Most people are intrigued, inspired, and encouraged by the life and story of Elijah.
He has a stunning start to his ministry, appearing from nowhere with the bold announcement, “No rain until I say so!” (1 Kings 17:1), before disappearing for a short while. You will know the story well, but my attention is drawn to an unknown farmer called Elisha. I am drawn to him because Elisha’s story is a profound reminder of what it means to follow Christ, even in the face of insurmountable difficulty. It is a call to radical obedience, to leave behind the familiar and step into the unknown. It is a journey that demands perseverance—a long road that tests our faith and commitment. It is also a passing of the mantle from one generation to the next, carrying forward the apostolic, ends-of-the-earth mission of God.
A Life-Changing Encounter
ELIJAH arrives on scene. The camera shifts focus to ELISHA, ploughing a field with twelve oxen.
The Call of Elijah
Taking up the story in 1 Kings 19:19, as already mentioned, we find Elisha ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen—a sign of wealth, security, and prominence. Yet, he wasn’t standing back, overseeing the work from a distance; Elisha was walking in the dirt, working the last pair himself, embedded in the life he knew so well. Then, “lights, camera—action!” Elijah appeared, walking across the freshly ploughed land, approaching Elisha silently from behind. There was no dramatic music—without a word, Elijah cast his mantle, a rough camel-hair cloak symbolising his prophetic office, over Elisha’s shoulders. This was not an invitation; it was a summons. The mantle that had weathered wilderness and persecution was now Elisha’s to bear. His life, as he knew it, was over.
Radical Obedience
The tools of his former life were gone, consumed by fire. It was a radical, audacious turn of events, and there would be no return.
Elisha’s response was immediate; he didn’t hesitate. You have to wonder about this—did he already know Elijah, or had he heard about him? Was there some sense of God’s tangible presence? Whatever it was, Elisha didn’t cling to the life he had built, which, at first glance—with twelve oxen—appears to have been a wealthy one. Instead, he slaughtered the oxen, burned the ploughs, and offered their meat as a feast. In this dramatic act, he wasn’t simply saying farewell—he was severing ties with his past. The tools of his former life were gone, consumed by fire. It was a radical, audacious turn of events, and there would be no return. His friends and family, likely gathered to eat the meal, were witnesses to something much larger: Elisha had chosen the uncertain path of obedience to God’s call, leaving behind considerable wealth, security, and the familiar rhythm of farm life for the unpredictable calling of a prophet.
The Cost of Discipleship
This is not a casual invitation. The call of God often demands total surrender.
There are some things that, when we encounter God, just seem like the appropriate response. Elijah simply placed the robe on Elisha and left! Elisha’s response, stirred by the moment, was a clean break. Just as Elisha burned the ploughs, we too are called to leave behind the things that hold us back. Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). This is not a casual invitation. The call of God often demands total surrender. For the Church, this means we cannot follow Christ half-heartedly, holding on to the things that bring us comfort or control. There is no room for nominalism, nor should we reserve it for a rainy day. The question we must ask is: What are the “ploughs” we need to burn in our own lives? What must we let go of to fully embrace and walk in the obedience to which God is calling us?
The Journey of Perseverance
Elisha’s journey began with the burning of the ploughs. He followed Elijah, serving him faithfully, learning, watching, waiting. The next time we encounter them together, Elijah is nearing the end of his life. They set out on a final journey, moving from Gilgal to Bethel, then Jericho, and finally to the Jordan River—each step filled with the weight of Israel’s sacred history. It is an exhausting journey, but they would have talked, and talked, and talked. Elisha walks beside Elijah, refusing to leave his side, knowing what is to come. At each stop, the sons of the prophets ask the same question: “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master from over you?” Elisha’s answer is always the same: “Yes, I know it; keep quiet” (2 Kings 2:3). His resolve is clear—he will not be deterred, no matter the uncertainty ahead.
The Mantle Passed On
Like Elisha, we must be prepared for the long road of spiritual maturity, knowing that faith is often tested through difficulty.
For us, Elisha’s unwavering commitment is a reminder that discipleship is a long and testing road. We live in a digital world of instant gratification, where everything is ‘now’ and where everything can be ‘fixed’ or reset, but the journey of following Christ requires perseverance. Like Elisha, we must be prepared for the long road of spiritual maturity, knowing that faith is often tested through difficulty. Elisha’s two- or three-day trek from Gilgal to the Jordan, a journey of about 25 miles, reflects the long walk of faith—one that demands patience, endurance, and trust in God’s leading.
As the drama with Elijah comes to an end at the Jordan River, the moment of transition arrives. Unexpectedly, Elijah takes his mantle and strikes the water, parting it, just as Joshua had done centuries before. All eyes are on them from both sides of the river—the prophets are watching and pondering. On the other side, Elijah turns to Elisha and asks, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you” (2 Kings 2:9). Elisha’s request is bold: “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” What had Elisha seen? Elijah’s obedience? His faith? His anointing? Or was it his character and the obvious intimacy with God?
This wasn’t a selfish request for power—it was the inheritance of the firstborn, the right to continue Elijah’s ministry. Elisha was asking to fully carry the mantle, to take on the responsibility that had weighed on Elijah for so long. Elijah responds, “You have asked a hard thing, yet if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so.” That’s the challenge—how much do you want this, Elisha? Keep your eyes open.
The Final Test
Here’s the Hollywood moment: as they continue walking, the heavens suddenly erupt. Cue the loud music! A chariot of fire, pulled by horses of fire—far more spectacular than twelve oxen—descends between them.
In a whirlwind, Elijah is taken up into heaven. Elisha stands alone, watching as his mentor disappears from sight. Calling out, “My father, my father!” grief overwhelms him for a moment. But then he sees the mantle, fallen to the ground—the exact same mantle that had once rested on his shoulders in the field. Elisha picks it up and walks back to the Jordan. Striking the water with Elijah’s mantle, he cries out, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” The water parts once again. The prophetic mantle has passed. Memo to all prophets: Please welcome Elisha, Elijah’s replacement!
Taking Up the Mantle
We, like Elisha, are also called to take up the mantle—not for our own glory (let’s not make that mistake), but for the sake of the gospel. Not a literal mantle, but the full, extravagant riches of the grace of God, demonstrated and displayed in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Church must be a place where new leaders are raised, where the wisdom of the past is passed on, and where the power of the Spirit is sought not for personal gain, but to continue the work of God in the world.
Such a “mantle” is ours to take up—and an invitation for us to step forward in faith.
