Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. 1 Kings 19:19.
We would do well to consider the case of Elisha when chosen for his work. The prophet Elijah was about to close his earthly labors. Another was to be called to carry forward the work for that time. In his course of travel, Elijah was directed northward. How changed the scene before him now from that which the country had presented a little while before. Then the farming districts were unworked; the ground was parched, for neither dew nor rain had fallen for three years. Now everything seems to be springing up as if to redeem the time of famine and dearth. The plenteous rains had done more for the earth than for the hearts of humanity; the fields were better prepared for labor than were the hearts of apostate Israel.
Wherever Elijah looked, the land he saw was owned by one man—a man who had not bowed the knee to Baal, whose heart had remained undivided in the service of God. Even during the captivity there were souls who had not gone into apostasy, and this family was included in the seven thousand who had not bowed the knee to Baal. The owner of the land was Shaphat. Busy activity was seen among the workers. While the flocks were enjoying the green pastures, the busy hands of his servants were sowing the seed for a harvest.
The attention of Elijah was attracted to Elisha, the son of Shaphat, who with the servants was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen…. Far from city and court dissipation, Elisha had received his education. He had been trained in habits of simplicity, of obedience to his parents and to God….
Elisha waited contentedly, doing his work with fidelity. Day by day, through practical obedience and the divine grace in which he trusted, he obtained rectitude and strength of purpose. While doing all that he possibly could in cooperating with his father in the home firm, he was doing God’s service. He was learning how to cooperate with God.—Youth’s Instructor, April 14, 1898.
When the prophet saw Elisha with his servants plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, he came to the field of labor, and while passing by, he unfastened his mantle and threw it upon the shoulders of Elisha. He then passed on as if that were the end of the matter. But he knew that Elisha understood the significance of the action; and he left him, without speaking a word, to decide whether he would accept or reject the call.—Youth’s Instructor, April 21, 1898.
From the Heart p. 260
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Prayer Requests
—-Asking for prayers for a friend and her spouse who are traveling for several weeks. David
—-Please pray for my niece, Nancy, in pain. Many health issues. Pam
—-Please continue to pray for Sherry who has now been moved to rehab. Pray also for Carl and his family as his sister has passed. Also please pray for Diane who has been put on hospice. Rose
—-Please keep James in your prayers. His neurologist called today to let us know that he recently suffered another stroke without realizing it. Mary
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Dear Friends,
When my grandfather, Edwin Harmon, was ten, he ran away from home and lived in the fields and forests eating wild edibles and catching fish with a hook and line he always kept in his pocket. He grew strong and wiry from that hard life. Often he caught a ride on a freight train to distant places. At other times, he just walked along the tracks to get wherever he was going. One time as he was following the tracks, he came to a long trestle. He hesitated for a moment. It was very long and he knew that if a train were to come while he was somewhere in the middle of that trestle, he would be in serious danger. He could never get the rest of the way across before the train overtook him. The only other option would be to climb down the side of the mountain, cross the river that lay below, and then climb back up the other side. He decided to chance using the trestle.
When he was about halfway across, his greatest concern became a reality. He began to feel some familiar vibrations. A tinge of fear crept up his spine. He put his ear down on the track and could hear a train coming. Fear engulfed him. He knew that he did not have enough time to get across that trestle. Moreover, he could not jump, as it was too far down and even if he tried it, the many sharp rocks in the shallow river beneath him would have made this his last experience. He was in grave danger, and he knew it.
A plan began to form in his mind. As quickly as he could, he let himself down to a huge wooden log that was part of the trestle. He shinnied down to a “v” where two giant logs crossed one another. By now, the vibration caused by the train was so bad that he nearly lost his grip. He knew that he could climb no further. Wedging himself in that “v” and holding on with all his strength, he waited. Within moments the trestle was shaking violently. He felt like he was being shaken to pieces. He prayed for strength to hold on. The train was overhead now, and those huge supporting logs were swaying. He was sure that he was going to die.
After what seemed like an eternity, the shaking and vibration lessened as the train passed by. My grandfather was still alive, but very sore. He felt as weak as a baby. He knew that if he tried to move right then, he could fall because his strength was gone. He stayed wedged in that “v” for about an hour. Then, he climbed painfully back up to the trestle and walked shakily to the other side.
How often we feel like we are being shaken to pieces by troubles, trials, and temptations, just as violently as my grandfather was shaken by that train passing overhead. How many times we become overwhelmed with circumstances that are too difficult for us. The evil one leads us into these situations where we are just as trapped as my grandfather was. Many times, we don’t even realize our danger until we become so entangled in circumstances that we cannot extricate ourselves.
God’s Holy Word reminds us that “the devil is come down unto [us], having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Rev 12:12 In light of this, Peter urges, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” 1 Peter 5:8 We are helpless to free ourselves from his snares, but we have a Strong Deliverer, Who is waiting for us to ask for the help that He is so eager to give.
Other times our troubles are of our own making. The “pleasures” of sin allure us. We decide to take the easy way, to try it just this once—a “just once” that changes our life forever. Even in this, our Dear Saviour does not forsake us but chastens us to bring us back to the right path, to His Great Arms of Love. Paul explains, ” despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. ” Heb 12:5-11
May we take the “way of escape” that our Loving Saviour has provided and cling to our Great Redeemer just as tightly as my grandfather clung to that wooden trestle is my prayer. (1 Cor 10:13)
Rose
The Call of Elisha