act. He returned to the Jordan to cross back to the west bank. The river blocked his path, so he imitated what Elijah had done to get across.
Oh, but you will have to wait until tomorrow to find out what that was. We are out of time today! So go spend some time with the Lord Jesus a while. I love to be with Him!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
In keeping with the Word of God, Elijah summoned Elisha to the prophetic ministry. Elisha would be Elijah’s replacement. Well, the days went by and it was time for Elijah to exit the scene. Elisha would need to step up and fulfill the Lord’s task at hand.
So Elijah headed for the east bank of the Jordan River, where the Lord would remove him from the earth and promote him to eternity. At three separate locations Elijah told Elisha to wait behind, but Elisha would not budge. He had committed himself to the Lord and to Elijah, and he wasn’t about to leave Elijah at such a solemn time. So Elijah desisted from his attempts to dissuade Elisha.
Just before they crossed the Jordan, Elijah, knowing that his time was moments away, asked Elisha what he could do for him. Elisha responded to Elijah’s question, Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me (v.9).
A double portion in the Bible represented the right of the firstborn son. In effect Elisha put Elijah on notice that he wouldn’t be content to be just another prophet. He had to be Elijah’s replacement. Elisha admired Elijah and wanted to follow in his footsteps, you see. Elijah was the chief prophet at the time.
Elijah acceded to Elisha’s request, but with this proviso: You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so (v.11).
Well, lo and behold, as they walked along horses of fire and a chariot of fire came between them to separate them. Then a whirlwind carried Elijah to heaven. Elijah was raptured, you see. He went to heaven without first dying physically on the earth.
Elisha obtained his request. He did see Elijah when he was taken. He received a double portion of the spirit of Elijah. This spirit was the Holy Spirit, dear friends. Elijah’s spirit was under the control of the Spirit of God. This is what enabled Elijah to do such outstanding miracles. The Lord worked in and through Elijah, and Elijah served as the Lord’s body on earth.
Now it was Elisha who was full of the Spirit of God. It was time for him to be surrendered to the Spirit and perform miracles, in order to continue Elijah’s ministry of leading the Israelites out of Baal worship. So what was Elisha’s first act. He returned to the Jordan to cross back to the west bank. The river blocked his path, so he imitated what Elijah had done to get across.
Oh, but you will have to wait until tomorrow to find out what that was. We are out of time today! So go spend some time with the Lord Jesus a while. I love to be with Him!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
How to Take Up the Mantle – Part 2
(Elisha) took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over [2 Kings 2:14-15].
We ended our last study with Elijah raptured to heaven and Elisha with a double portion of Elijah’s spirit and taking his place. There was Elisha, standing alone on the east bank with the Jordan River blocking his path to the west bank. Let’s continue at that point now.
When Elijah was carried to heaven in a whirlwind, his mantle fell off. Elisha picked it up. It now was the property of Elisha, so he took it and struck the waters of the Jordan River. Then he gave an authoritative command to the waters, Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?
Those are the words from the Bible verse with which we began this study. And there is the moral to this story. Elisha hadn’t been a prophet before. He was Elijah’s protégé. Suddenly Elijah was gone and Elisha was on his own. What to do? We might think Elisha’s knees would buckle and knock together. He might let out an audible gulp and turn into a worry wart.
Not so! Elisha had received his request. He received a double portion of the Spirit of God. He was bold but not arrogant. He exuded confidence but tempered it with love. He didn’t worry one iota. He proceeded straightway to the Jordan, struck the waters with Elijah’s mantle, and imitated what he had seen from his teacher.
His command to the waters wasn’t a question, though he phrased it as one. He knew the waters would divide because Elijah had done it that way, and Elijah granted his request for a double portion of what Elijah had. The waters could not help but divide and permit Elisha to cross over on dry ground.
