22 ELIJAH’S FURTHER ACTIVITIES

The first part of this lesson will instruct Christian leaders from the story of Elijah finding his successor, Elisha. The second part will teach us about God’s Justice and mercy. Elisha was named last in the orders God gave to Elijah in the cave, but he was the first to be called, for by him the other two were to be called. Elisha must come into Elijah’s position; yet Elijah is willing to raise him and is far from being jealous of his successor, but rejoices to think that he will leave the work of God in such good hands. If Elisha accompanied Elijah from that time on, we may assume that Elisha was with Elijah during the continued activities of Elijah up until the time Elijah was taken up in a whirlwind. This period would include the exchanges between Elijah, Ahab and Jezebel addressed in the second half of this lesson. Elijah is then leading and Elisha is watching and learning.

Concerning the call of Elisha we observe that it was an unexpected, surprising call. Elijah found Elisha by divine direction, or perhaps he was already acquainted with him and knew where to find him. He found him, not in the schools of the prophets, but in the field, not reading, nor praying, nor sacrificing, but ploughing as verse 19 says, “He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair.” Though a great man, as shown by his feast, master of the ground, oxen, and servants, yet he did not think it beneath him to work in his business himself. He not only oversees his servants, but himself puts his hand to the plough.

Idleness is no man’s honor, nor is agricultural work any man’s disgrace. An honest calling in the world does not at all put us out of the way of our heavenly calling. Elisha was taken from following the plough the feed Israel and to sow the seed of the God’s Word, just as the apostles were taken from fishing to catch men. Elisha did not seek Elijah, but his call was implied in God’s instructions to Elijah. We love God, and choose Him, because He chose us, and loved us first. It was a powerful call. Elijah simply “threw his cloak around him” (19) as an expression of friendship implying he would take him under his care and instruction just as he did under his mantle. They would become a team, coach and student, sharing the same clothes. Here are two lessons: older leaders should be willing to teach younger leaders and younger aspiring leaders should be willing to learn from older leaders. Could this symbolize that Elisha would also be clothed with the spirt of Elijah, or that he received some honor through this as Moses had honored and trained Joshua? Later, when Elijah went to heaven, Elisha received the whole cloak; that is its ownership and use. 2 Kings 2:13 says, “Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.”

Immediately Elisha left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and assured him that he would follow him. An invisible hand touched his heart, and an inner witness of the Spirit evidently inclined him by a secret power, without any human persuasions, to stop farming and give himself to the ministry. It is a wonderful day when Jesus’ followers are made willing. No one can come to Jesus unless they were drawn and neither should anyone want to serve in His name unless first called. We have seen, however, that some try, only to fail. Elisha came to a resolution presently, but begged a little time, not to ask leave, but only to take leave, of his parents. Scholars differ as to how to interpret this passage. Was Elisha saying let me first care for my parents until they die or was he simply saying let me honor them with a proper departure from them? In either case, Elisha shows by his actions that he was willing to follow Elijah. Elijah told him to go back to greet his parents.

Elijah would not hinder him. Elijah will not force Elisha, nor take him against his will; let him sit down and count the cost, and make his own free choice. The release God gives for man to exercise his freewill preserves the God-given liberty of man’s will, so that those who are good are good by their choices and not by constraint; not pressed by men, but are true volunteers. It was a pleasant and acceptable call to Elisha, which seems evident by the farewell-feast he made for his family recorded in verse 21, “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 servant.”

Elisha not only left all the comforts of his father’s house, but also exposed himself to the hatred of Jezebel. Any man that had consulted with flesh and blood would not be eager to receive Elijah’s mantle, yet Elisha cheerfully leaves all to accompany him. Matthew also made a big decision when he left the tax collectors table to follow Jesus. Elisha arose, went after Elijah, and not only associated with him, but ministered to him as 2 kings 3:11 says, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.” I did a similar thing for two years from 1966 to 1968 after graduating from Bible College. I am glad I did that. It is of great advantage to young ministers to spend time under the direction of wise, aged and experienced persons and to be happy to minister to them. If we want to be fit to teach we must have time to learn. Those who hope to rise and lead must first be willing to stoop and serve.

