Courageous: Day 2

Theme: Courage is not always knowing the outcome; it is the willingness to pursue God anyway.
1 Kings 19:20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah.
When we first read about Elisha’s call to become the next prophet, we encounter a strange ritual performed by his soon-to-be mentor, Elijah. Elijah takes his mantle, or cloak, throws it over Elisha’s shoulders, and walks away. Elisha is one of twelve men plowing a field, yet he clearly understands what the gesture means. He leaves his oxen and runs after Elijah.
What did the cloak mean? A cloak was an outer garment that protected a person from the weather. It provided warmth in the winter and shade from the heat in the summer, but it could also identify a person’s position. A wealthy landowner might wear one kind of cloak, while a servant wore another. Elijah’s cloak was likely a rough animal hide made from camel or goat skin. We do not know for sure, but we do know it symbolized who he was. In 2 Kings 1:7–8, Elijah is identified by the description of his clothing.
This is the cloak Elijah places on Elisha’s shoulders. Then Elijah walks away. He does not beg, plead, explain the act, or ask whether Elisha is interested. He simply walks away. Yet Elisha stops plowing and runs after him. Why? Because Elijah is the prophet of God, the spokesman for the nation of Israel. For reasons Elisha may not fully understand, God has chosen him to be identified with Elijah. Did Elisha know everything that choice would require? Did he know what his daily routine would look like for the next several years? No. But when God chose him, Elisha did not miss the opportunity. He did not look around at the other men or say, “Wait, hold my oxen.” He ran after Elijah. And to run after Elijah was to run after the God Elijah represented. That is what Elisha wanted. As we continue to study Elisha’s life, we will see the amazing things God does through him. It all begins with a courageous pursuit.
God has done something similar for each of us. He sent His Son, Jesus, to live, die, and rise again so He could offer us abundant life. In a way that echoes Elijah’s call to Elisha, Jesus comes to each of us, taps us on the shoulder, and says, “Follow Me.” We do not always know what that will look like. We do not always know where He will lead us next. We do not always understand what He allows us to walk through. Following Him takes courage. But the promise is that He is always with us, He loves us more than we can imagine, and He wants to do amazing things through us. That is worth pursuing.

Lord, give me the courage to pursue You even when I do not know exactly where You are leading. Help me respond quickly when You call, trust You in the unknown, and follow You with a willing heart. Remind me that You are always with me, that Your love is steady, and that following You is always worth it