The moral to the story? Elijah was gone for good, speaking in terms of this earth. Elijah would never again be available for Elisha. But Elisha wasn’t afraid because the God of Elijah never left! The God of Elijah was the One who performed the miracles and commanded such a presence before men. The same one true God would do the same, and even more, in and through Elisha.
Dear friends, we need to spiritually exercise ourselves on a daily basis, so that our spirits grow strong while our flesh weakens. Otherwise we remain infants in spiritual matters. Instead of fixing our sight on the Lord Jesus, we fasten our attention on men. We expect the pastor or the Sunday School teacher or an author or some other man to serve as Jesus for us.
Alas, but every man will soon be gone. Notwithstanding this fact, the Lord Jesus will still be here with us and for us. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever [Hebrews 13:8]. So let’s learn to focus on the One on Whom we can depend, rather than on that which is passing away even as we speak.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
We ended our last study with Elijah raptured to heaven and Elisha with a double portion of Elijah’s spirit and taking his place. There was Elisha, standing alone on the east bank with the Jordan River blocking his path to the west bank. Let’s continue at that point now.
When Elijah was carried to heaven in a whirlwind, his mantle fell off. Elisha picked it up. It now was the property of Elisha, so he took it and struck the waters of the Jordan River. Then he gave an authoritative command to the waters, Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?
Those are the words from the Bible verse with which we began this study. And there is the moral to this story. Elisha hadn’t been a prophet before. He was Elijah’s protégé. Suddenly Elijah was gone and Elisha was on his own. What to do? We might think Elisha’s knees would buckle and knock together. He might let out an audible gulp and turn into a worry wart.
Not so! Elisha had received his request. He received a double portion of the Spirit of God. He was bold but not arrogant. He exuded confidence but tempered it with love. He didn’t worry one iota. He proceeded straightway to the Jordan, struck the waters with Elijah’s mantle, and imitated what he had seen from his teacher.
His command to the waters wasn’t a question, though he phrased it as one. He knew the waters would divide because Elijah had done it that way, and Elijah granted his request for a double portion of what Elijah had. The waters could not help but divide and permit Elisha to cross over on dry ground.
The moral to the story? Elijah was gone for good, speaking in terms of this earth. Elijah would never again be available for Elisha. But Elisha wasn’t afraid because the God of Elijah never left! The God of Elijah was the One who performed the miracles and commanded such a presence before men. The same one true God would do the same, and even more, in and through Elisha.
Dear friends, we need to spiritually exercise ourselves on a daily basis, so that our spirits grow strong while our flesh weakens. Otherwise we remain infants in spiritual matters. Instead of fixing our sight on the Lord Jesus, we fasten our attention on men. We expect the pastor or the Sunday School teacher or an author or some other man to serve as Jesus for us.
Alas, but every man will soon be gone. Notwithstanding this fact, the Lord Jesus will still be here with us and for us. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever [Hebrews 13:8]. So let’s learn to focus on the One on Whom we can depend, rather than on that which is passing away even as we speak.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak – Part 1
He (i.e., Elisha) left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you.” And he (i.e., Elijah) said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” [1 Kings 19:20]
Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” [Luke 9:61-62]
Judging by those three verses, we’ve found a contradiction in the Bible. On the one hand, it was okay for Elisha to turn back from following Elijah as the Lord’s chosen prophet-in-training. On the other hand, it was utterly inexcusable for someone else to want to turn back from following Jesus, in order to bid a fond farewell to his family. Hmm. What to make of this. Is it a contradiction or not?
This demonstrates the absolute necessity of reading the Scriptures in context, dear friends. Chapter and verse divisions have cultivated in us the habit of grabbing words and phrases and sentences out of context, as if they occurred in a vacuum. They don’t, and we shouldn’t interpret them as if they did.
In Elisha’s case he was at home, plowing the field with twelve pairs of oxen. This means that Elisha had eleven other men working under him, each person having a plow and a pair of oxen to pull the plow. Elisha was an affluent gent, you see.
