Water Faucet

We are living at a time of enormous material wealth, probably unprecedented in human history.

As a consequence we probably take a lot for granted.

When was the last time we thanked God for the water flowing freely and abundantly from the water faucet?

Elisha was a wealthy man, owning twelve yoke of oxen and a large estate.

He is called by God to replace Elijah, the prophet. Notice how it takes place.

God first speaks to Elijah. Elijah tracks Elisha down, places his cloak over him. Elisha responds, asking permission to kiss his mum and dad then declares ‘I will follow you.’

It is not Elijah he will be following, but God. Elijah knows his place:

Go, go back, for have I done anything to you? (1 Kings 19)

No, it is God who does the calling. It is God who will lead us.

And it is God who asks us to give something in return:

Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head (Luke 9).

What creature comfort, what basic necessity might we be willing to give up once a week for the Lord Jesus who had ‘nowhere to lay his head’?

Amen.