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Letting Go to Follow

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Letting Go to Follow

January 4, 2026 – Letting Go to Follow – I Kings 19:19-21

In 1 Kings 19:19-21, Elijah anoints Elisha as his successor by throwing his cloak on him while Elisha is plowing with 12 yoke of oxen; Elisha responds by slaughtering the oxen, burning their equipment for fuel, sharing the meat with his people, and then following Elijah to become his devoted servant and apprentice. This passage symbolizes a powerful call to abandon one’s comfortable life for a divine purpose, marking the passing of the prophetic mantle. 

Key Events in 1 Kings 19:19-21:

  • The Call: Elijah finds Elisha plowing with twelve pairs of oxen and throws his cloak (mantle) on him, signifying God’s call for Elisha to become a prophet.
  • Elisha’s Response: Elisha immediately leaves the oxen, runs after Elijah, and asks to say farewell to his parents.
  • Elijah’s Reply: Elijah says, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” which is interpreted as an idiom meaning, “Do as you please” or acknowledging the significance of the calling.
  • Elisha’s Commitment: Elisha returns, slaughters the oxen, uses their yokes to build a fire to cook the meat, shares it with everyone, and then follows Elijah to become his attendant (servant/disciple). 

    • Meaning & Significance:

    • Succession: This event establishes Elisha as Elijah’s prophetic successor, a key figure in Israel’s future.
    • Radical Discipleship: Elisha’s actions—slaughtering his livelihood (oxen) and using their equipment—demonstrate a total, sacrificial commitment to his new calling, leaving his past behind.
    • Vocation: The story serves as an example of recognizing and responding to God’s call, even when it disrupts a familiar life. 
      • 1 Kings 19:19-21

      New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

      Elisha Becomes Elijah’s Disciple

      19 So he set out from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat, who was plowing. There were twelve yoke of oxen ahead of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle over him. 20 He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” Then Elijah[a] said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” 21 He returned from following him, took the yoke of oxen, and slaughtered them; using the equipment from the oxen, he boiled their flesh and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out and followed Elijah and became his servant.

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