Recruiting Elisha

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Speaker: Steve Estes
Scripture: 1 Kings 19:19-21
June 23, 2024

1 Kings 19:19-21: So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother good-by,” he said, “and then I will come with you.”

“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”

So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.

Sermon Outline

1. Elijah goes to Abel Meholah

• The journey

• The destination

• The family of farmers

2. Elijah recruits Elisha

• A hard-working heir

• A silent summons

3. Elisha’s response

• He chases after Elijah

• He asks to kiss his parents goodbye

• He breaks all ties with the past

4. What the day’s events meant for the people affected

• Elijah

• Elisha’s parents

• Elisha himself