The Plows or the Purpose?

“So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and took the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.”  -1 Kings 19:19-21

Here’s a question from my list of things I’ll be asking God one day: God knew in advance that these two men were gonna be biblical besties…surely He could have inspired one of their parents with a different name and save the rest of us two thousand years of “which one is Elisha and which one is Elijah?” Just saying.

Regardless, we find Elisha here plowing the fields when Elijah shows up, and this moment signifies Elisha’s calling to ministry. His response to this new calling, as we read in this text, was to slaughter his oxen and burn the plowing equipment.

Hang on. Why slaughter the oxen? He didn’t even eat the meat, he gave it to the people. Furthermore, he burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat…I mean, even if the slaughtering seemed normal, surely they already had a way to cook meat without needlessly burning this important equipment? Why burn the ships? Or in this case, plows?

The reason was he knew this old way of life was no longer necessary, and he wouldn’t be going back. Nor should he be tempted to go back. The obedience was immediate, and the commitment was extravagant. And I think there’s a key element there, obedience and commitment. Often, we obey because we know it’s just what we’re supposed to do. We go to work because we’re supposed to. We serve at church because we’re supposed to. We are nice to our spouse and family members because we’re supposed to. We have a daily quiet time because we’re supposed to.

But Elisha was all in. His commitment was complete, and he turned his back on all the things we like to find security in, like jobs and finances and routine and predictability. He trusted that the Lord had a plan for his life and that plan was worth it.  Think about it…he gave up his job, his inheritance, and said goodbye to his family without having any idea what the future held. He gave up his plows, and in exchange we find out that Elijah indeed lived out a pretty amazing purpose.

The cost to be all in was great, but the call was greater.

God is calling you to something today. Perhaps He has even stripped away something you were finding security in, and now you feel you are grasping at straws seeking that security again. I encourage you instead to be like Elijah and grasp for the one who holds the purpose and plan for your life. Be willing to give up the plows so you can gain the purpose!

Obedience and commitment, immediate and extravagant.

Where do you need to be obedient and committed today? What plow is God calling you to burn so you can take hold of the purpose waiting for you today?