Elijah came walking along and tossed his mantle on Elisha. The mantle symbolized the office, and Elijah’s office was that of the Lord’s prophet. In other words Elijah extended to Elisha the Lord’s call to be His prophet.
Elisha was plowing his field, remember. He wasn’t praying for the Lord to call him. He didn’t send his résumé to Elijah or the Lord, applying for the office. The call came to him out of the blue…in more ways than one.
Notwithstanding this context, Elisha straightway embraced the call. Then he requested of Elijah permission to tell his relatives that he had accepted the Lord’s call to be His prophet. This consisted of going back to the house with his pair of oxen and his plow, slaughtering the oxen, then cooking them on the wood from the plow.
Can a more vivid picture story be imagined to declare, “I will no longer be a farmer, dear family. I am leaving that occupation permanently. From now on I will be on the road ministering as the Lord’s prophet!” Elisha slaughtered his oxen and burned up his plow. Obviously he was not intending to farm again!
This is known as being the Lord’s witness, dear people. The Lord calls all Christians to be His witnesses. Elisha did a good thing. No wonder Elijah gave his blessing to this proposal.
Oh, but we’re out of time! We’ll continue the tale tomorrow. For now chew the cud on what we’ve studied today. Allow the Holy Spirit to teach you and move the knowledge down into your heart.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” [Luke 9:61-62]
Judging by those three verses, we’ve found a contradiction in the Bible. On the one hand, it was okay for Elisha to turn back from following Elijah as the Lord’s chosen prophet-in-training. On the other hand, it was utterly inexcusable for someone else to want to turn back from following Jesus, in order to bid a fond farewell to his family. Hmm. What to make of this. Is it a contradiction or not?
This demonstrates the absolute necessity of reading the Scriptures in context, dear friends. Chapter and verse divisions have cultivated in us the habit of grabbing words and phrases and sentences out of context, as if they occurred in a vacuum. They don’t, and we shouldn’t interpret them as if they did.
In Elisha’s case he was at home, plowing the field with twelve pairs of oxen. This means that Elisha had eleven other men working under him, each person having a plow and a pair of oxen to pull the plow. Elisha was an affluent gent, you see.
Elijah came walking along and tossed his mantle on Elisha. The mantle symbolized the office, and Elijah’s office was that of the Lord’s prophet. In other words Elijah extended to Elisha the Lord’s call to be His prophet.
Elisha was plowing his field, remember. He wasn’t praying for the Lord to call him. He didn’t send his résumé to Elijah or the Lord, applying for the office. The call came to him out of the blue…in more ways than one.
Notwithstanding this context, Elisha straightway embraced the call. Then he requested of Elijah permission to tell his relatives that he had accepted the Lord’s call to be His prophet. This consisted of going back to the house with his pair of oxen and his plow, slaughtering the oxen, then cooking them on the wood from the plow.
Can a more vivid picture story be imagined to declare, “I will no longer be a farmer, dear family. I am leaving that occupation permanently. From now on I will be on the road ministering as the Lord’s prophet!” Elisha slaughtered his oxen and burned up his plow. Obviously he was not intending to farm again!
This is known as being the Lord’s witness, dear people. The Lord calls all Christians to be His witnesses. Elisha did a good thing. No wonder Elijah gave his blessing to this proposal.
Oh, but we’re out of time! We’ll continue the tale tomorrow. For now chew the cud on what we’ve studied today. Allow the Holy Spirit to teach you and move the knowledge down into your heart.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak – Part 2
He (i.e., Elisha) left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you.” And he (i.e., Elijah) said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” [1 Kings 19:20]
Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” [Luke 9:61-62]
Yesterday we watched Elijah extend the call of the Lord to Elisha to be His prophet. Elisha accepted with relish. Then he went home and announced to the family that he would no longer live with them and be a farmer. To act out this truth—as the prophets were wont to do—he slaughtered his pair of oxen, cooked them over a fire which burned on the wood of his plow, then fed the family (and Elijah) a hearty meal before departing. This made Elisha the Lord’s witness to his family.
