Passing & Receiving the Mantle

Scripture(s): I Kings 19:15-21
The LORD said to him, (Elijah) "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when you have arrived, you shall anoint Hazael king over Aram; and Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. "It shall come about, the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall put to death. "Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him." So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah passed over to him and threw his mantle on him. He left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, "Please let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you." And he said to him, "Go back again, for what have I done to you?" So he returned from following him, and took the pair of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the implements of the oxen, and gave it to the people and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah and ministered to him.

Background:
We left Elijah at the entrance of Jezreel, still appearing publicly, and all the people’s eyes upon him. In this chapter we have him again absconding, and driven into obscurity, at a time when he could ill be spared; but we are to look upon it as a punishment to Israel for the insincerity and inconstancy of their reformation. When people will not learn it is just with God to remove their teachers into corners. Now observe, I. How he was driven into banishment by the malice of Jezebel his sworn enemy (v. 1-3). II. How he was met, in his banishment, by the favour of God, his covenant-friend. 1. How God fed him (v. 4-8). 2. How he conversed with him, and manifested himself to him (v. 9, 11–13), heard his complaint (v. 10–14), directed him what to do (v. 15–17), and encouraged him (v. 18). III. How his hands were strengthened, at his return out of banishment, by the joining of Elisha with him (v. 19–21).

Commentary:
Elisha was named last in the orders God gave to Elijah, but he was first called, for by him the other two were to be called. He must come in Elijah’s room; yet Elijah is forward to raise him, and is far from being jealous of his successor, but rejoices to think that he shall leave the work of God in such good hands. Concerning the call of Elisha observe, 1. That it was an unexpected surprising call. Elijah found him by divine direction, or perhaps he was before 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, v. 19 (Henry, 1996).

Though a great man (as appears by his feast, v. 21), master of the ground, and oxen, and servants, yet he did not think it any disparagement to him to follow his business himself, and not only to inspect his servants, but himself to lay his hand to the plough. Idleness is no man’s honour, nor is husbandry any man’s disgrace. An honest calling in the world does not at all put us out of the way of our heavenly calling, any more than it did Elisha, who was taken from following the plough the feed Israel and to sow the seed of the word, as the apostles were taken from fishing to catch men. Elisha enquired not after Elijah, but was anticipated with this call. We love God, and choose him, because he chose us, and loved us, first. 2. That it was a powerful call. Elijah did but cast his mantle upon him. (v. 19), in token of friendship, that he would take him under his care and tuition as he did under his mantle, and to be one with him in the same clothes, or in token of his being clothed with the spirit of Elijah (now he put some of his honour upon him, as Moses on Joshua, Num. 27:20); but, when Elijah went to heaven, he had the mantle entire, 2 Ki. 2:13 (Henry, 1996).

And immediately he left the oxen to go as they would, and ran after Elijah, and assured him that he would follow him presently, v. 20. An invisible hand touched his heart, and unaccountably inclined him by a secret power, without any external persuasions, to quit his husbandry and give himself to the ministry. It is in a day of power that Christ’s subjects are made willing (Ps. 110:3), nor would any come to Christ unless they were thus drawn. Elisha came to a resolution presently, but begged a little time, not to ask leave, but only to take leave, of his parents. This was not an excuse for delay, like his (Lu. 9:61) that desired he might bid those farewell that were at home, but only a reservation of the respect and duty he owed to his father and mother (Henry, 1996).

