Passing the Torch

1 Kings 19:11-21 - Elijah told specifically by God to choose Elisha.

Older saints must remember their purpose.

Elijah had thought everything was over.

Dejected and afraid from Jezebel’s threat, he prays to God to let him die.

“I am no better than my fathers.” - Elijah feels unable to do better than those prophets who had come before.

God feeds him a meal that gives him strength for forty days and nights. He fasts for this time.

Sometimes people give up, NOT on the idea of being a Christian, but on the idea of trying hard - working properly.

We face a setback, a disappointment, and we become like Elijah (or worse). We shouldn’t let disappointments stop us.

Adoption - When a situation doesn’t work out, it’s not called a “cancellation” or a “failure”, but an “interruption”

This is a healthy way to think of it - it doesn’t mean the couple would NEVER adopt now - it only means a DELAY.

While they can be debilitating, we will suffer many “interruptions” in our lives, and we must be prepared to handle them with an attitude of faith and courage.

He was reminded of God’s power.

To get through hard times, we need to remember the power of God.

The power of God sometimes looks like something big and world-changing (Wind that shook rocks from the mountain; fire/lightning that rips across the sky), but sometimes manifests in a small voice.

We must WAIT upon the LORD. Hope and expect good things to occur.

He was given duties to perform.

Elijah is not given “busy work”, but needed things for God’s purposes.

Called by God to anoint (in this case to appoint) Hazael as king of Damascus, Jehu as king of Israel, and Elisha as his successor.

These three would do great things in rebellious Israel, bringing into practice the great lesson Elijah had learned at Mt. Horeb. “Wind”, “fire” and a “small voice” would be the servants of God for judgment.

Do not lose hope. God wants to protect and help His true people! Rom. 11:2-5

Romans 11:2-5 NKJV - God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, "LORD, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life"? But what does the divine response say to him? "I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal." Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

1 Kings 21:17-29 - Elijah does his job, and Ahab is benefited.

It worked primarily because Ahab’s heart was pricked! V. 27-29

Elijah might have been scared to do this, but he does it anyway, because it was the message the LORD had sent to Ahab.

Younger saints must be willing to go.

Elisha provides for his family before leaving with Elijah.

It seems he is a decent, hardworking young man who helps his family.

How many young men today are individually motivated to help provide for their family?

Some guys I see seem to only care about what THEY are doing, and barely lift a finger to help out.

Let us learn from Elisha that it was important in this situation to take care of his family. He was not rebuked because he did not ask to BURY his parents (Luke 9:59-61).

2 Kings 2:1-25 - account of the passing of Elijah’s mantle to Elisha.

Elisha has a servant’s heart, and will not leave Elijah.

Elijah gives him multiple opportunities to “give up” or “bow out”

Elisha could have even used the excuse, “Elijah TOLD me to do this!”

In faithfulness to God and loyalty toward Elijah, Elisha refuses three times.

He does not want to pass up the last hours of training and fellowship with Elijah.

Titus 2:1-8 - Younger learning from the older

Result: Elijah passes his mantle down in a loving, real fashion.

Elisha asks for “double portion” (meant for the eldest son to take over leadership of the family once the father died) - essentially asking for the very same thing the LORD intended!

Elisha maintains his inherited position in faith.

After Elijah’s ascension, Elisha not only takes up the “mantle” (NOT the physical garment, but the role that Elijah had passed down), but USES it properly.

The servants want to form a search party for Elijah. This is because they think it might be that God had not completely taken him, just left him on a mountain somewhere.

Elisha initially forbids them, but eventually relents. Elisha knows that Elijah is gone. No doubt in his mind.

This shows that Elisha had faith that God would do what He said He would do.

He takes up the work of God with confidence and strength.

God’s work is not to be done in a timid or fearful way.