Burning Plows, Burning Bridges

In 1 Kings 19:19-21 we find the story of the call of Elisha to prophetic ministry. My friend Jeff preached on this passage last month, and brought out something I had not noticed.

When Elijah called Elisha, the younger man did not immediately leave to go with the veteran prophet. He asked for time to say goodbye to his family, and Elijah gave him leave to do so. What is different in this story from the incident where Jesus told a man (Luke 9:61-62) with a similar request to not look back?

I think the difference was that Elisha really wanted to say a permanent goodbye. His request was not an excuse for inaction. Elisha was plowing with twelve pair of oxen. Apparently his family was wealthy and successful. After Elijah's call, Elisha turned his back on it all by burning his plows and cooking the oxen to feed the community. With these actions he made a firm separation from his past life. He left himself no opportunity to go back to his old life. Elisha was not looking back; he was ripping of his rear view mirror.

Could the lesson in this story be that to follow God's call, we must sometimes burn the bridges to our past life by putting away even the symbols of our successes?

Baghdad Bob Christians

Further thoughts from my reading of 1st Kings:

Remember "Baghdad Bob"- the spokesman for Saddam Hussein who back in 2003 denied all U.S. military successes during the invasion of Iraq up to the moment U.S. Marines were coming in his front door. He was a lot of fun for a while, but what a pathetic figure.

The story of King Rehoboam is told in 1 Kings 15:21-31. After Jeroboam rebelled with the 10 northern tribes, Rehoboam continued to reign over Judah for many years. In the fifth year of his reign Pharaoh Shishak invaded Judah and took treasure from Rehoboam's house, including gold shields made by King Solomon. After Pharaoh left, Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace the gold ones. His guards went in and out, carrying the bronze shields as if nothing had changed.

Can't you just hear Rehoboam's thoughts- "Invasion, what invasion? Never heard of no Pharaoh Shishak. Everything looks the same here. After all, bronze looks very much like gold - can't tell the difference! I've never been defeated. Nothing is wrong with my kingdom- all is well." Shades of Baghdad Bob!

I've been like that myself at times. All my outward actions can look right -reading the Bible, going to church, lifting my hands. Yet inside, where others cannot see, there is nothing but deadness and dry bones. But if anyone asks: "Nothing is wrong with my kingdom - all is well." I have become Baghdad Bob. How many people in the average church meeting next Sunday will be carrying bronze shields? The only cure is to face the truth, and to be honest with the One who is truth. He can turn our bronze back into gold if we will let Him.

Jesus has some words for all us Baghdad Bob Christians:

17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. (Rev. 3:17-18 ESV)

Godly Dreams as Idols

More thoughts from my reading of 1st Kings.

In chapter 11 Ahijah the prophet goes to Jeroboam son of Nebat and prophesies to him that the kingdom will be divided with Jeroboam taking ten tribes from King Rehoboam to be his kingdom. The Lord through Abijah tells Jeroboam that, if he will follow God's law and serve Him only, that God will give him a house and kingdom as he did for David. Here God gives Jeroboam a dream: a divine destiny for his life.

In chapter 12 Jeroboam worries that the people will turn back to King Rehoboam and the House of David if they are allowed to go to the Temple in Jerusalem to worship Yahweh. To prevent this, he sets up golden calves in high places at Bethel and Dan, appoints priest who are not Levites to serve at those high places, and tells the people that these idols are the "gods" that brought them up out of Egypt.

Jeroboam took true vision and destiny that was from the Lord, and out of fear and insecurity in his calling he attempted to fulfill that dream in idolatrous ways rather than trusting God for its completion and fulfillment. Even Godly dreams can become idols. Lord, keep me from idolatrous ways of human efforts to fulfill your true dreams and visions for me.

Prioities

I've been reading 1st Kings this week, I noticed again the disparity in Solomon's time priorities in the following two verses.

In the fourth year the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid, in the month of Ziv. And in the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished in all its parts, and according to all its specifications. He was seven years in building it. (1 Kings 6:37-38 ESV)

Compare that to:

Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished his entire house. (1 Kings 7:1 ESV)

Thirteen years on his house but only seven years on God's house? This shows clearly where King Solomon's priorities were. Is it any wonder that he turned away from the Lord?