The call of Elisha started when he was found by another prophet, Elijah. After battling the false prophets of Baal, and winning, Elijah flees and hides in a cave. He is alone and scared, and that is when the Lord speaks to him:
And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.
The Lord sends Elijah on a mission to go find and anoint multiple people, including Elisha:
And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place.
Elisha was just doing his job dutifully on the family farm when Elijah came to find him:
So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.
In doing so, the Lord sent a friend for Elijah. Elijah would be the mentor, and Elisha would be the mentee. Elisha follows Elijah (1 Kings 20 – 2 Kings 2) up until he is taken to heaven. Elisha asks Elijah: can you bless me before you go?
When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more.
We can learn a couple things from Elisha’s call:
- Elisha needed a mentor, but Elijah also needed a mentee
- Elisha being faithful in his other calling before he was called to be a prophet
- Blessings came to Elisha from being with Elijah, including up until the end
My prayer for you:
Lord we ask that you please find or create and place us in community. Let us be both mentor and mentee to those around us. Help us to find those people who have the same heart for you Lord! In Jesus’ name, amen.