It was quite otherwise with the man who volunteered to follow Jesus. On his own unsolicited initiative, he claimed he wanted to be Jesus’ disciple and serve Him. But then he added a condition to keeping his word to the Lord. First he wanted to return home and tell his family good-bye.
Do you see the difference? This man wasn’t Elisha. He had ties to the world from which he wasn’t prepared to make a clean break. He should have kept his mouth shut and fulfilled his commitments at home. When he was truly ready to leave the world and its lifestyle, then he could request of Jesus permission to be His disciple.
Jesus wasn’t much impressed with this man. Ostensibly the man wanted the glory of “following Jesus”. He wanted the praise of other men for his selfless sacrifice. He wanted to appear holy, you see, but he didn’t really want to be holy. That would entail giving up his own dreams and plans, and laying down his life as a whole burnt offering in service to His Lord.
This is heavy stuff, my dear friends. Let’s hie off to the prayer closet a while and visit with Jesus now. Let Him reveal the truth of our hearts to us. Do we really want to walk with Jesus as His disciples? Are we prepared to leave all the things of the world which we cherish so dearly, in order to be His willing bond slaves? That is heavy…not some quixotic promise to be uttered by our lips.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” [Luke 9:61-62]
Yesterday we watched Elijah extend the call of the Lord to Elisha to be His prophet. Elisha accepted with relish. Then he went home and announced to the family that he would no longer live with them and be a farmer. To act out this truth—as the prophets were wont to do—he slaughtered his pair of oxen, cooked them over a fire which burned on the wood of his plow, then fed the family (and Elijah) a hearty meal before departing. This made Elisha the Lord’s witness to his family.
It was quite otherwise with the man who volunteered to follow Jesus. On his own unsolicited initiative, he claimed he wanted to be Jesus’ disciple and serve Him. But then he added a condition to keeping his word to the Lord. First he wanted to return home and tell his family good-bye.
Do you see the difference? This man wasn’t Elisha. He had ties to the world from which he wasn’t prepared to make a clean break. He should have kept his mouth shut and fulfilled his commitments at home. When he was truly ready to leave the world and its lifestyle, then he could request of Jesus permission to be His disciple.
Jesus wasn’t much impressed with this man. Ostensibly the man wanted the glory of “following Jesus”. He wanted the praise of other men for his selfless sacrifice. He wanted to appear holy, you see, but he didn’t really want to be holy. That would entail giving up his own dreams and plans, and laying down his life as a whole burnt offering in service to His Lord.
This is heavy stuff, my dear friends. Let’s hie off to the prayer closet a while and visit with Jesus now. Let Him reveal the truth of our hearts to us. Do we really want to walk with Jesus as His disciples? Are we prepared to leave all the things of the world which we cherish so dearly, in order to be His willing bond slaves? That is heavy…not some quixotic promise to be uttered by our lips.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
How to Take Up the Mantle – Part 1
(Elisha) took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over [2 Kings 2:14-15].
In keeping with the Word of God, Elijah summoned Elisha to the prophetic ministry. Elisha would be Elijah’s replacement. Well, the days went by and it was time for Elijah to exit the scene. Elisha would need to step up and fulfill the Lord’s task at hand.
So Elijah headed for the east bank of the Jordan River, where the Lord would remove him from the earth and promote him to eternity. At three separate locations Elijah told Elisha to wait behind, but Elisha would not budge. He had committed himself to the Lord and to Elijah, and he wasn’t about to leave Elijah at such a solemn time. So Elijah desisted from his attempts to dissuade Elisha.
Just before they crossed the Jordan, Elijah, knowing that his time was moments away, asked Elisha what he could do for him. Elisha responded to Elijah’s question, Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me (v.9).
A double portion in the Bible represented the right of the firstborn son. In effect Elisha put Elijah on notice that he wouldn’t be content to be just another prophet. He had to be Elijah’s replacement. Elisha admired Elijah and wanted to follow in his footsteps, you see. Elijah was the chief prophet at the time.