We move now to the end of 1 Kings 21:17-29, after the wicked Jezebel has already arranged for the murder of the innocent Naboth and where Elijah confronts Ahab who was complicit in Jezebel’s evil. 17 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: 18 “Go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He is now in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. 19 Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?’ Then say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’” 20 Ahab said to Elijah, “So you have found me, my enemy!” “I have found you,” he answered, “because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord. 21 He says, ‘I am going to bring disaster on you. I will wipe out your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel—slave or free. 22 I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have aroused my anger and have caused Israel to sin.’ 23 “And also concerning Jezebel the Lord says: ‘Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’ 24 “Dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds will feed on those who die in the country.” 25 (There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel his wife. 26 He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the Lord drove out before Israel.) 27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly. 28 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: 29 “Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.

First, the description of the very bad character given of Ahab is in a parenthetical insert recorded in verse 25 and 26, “(There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel his wife. 26 He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the Lord drove out before Israel.)” This evil is mentioned here probably to justify God in the heavy sentence passed on Ahab. His punishment was given on the occasion of his sin in the matter of Naboth, yet God might not have punished him so severely if he had not also been guilty of many other sins, especially idolatry. We can contrast this with David’s sin in the matter of Bathsheba and Uriah. David, except in those two matters, did what was right. But, as to Ahab, there was none like him, so ingenious and industrious in sin, who made it a regular practice. He sold himself to work wickedness, that is, he made himself a perfect slave to his ambitions, and was as much at their command as any servant could be to his master. He was wholly given up to sin. He chose to have the pleasures of it, he must take the wages of it.

Paul complained of his own human difficulty which he did not choose in Romans 7:14 which says, “We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.” Paul was a poor captive against his will; but Ahab was voluntary: he sold himself to sin; he made his choice, and as his own act and deed, he submitted to the dominion of sin. It was no excuse for his crimes that Jezebel his wife stirred him up to do wickedly, and made him, in many respects, worse than otherwise he would have been. See the extreme extent of evil to which he arrived who had such an inclination towards corruption in his heart and such a temper in his heart as to intentionally strike fire into it! In many things he did evil, but he did most abominably in following idols, like the Canaanites. Ahab’s immoralities were very provoking to God, but his idolatries were especially so. Israel’s case was sad when a king like this reigned over them.

Second, God gave a message for Ahab to Elijah. Throughout a process in which Jezebel arranges for such an evil and false trial for the innocent Naboth, God had remained silent. He did not intercept Jezebel’s letters, nor stop the process of the elders of Jezreel; but now Ahab is reproved and his sin is set in order before his eyes. The person sent is Elijah. An unnamed prophet of lower rank was sent with a kind message to Ahab as 1 Kings 20:13 says, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Do you see this vast army? I will give it into your hand today, and then you will know that I am the Lord.’” But now the father of the prophets is sent to try and condemn him for his murder. The place is Naboth’s vineyard and the time is just when he is taking possession of it; then, and there, must his doom be read to him. By taking possession, he agreed with all that had been done to obtain the property, and made himself guilty as an accessary after the fact.

There he was taken in the commission of the errors, and therefore the conviction would come on him with so much the more force. “What do you have to do in this vineyard? What good can you expect from it when it is purchased with blood? “Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by injustice!” (Habakkuk 2:12). Job mentioned some sins he did not want to commit such as “if I have devoured its yield without payment or broken the spirit of its tenants.” Ahab is pleasing himself with his ill-gotten wealth, and giving direction for the turning of this vineyard into a flower-garden, but God is displeased. Ahab was wrong and God needed a trustworthy prophet to go to him with God’s message. Man of God, woman of God, some of our messages are easy to deliver, but others are not. A true messenger will with equal faithfulness deliver every message. Let us see what passed between Ahab and the prophet.

Third, Ahab evidently spoke first and vented his wrath against Elijah, fell into a passion at the sight of him, and, instead of humbling himself before the prophet, as he ought to have done was instead ready to verbally attack Elijah as verse 20 says, “So you have found me, my enemy!” This shows that Ahab hated Elijah. The last time we found them together they parted on good terms as at the sound of much rain Ahab rode his chariot and Elijah ran before him. Then Ahab had witnessed a mini-reformation and all seems well between them, but Ahab had relapsed and was worse than ever having (by his silence) given approval to Jezebel to deceitfully kill the innocent Naboth to get his vineyard. His conscience told him he had made God his enemy, and for this reason could not expect Elijah should be his friend.

