The Old Testament, although it primarily concerns the nation of Israel, is a treasure trove of spiritual wisdom. Among other things, it contains many prophecies that have already been fulfilled and many that remain to be fulfilled. The Old Testament helps us understand much of the New Testament. It also gives us many illustrations. In 1 Cor 10:1-6, Paul says that Israel’s experiences in the Exodus serve as examples for us. They teach us not to “lust after evil things.”
I believe Elisha is an outstanding example of what it means to be called to be a disciple. A person receives eternal life as a free gift by faith in Christ alone for that gift (John 3:16). But discipleship is different. It is costly. The believer must decide whether he is willing to pay that cost. He must decide whether he will be a disciple.
At the end of Elijah’s life, he asked Elisha to follow him and replace him as a prophet to Israel. Elijah put his mantle on Elisha. This was a symbolic way of saying that Elisha would continue the work of Elijah. He would learn from the older prophet. Elisha could have rejected the offer. He knew that the king and queen opposed Elijah and that it would be costly to follow in Elijah’s footsteps.
In 1 Kgs 19:19-21, we see what it cost Elisha to follow Elijah. Elisha came from a farming family and was well-off, as shown by his plowing with twelve pairs of oxen. These animals would have been very expensive. When Elijah threw his mantle on Elisha, Elisha immediately left the oxen in order to follow Elijah, asking only to say farewell to his family.
Elisha left his former life behind. He killed a yoke of oxen and held a farewell dinner, using his farming equipment to cook the meat. He was also a servant to others as he fed the people around him the meat from the animals. He then became a disciple of Elijah, learning what it means to be a prophet of God.
This is a beautiful picture of NT discipleship. The Lord calls His disciples to follow Him and to be willing to leave all behind (Mark 8:34-37; Luke 9:62). Some of the original disciples left lucrative fishing businesses, and one was a wealthy tax collector. In Luke 14:25-32, the Lord compares the cost of following Him to a man who wants to build a tower. He has to first calculate the cost to make sure he is willing to pay it. Christ also uses the illustration of a king who goes to war. What will it cost him to field an army and fight? Elisha was willing to pay the cost of following Elijah and obeying the Lord.
Discipleship is a learning process that takes time. Elisha would learn the ropes from Elijah.
The believer in Jesus Christ is asked to follow in His footsteps. We are given the privilege of being His hands and feet in this world. The disciple learns to be more like Christ. This, too, is a process and will take time. It is also costly.
Elisha was willing to pay a heavy price in order to continue Elijah’s work. Shouldn’t every believer be willing to pay whatever price is asked in order to continue Christ’s work?