Elijah acceded to Elisha’s request, but with this proviso: You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so (v.11).
Well, lo and behold, as they walked along horses of fire and a chariot of fire came between them to separate them. Then a whirlwind carried Elijah to heaven. Elijah was raptured, you see. He went to heaven without first dying physically on the earth.
Elisha obtained his request. He did see Elijah when he was taken. He received a double portion of the spirit of Elijah. This spirit was the Holy Spirit, dear friends. Elijah’s spirit was under the control of the Spirit of God. This is what enabled Elijah to do such outstanding miracles. The Lord worked in and through Elijah, and Elijah served as the Lord’s body on earth.
Now it was Elisha who was full of the Spirit of God. It was time for him to be surrendered to the Spirit and perform miracles, in order to continue Elijah’s ministry of leading the Israelites out of Baal worship. So what was Elisha’s first act. He returned to the Jordan to cross back to the west bank. The river blocked his path, so he imitated what Elijah had done to get across.
Oh, but you will have to wait until tomorrow to find out what that was. We are out of time today! So go spend some time with the Lord Jesus a while. I love to be with Him!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
In keeping with the Word of God, Elijah summoned Elisha to the prophetic ministry. Elisha would be Elijah’s replacement. Well, the days went by and it was time for Elijah to exit the scene. Elisha would need to step up and fulfill the Lord’s task at hand.
So Elijah headed for the east bank of the Jordan River, where the Lord would remove him from the earth and promote him to eternity. At three separate locations Elijah told Elisha to wait behind, but Elisha would not budge. He had committed himself to the Lord and to Elijah, and he wasn’t about to leave Elijah at such a solemn time. So Elijah desisted from his attempts to dissuade Elisha.
Just before they crossed the Jordan, Elijah, knowing that his time was moments away, asked Elisha what he could do for him. Elisha responded to Elijah’s question, Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me (v.9).
A double portion in the Bible represented the right of the firstborn son. In effect Elisha put Elijah on notice that he wouldn’t be content to be just another prophet. He had to be Elijah’s replacement. Elisha admired Elijah and wanted to follow in his footsteps, you see. Elijah was the chief prophet at the time.
Elijah acceded to Elisha’s request, but with this proviso: You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so (v.11).
Well, lo and behold, as they walked along horses of fire and a chariot of fire came between them to separate them. Then a whirlwind carried Elijah to heaven. Elijah was raptured, you see. He went to heaven without first dying physically on the earth.
Elisha obtained his request. He did see Elijah when he was taken. He received a double portion of the spirit of Elijah. This spirit was the Holy Spirit, dear friends. Elijah’s spirit was under the control of the Spirit of God. This is what enabled Elijah to do such outstanding miracles. The Lord worked in and through Elijah, and Elijah served as the Lord’s body on earth.
Now it was Elisha who was full of the Spirit of God. It was time for him to be surrendered to the Spirit and perform miracles, in order to continue Elijah’s ministry of leading the Israelites out of Baal worship. So what was Elisha’s first act. He returned to the Jordan to cross back to the west bank. The river blocked his path, so he imitated what Elijah had done to get across.
Oh, but you will have to wait until tomorrow to find out what that was. We are out of time today! So go spend some time with the Lord Jesus a while. I love to be with Him!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
How to Take Up the Mantle – Part 2
(Elisha) took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over [2 Kings 2:14-15].
We ended our last study with Elijah raptured to heaven and Elisha with a double portion of Elijah’s spirit and taking his place. There was Elisha, standing alone on the east bank with the Jordan River blocking his path to the west bank. Let’s continue at that point now.
When Elijah was carried to heaven in a whirlwind, his mantle fell off. Elisha picked it up. It now was the property of Elisha, so he took it and struck the waters of the Jordan River. Then he gave an authoritative command to the waters, Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?