Man’s condition is very miserable that has made the Word of God his enemy, and his condition is desperate that reckons the ministers of that Word his enemies. This happened to Elijah and it will happen to you. People may not like your message and therefore hate you even though you are just the messenger. In Galatians 4:16 Paul asks, “Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?” Ahab, having sold himself to sin, was resolved to stand to his bargain, and could not tolerate the very Elijah that was best positioned to have helped him to recover himself. People will do that to you too. Ahab feared Elijah, “So you have found me, my enemy!” Had Ahab avoided Elijah all he could and now it was a terror to him to see him? The unwelcome sight of him was like that of the fearsome handwriting on the wall to Belshazzar; it made his countenance change, the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. Never was a criminal so confounded at the sight of the officer that came to arrest him. Men may thank themselves if they make God and his Word a terror to them. The lesson for us is for us to try to understand that delivering God’s Word places us at odds with wicked people. Will we still be faithful to deliver the message? Will we understand the dynamics when people reject and hate us for it?

Fourth, Elijah unflinchingly says, “‘I have found you,’ he answered, ‘because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord.’” Anyone who gives him or herself up to sin will certainly be found out, sooner or later, to their unspeakable horror and amazement. Ahab is now set up for a trial, as Naboth recently had been, but trembles more than Naboth did. Elijah expresses the charge, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?’” He was charged with the murder of Naboth, and it would not serve him to say the law killed him (perverted justice is the highest injustice), nor that, if he was unjustly prosecuted, it was not his doing—he knew nothing of it; for it was to please him that it was done, and he had shown himself pleased with it, and so had made himself guilty of all that was done by Jezebel in the unjust framing and murder of Naboth.

He killed for he took possession. If he takes the garden, he takes the guilt with it. Elijah announces God’s judgment on him. He told him from God that his family would be ruined and rooted out and all his posterity cut off, that his house would be made like the houses of his wicked predecessors, Jeroboam and Baasha, particularly that those who died in the city would be meat for dogs and those who died in the field meat for birds which had been foretold of Jeroboam’s house, and of Baasha’s, that Jezebel, specifically, would be devoured by dogs, which was fulfilled, and, as for Ahab himself, “‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’” (19) Your blood, Ahab, though it be royal blood, though it enlarge your veins with pride and boil in your heart with anger, will before long be a feast for the dogs.” This suggests that he would die a violent death, would come to his grave with blood, and that disgrace would accompany him, the thought of which surely would be a great humiliation to such a proud man.

Elijah’s word proved to come true. Later, in fulfillment of this prophesy, when Ahab was removed from battle he experienced a painful and dishonorable death in his chariot. 1 Kings 22:34-38 says, “34 But someone drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the sections of his armor. The king told his chariot driver, “Wheel around and get me out of the fighting. I’ve been wounded.” 35 All day long the battle raged, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. The blood from his wound ran onto the floor of the chariot, and that evening he died. 36 As the sun was setting, a cry spread through the army: “Every man to his town. Every man to his land!” 37 So the king died and was brought to Samaria, and they buried him there.They washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria (where the prostitutes bathed), and the dogs licked up his blood, as the word of the Lord had declared.” For all this evil and God’s justice for it, this lesson will end with a surprise twist. 

Fifth, Ahab’s surprising self-humiliation under the sentence passed on him brings a favorable message. Ahab was a kind of reluctant penitent. The message Elijah delivered to him in God’s name put him in a temporary fright. “When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly” (27). Judging from his later continued evil, Ahab was still a proud hardened sinner, and yet had enough sense to humble himself at least outwardly for a brief time. Ahab put on the sackcloth of a penitent, and yet his heart remained hard and unchanged. It is no new thing to find the show and profession of repentance where there is no sincerity and substance. Ahab’s repentance was only what might be seen of men. God asks Elijah, “Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me?” It was, however, evidently only outward, external only, the garments were rent, but not the heart. He did not leave his idols, nor restore the vineyard to Naboth’s heirs. Yet, because in wearing sackcloth he gave some glory to God, God took notice of it, and told Elijah to take notice of it. The sentence would not be revoked, but the doing of it would be delayed. This part of the story reveals the great compassion of God, and His readiness to show mercy.

What are the lessons from this that can be helpful to the Christian leader? I think there are three. 1. If we are guilty of any sin and want to show genuine repentance, we should be sorry enough to make restitution. 2. We should try to discern whether those we are leading are really sincere in their repentance. 3. We should take any hope we can from any indication, however small it is, that the persons with whom we are dealing might be willing to sincerely repent. God did ask Elijah if he had noticed Ahab’s changed behavior—even though it was only outward behavior.

Oh how merciful God is!