April 1 Two Measures of Faith – Elijah and Elisha
As a child, I learned about the wonderful work of God through two great saints: Elijah the bold flaming chariot dude and Elisha who seemed to be the more understated of the two yet had twice the measure of Elijah’s spirit and did twice as many miracles. Elisha’s work seems understated in comparison to Elijah’s – axe heads floating, and blind armies being captured, fed, and released. Plus, Elisha seemed to be a rich kid! What’s God doing calling him?!
We learn so much from these two prophets, but we also learn that the Lord gives the gifts that He deems fitting for the time and the person.
My 2 year old grandson likes to try to walk in his grandparents’ shoes. He wants to try something new. Something bigger than what he’s got. And maybe, he wants to grow up to fill those shoes, too?
Elijah was spent. His hard and faithful work apparently had borne little fruit, at least in his mind. (We tend to magnify the negative.) The tsunamis of cultural unbelief seemed to overwhelm his mission despite his tenacity, astonishing miracles, and reliance upon God.
In desperation, he heads south to Mt. Sinai, back to the site of the covenant, and the Shekinah – shaking/quaking glory of God. (Maybe he was a bit surprised when God appeared. He spoke not in a rock-shredding wind, but in a gentle whisper.) Elijah was ready for God to take his life. (There’s an important lesson here: a person should not take his or her own life. After all, he or she neither created nor owns that life. {Ps. 24:1}) In a divine contrast, Jesus gave His life, so that even the most troubled human lives have an eternal divine value placed upon them. God knows our struggle, and, in the right way, He helps us.
God did not oblige Elijah’s prayer for a trip to heaven, just yet. But He did tell the exhausted prophet some important information: God hears when people need help. So Elijah got a sidekick to mentor and find mutual encouragement in fellowship, working for the Lord. Also, in essence the Lord said: “Elijah, you can’t count. You are not the ‘only faithful saint left.’ There are 7000 faithful others around, not many, but enough to keep the candle burning in the winds of unbelief. Trust Me. I see the soul….”
Prayer: Lord, in a world often hostile to Your bride, the Church, and to Your Word of Law and love,
we face much resistance. Encourage us with faith, to persevere.
Remind us of the supreme value You have placed upon us – Your Own life.
Give us the supports we need to carry on. In Your Name, Amen.