Those are the words from the Bible verse with which we began this study. And there is the moral to this story. Elisha hadn’t been a prophet before. He was Elijah’s protégé. Suddenly Elijah was gone and Elisha was on his own. What to do? We might think Elisha’s knees would buckle and knock together. He might let out an audible gulp and turn into a worry wart.
Not so! Elisha had received his request. He received a double portion of the Spirit of God. He was bold but not arrogant. He exuded confidence but tempered it with love. He didn’t worry one iota. He proceeded straightway to the Jordan, struck the waters with Elijah’s mantle, and imitated what he had seen from his teacher.
His command to the waters wasn’t a question, though he phrased it as one. He knew the waters would divide because Elijah had done it that way, and Elijah granted his request for a double portion of what Elijah had. The waters could not help but divide and permit Elisha to cross over on dry ground.
The moral to the story? Elijah was gone for good, speaking in terms of this earth. Elijah would never again be available for Elisha. But Elisha wasn’t afraid because the God of Elijah never left! The God of Elijah was the One who performed the miracles and commanded such a presence before men. The same one true God would do the same, and even more, in and through Elisha.
Dear friends, we need to spiritually exercise ourselves on a daily basis, so that our spirits grow strong while our flesh weakens. Otherwise we remain infants in spiritual matters. Instead of fixing our sight on the Lord Jesus, we fasten our attention on men. We expect the pastor or the Sunday School teacher or an author or some other man to serve as Jesus for us.
Alas, but every man will soon be gone. Notwithstanding this fact, the Lord Jesus will still be here with us and for us. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever [Hebrews 13:8]. So let’s learn to focus on the One on Whom we can depend, rather than on that which is passing away even as we speak.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
We ended our last study with Elijah raptured to heaven and Elisha with a double portion of Elijah’s spirit and taking his place. There was Elisha, standing alone on the east bank with the Jordan River blocking his path to the west bank. Let’s continue at that point now.
When Elijah was carried to heaven in a whirlwind, his mantle fell off. Elisha picked it up. It now was the property of Elisha, so he took it and struck the waters of the Jordan River. Then he gave an authoritative command to the waters, Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?
Those are the words from the Bible verse with which we began this study. And there is the moral to this story. Elisha hadn’t been a prophet before. He was Elijah’s protégé. Suddenly Elijah was gone and Elisha was on his own. What to do? We might think Elisha’s knees would buckle and knock together. He might let out an audible gulp and turn into a worry wart.
Not so! Elisha had received his request. He received a double portion of the Spirit of God. He was bold but not arrogant. He exuded confidence but tempered it with love. He didn’t worry one iota. He proceeded straightway to the Jordan, struck the waters with Elijah’s mantle, and imitated what he had seen from his teacher.
His command to the waters wasn’t a question, though he phrased it as one. He knew the waters would divide because Elijah had done it that way, and Elijah granted his request for a double portion of what Elijah had. The waters could not help but divide and permit Elisha to cross over on dry ground.
The moral to the story? Elijah was gone for good, speaking in terms of this earth. Elijah would never again be available for Elisha. But Elisha wasn’t afraid because the God of Elijah never left! The God of Elijah was the One who performed the miracles and commanded such a presence before men. The same one true God would do the same, and even more, in and through Elisha.
Dear friends, we need to spiritually exercise ourselves on a daily basis, so that our spirits grow strong while our flesh weakens. Otherwise we remain infants in spiritual matters. Instead of fixing our sight on the Lord Jesus, we fasten our attention on men. We expect the pastor or the Sunday School teacher or an author or some other man to serve as Jesus for us.
