Elisha (Burning Your Bridges)

 

Lesson Plan for Elisha (Burning Your Bridges)

 

1 Kings 19:21 (KJV)
And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.

 

Elisha was a plowman by trade at the time that Elijah the Prophet visited and asked him to take over the work of the Lord.  Elijah placed his cloak on Elisha.  Elisha knew that this meant that he was to go and help Elijah and eventually take over his work.  Elisha asked for time to get to his village to say goodbye.  He was granted the time but Elijah said remember what I have done.  Elisha then decided to kill his oxen and burn the wood from his farm implements to roast their meat in a feast for his fellow plowmen.  Elisha had burned his bridges.  He was going to do the Lord’s work and not look back.

 

 

A disputed story is circulated about the Conquistador Cortez.  It is said the Cortez upon embarking on the conquest of Mexico burned his ship so the men could not consider returning before the job was done.

 

In modern times a player for Vince Lombardi, the legendry coach of the Packers, said of Lombardi, “if Vince says sit down I do no even look to see if a chair is behind me.”

 

Jesus called the disciples to a similar commitment.  He asked them to sell their cloaks to buy a sword. He was not really calling them to violence but commitment.  Did he not rebuke Peter for committing an act of violence?[1]  .  Jesus knew the spiritual war they would be in and he wanted them committed. Satan tried to detour Jesus from his purpose[2] as did Peter on two occasions.[3]  Jesus said in the same passage if anyone follows him they must deny themselves.  There can be no turning back.

 

Vince’s players did not look for a chair.  Cortez burned his boats.  Elisha did not turn back.  Neither should we.

For Greater is he that is in me than is in the world.[4]

 

I have decided to follow Jesus.

No turning back no turning back.

If none go with me still I will follow.

No turning back no turning back

God is not asking us to leave home. What we are asked not to look back at is our old sinful nature. We are called to a high standard but God has promised to be with us.[5] 

 

Father we present our lives as a living sacrifice and realize there can be no turning back. Amen