Elijah bade him to back and do it, he would not hinder him; nay, if he would, he might go back, and not return, for any thing he had done to him. He will not force him, nor take him against his will; let him sit down and count the cost, and make it his own act. The efficacy of God’s grace preserves the native liberty of man’s will, so that those who are good are good of choice and not by constraint, not pressed men, but volunteers. 3. That it was a pleasant and acceptable call to him, which appears by the farewell-feast he made for his family (v. 21), though he not only quitted all the comforts of his father’s house, but exposed himself to the malignity of Jezebel and her party. It was a discouraging time for prophets to set out in. A man that had consulted with flesh and blood would not be fond of Elijah’s mantle, nor willing to wear his coat; yet Elisha cheerfully, and with a great deal of satisfaction, leaves all to accompany him. Thus Matthew made a great fast when he left the receipt of custom to follow Christ. 4. That it was an effectual call. Elijah did not stay for him, lest he should seem to compel him, but left him to his own choice, and he soon arose, went after him, and not only associated with him, but ministered to him as his servitor, poured water on his hands, 2 Ki. 3:11. It is of great advantage to young ministers to spend some time under the direction of those that are aged and experienced, whose years teach wisdom, and not to think much, if occasion be, to minister to them. Those that would be fit to teach must have time to learn; and those that hope hereafter to rise and rule must be willing at first to stoop and serve (Henry, 1996).

Elijah was running from Jezebel because she made an open declaration that she was going to kill him, because he had put an open shame to her gods, and had all the prophets of Baal executed. Elijah ended up under a juniper tree, and asked God to take his life. He had, had enough. As he sat under the juniper tree, he fell asleep. Then the Angel of the Lord touched him, and told him to arise and eat. So Elijah did as the Angel of the Lord told him, but then he went back to sleep. The Angel of the Lord came to him again, and told him to arise and eat, because the journey was too great for him. So Elijah arose and ate. The food which he ate sustained him for forty days and forty nights. Then Elijah was instructed by God to go to Mount Horeb, but Elijah ended up in the cave out of fear. That's when the Lord came to him, and asked him "What are you doing here?" Elijah made an excuse as to the position of his disobedience. However, God did not condemn him, because he knew him; and gave him relief in the situation as well as a dear friend in who he would take under his tutleledge for the ministry of prophecy.

Reflection:
Even though Elijah was depressed, upset, fearful, and exhausted; God never left him. He continued to speak to Elijah, and comforted him by providing him with the knowledge that surely there were 7000 people who had not bowed to the false Gods, and that  the new kings he was instructed to anoint would rectify the situation. He also encouraged him with the passing of his mantle (cloak/glory) to one that would continue in his stead, by the name of 'Elisha.' When Elijah threw the mantel on Elisha, Elisha knew what it meant, and accepted the calling, and followed Elijah after honoring his parents, and holding a feast. When it was time to pass the mantle Elijah did so speedily, he did not hold on to the mantel out of fear. He did not linger on the words of God, and try to delay the passing of his mantel.

When Elijah passed his mantle (glory/cloak) to Elisha, Elisha made no excuses as to why he could not accept it. He accepted the mantle in a time when prophets were being persecuted and killed, for what they believed in, and spoke about. Passing and receiving the mantle, requires the grace of God upon the lives of his children. If indeed God has called one to the ministry, the passing, and recieving of the mantle has to take place; so that the work of the ministry can continue to move forward. If the mantle is not passed to those that are called to the ministry, the ministry will be stagnated; and will not grow. The old traditions of yesterday will suffocate the church, if those in leadership do not discern the time in which to pass the mantle. At the same time, the mantle should not be passed out of exhaustion, desperation, or fear of what may, or may not happen. Upon the passing of the mantle, the training begins. It is important for us to understand, that the acceptance of the mantle into ministry, is not an overnight call to riches, fame or fortune; it is a call to servanthood. If the Angel of the Lord ministered to Elijah; how much more or we to minister to those who pass the mantle.

References:
Blue Letter Bible. "Book of 1 Kings 19 - (NASB - New American Standard Bible)." Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2010. 12 May 2010. http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=1Ki&c=19&t=NASB

Henry, Matthew. "Commentary on 1 Kings 19." . Blue Letter Bible. 1 Mar 1996. 2010. 12 May 2010.
http:// www.blueletterbible.org/commentaries/comm_view.cfm?
AuthorID=4&contentID=947&commInfo=5&topic=1%20Kings&
ar=1Ki_19_15

Higgins, S. (2010). Passing & Receving the Mantle. Devotions for Thought. Higgins Publishing. http://www.devotionsforthought.blogspot.com, http://www.higginspublishing.com