“He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate”. 1 Kings 19:21 NIV
On February 19, 1519, the Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés set sail for Mexico with over 600 sailors and soldiers with him. They were in eleven ships. The indigenous population upon his arrival was approximately five million. From a purely mathematical standpoint, the odds were stacked against him by a ratio of 7,541 to 1. Two previous expeditions had failed to even establish a settlement in the New World, yet Cortés conquered much of the South American continent.
What Cortés did upon arrival on the shores of Mexico is to scuttle or burn all his ships. In one act he showed his men and those living in the land that there was no plan B. He took the option of plan B away. It was survive or die. There was no running back to the motherland when things got rough and uncomfortable.
Elisha and his family were the largest farming operation in all of Israel. While most people owned or rented a team of oxen and plow to do the farming. Elisha’s family had 12 teams of oxen and twelve plows.
“He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair”. 1 Kings 19: 19 NIV
Elijah was sent by God, after a discussion at the mouth of a cave, to go and put his cloak around Elisha and make him the new prophet. He found Elisha in the field plowing and went up to him and covered him in the robe that he was wearing to signify that God had transferred the prophetic power to Elisha.
Elisha did not hesitate, He accepted and told Elijah that he would be right back. He went home to kiss his parents and then slaughtered the oxen and smashed the plow into firewood. He then proceeded to BBQ the oxen and fed everyone and then said goodbye.
Elisha took away plan B. He did not just put the oxen and plow in storage, just in case this prophet thing did not work out or if he became discouraged. He burnt and ate his past. He eliminated the possibility of going back to farming.
When Peter decided to get out of the boat and walk on the water. He simply put all his trust in Jesus. He did not ask the other disciples to tie a rope around his waist and pull him back into the boat if he started sinking. With no life jacket or rope for safety, he simply stepped out in full faith of Jesus his Savior. No Plan B. When he failed and started sinking, he did not start swimming back to the boat. He looked up and noticed a hand reaching for him. Jesus was there to save him.
Are you at a moment that you need to burn the ships and oxen of your past? The only way is to make a defining decision to eliminate the possibilities of going back to the old world we left behind. You burn the ships of past failure, past success, bad habits, addictions, regrets and guilt. You burn the ship named my old way of life.
Most people would assume God had blessed them to have twelve yokes of oxen and that is where God wanted them to shine. But God had other plans for Elisha.
Does God have plans for you that you need to step out into faith and burn the past so there is not going back?
The rich young ruler missed out on the wonderful life Jesus had planned for him because he was not willing to give up plan B.
Prayers for All.
Larry
Unbolt The Door To Your Heart 