The Seventh Sunday after Epiphany (OT)

1 Kings 19:9-21

⁹ There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” ¹⁰ 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.” ¹¹ And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. ¹³ And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” ¹⁴ 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.” ¹⁵ And the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. ¹⁶ 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. ¹⁷ And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. ¹⁸ Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

¹⁹ 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. ²⁰ 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?” ²¹ 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.

I have often wondered why Jesus does not like the guy plowing to look back? Is it because his oxen might get sacrificed? Elisha desires to go say good bye to his parents, he wishes to honor them as he takes on this new mantle. But Jesus does not allow his followers to turn back. It may be that Elisha and Hazael and Jehu have a long road ahead of them, while Jesus does not have but many days before his crucifixion.

Many people think they are like Elijah. They think that there is no true believers, Christians, Lutherans, or what ever group left. We look out at a world full of corruption and false teaching, we are totally unaware of the faithful that might remain. Elijah sees a lost people.

But God comes to bring him hope. All is not lost! Even when he comes and finds Elisha plowing with twelve oxen, you can see the hope and willingness to follow God. There are people who desire to hear God's truth. Many just do not understand what that truth actually is!

The truth is God is going to put false teachers to death! He is going to cast down the mighty or proud from their lofty heights. The full truth is God has even sacrificed his only Son for the redemption of Israel. Christ dies for the forgiveness of sin, and to claim you to no longer bow down to Baal, or any false God.