Alas, but every man will soon be gone. Notwithstanding this fact, the Lord Jesus will still be here with us and for us. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever [Hebrews 13:8]. So let’s learn to focus on the One on Whom we can depend, rather than on that which is passing away even as we speak.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak – Part 1
He (i.e., Elisha) left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you.” And he (i.e., Elijah) said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” [1 Kings 19:20]
Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” [Luke 9:61-62]
Judging by those three verses, we’ve found a contradiction in the Bible. On the one hand, it was okay for Elisha to turn back from following Elijah as the Lord’s chosen prophet-in-training. On the other hand, it was utterly inexcusable for someone else to want to turn back from following Jesus, in order to bid a fond farewell to his family. Hmm. What to make of this. Is it a contradiction or not?
This demonstrates the absolute necessity of reading the Scriptures in context, dear friends. Chapter and verse divisions have cultivated in us the habit of grabbing words and phrases and sentences out of context, as if they occurred in a vacuum. They don’t, and we shouldn’t interpret them as if they did.
In Elisha’s case he was at home, plowing the field with twelve pairs of oxen. This means that Elisha had eleven other men working under him, each person having a plow and a pair of oxen to pull the plow. Elisha was an affluent gent, you see.
Elijah came walking along and tossed his mantle on Elisha. The mantle symbolized the office, and Elijah’s office was that of the Lord’s prophet. In other words Elijah extended to Elisha the Lord’s call to be His prophet.
Elisha was plowing his field, remember. He wasn’t praying for the Lord to call him. He didn’t send his résumé to Elijah or the Lord, applying for the office. The call came to him out of the blue…in more ways than one.
Notwithstanding this context, Elisha straightway embraced the call. Then he requested of Elijah permission to tell his relatives that he had accepted the Lord’s call to be His prophet. This consisted of going back to the house with his pair of oxen and his plow, slaughtering the oxen, then cooking them on the wood from the plow.
Can a more vivid picture story be imagined to declare, “I will no longer be a farmer, dear family. I am leaving that occupation permanently. From now on I will be on the road ministering as the Lord’s prophet!” Elisha slaughtered his oxen and burned up his plow. Obviously he was not intending to farm again!
This is known as being the Lord’s witness, dear people. The Lord calls all Christians to be His witnesses. Elisha did a good thing. No wonder Elijah gave his blessing to this proposal.
Oh, but we’re out of time! We’ll continue the tale tomorrow. For now chew the cud on what we’ve studied today. Allow the Holy Spirit to teach you and move the knowledge down into your heart.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” [Luke 9:61-62]
Judging by those three verses, we’ve found a contradiction in the Bible. On the one hand, it was okay for Elisha to turn back from following Elijah as the Lord’s chosen prophet-in-training. On the other hand, it was utterly inexcusable for someone else to want to turn back from following Jesus, in order to bid a fond farewell to his family. Hmm. What to make of this. Is it a contradiction or not?
This demonstrates the absolute necessity of reading the Scriptures in context, dear friends. Chapter and verse divisions have cultivated in us the habit of grabbing words and phrases and sentences out of context, as if they occurred in a vacuum. They don’t, and we shouldn’t interpret them as if they did.
In Elisha’s case he was at home, plowing the field with twelve pairs of oxen. This means that Elisha had eleven other men working under him, each person having a plow and a pair of oxen to pull the plow. Elisha was an affluent gent, you see.
Elijah came walking along and tossed his mantle on Elisha. The mantle symbolized the office, and Elijah’s office was that of the Lord’s prophet. In other words Elijah extended to Elisha the Lord’s call to be His prophet.
Elisha was plowing his field, remember. He wasn’t praying for the Lord to call him. He didn’t send his résumé to Elijah or the Lord, applying for the office. The call came to him out of the blue…in more ways than one.
Notwithstanding this context, Elisha straightway embraced the call. Then he requested of Elijah permission to tell his relatives that he had accepted the Lord’s call to be His prophet. This consisted of going back to the house with his pair of oxen and his plow, slaughtering the oxen, then cooking them on the wood from the plow.
Can a more vivid picture story be imagined to declare, “I will no longer be a farmer, dear family. I am leaving that occupation permanently. From now on I will be on the road ministering as the Lord’s prophet!” Elisha slaughtered his oxen and burned up his plow. Obviously he was not intending to farm again!
This is known as being the Lord’s witness, dear people. The Lord calls all Christians to be His witnesses. Elisha did a good thing. No wonder Elijah gave his blessing to this proposal.
Oh, but we’re out of time! We’ll continue the tale tomorrow. For now chew the cud on what we’ve studied today. Allow the Holy Spirit to teach you and move the knowledge down into your heart.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak – Part 2
He (i.e., Elisha) left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you.” And he (i.e., Elijah) said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” [1 Kings 19:20]
Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” [Luke 9:61-62]
Yesterday we watched Elijah extend the call of the Lord to Elisha to be His prophet. Elisha accepted with relish. Then he went home and announced to the family that he would no longer live with them and be a farmer. To act out this truth—as the prophets were wont to do—he slaughtered his pair of oxen, cooked them over a fire which burned on the wood of his plow, then fed the family (and Elijah) a hearty meal before departing. This made Elisha the Lord’s witness to his family.
It was quite otherwise with the man who volunteered to follow Jesus. On his own unsolicited initiative, he claimed he wanted to be Jesus’ disciple and serve Him. But then he added a condition to keeping his word to the Lord. First he wanted to return home and tell his family good-bye.
Do you see the difference? This man wasn’t Elisha. He had ties to the world from which he wasn’t prepared to make a clean break. He should have kept his mouth shut and fulfilled his commitments at home. When he was truly ready to leave the world and its lifestyle, then he could request of Jesus permission to be His disciple.
Jesus wasn’t much impressed with this man. Ostensibly the man wanted the glory of “following Jesus”. He wanted the praise of other men for his selfless sacrifice. He wanted to appear holy, you see, but he didn’t really want to be holy. That would entail giving up his own dreams and plans, and laying down his life as a whole burnt offering in service to His Lord.
This is heavy stuff, my dear friends. Let’s hie off to the prayer closet a while and visit with Jesus now. Let Him reveal the truth of our hearts to us. Do we really want to walk with Jesus as His disciples? Are we prepared to leave all the things of the world which we cherish so dearly, in order to be His willing bond slaves? That is heavy…not some quixotic promise to be uttered by our lips.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” [Luke 9:61-62]
Yesterday we watched Elijah extend the call of the Lord to Elisha to be His prophet. Elisha accepted with relish. Then he went home and announced to the family that he would no longer live with them and be a farmer. To act out this truth—as the prophets were wont to do—he slaughtered his pair of oxen, cooked them over a fire which burned on the wood of his plow, then fed the family (and Elijah) a hearty meal before departing. This made Elisha the Lord’s witness to his family.
It was quite otherwise with the man who volunteered to follow Jesus. On his own unsolicited initiative, he claimed he wanted to be Jesus’ disciple and serve Him. But then he added a condition to keeping his word to the Lord. First he wanted to return home and tell his family good-bye.
Do you see the difference? This man wasn’t Elisha. He had ties to the world from which he wasn’t prepared to make a clean break. He should have kept his mouth shut and fulfilled his commitments at home. When he was truly ready to leave the world and its lifestyle, then he could request of Jesus permission to be His disciple.
Jesus wasn’t much impressed with this man. Ostensibly the man wanted the glory of “following Jesus”. He wanted the praise of other men for his selfless sacrifice. He wanted to appear holy, you see, but he didn’t really want to be holy. That would entail giving up his own dreams and plans, and laying down his life as a whole burnt offering in service to His Lord.
This is heavy stuff, my dear friends. Let’s hie off to the prayer closet a while and visit with Jesus now. Let Him reveal the truth of our hearts to us. Do we really want to walk with Jesus as His disciples? Are we prepared to leave all the things of the world which we cherish so dearly, in order to be His willing bond slaves? That is heavy…not some quixotic promise to be uttered by our lips.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Randy-Green/e/B...
