2 Kings 2, Called

Theological Proposition/Focus: The focus of ministry is on God!

Homiletical Proposition/Application: Our focus should always be on God therefore, we should not be surprised when God makes adjustments to ministry.

Introduction:

Image: Negotiables and non-negiotiables keeping the main thing the main thing

Emily and I enjoy traveling and we often create detailed plans for our trips. However, when planning a trip it is easy to lose track of the main thing. For example, if you are going on a trip to see the Channel Islands (our last trip) you have to be careful that you don't get so distracted by other nearby places that you miss visiting the main area. As we planned the trip we talked about visiting Yosemite, Death Valley, and Joshua Tree, but when we pulled out the map we began to realize that we would not be able to get to all of those areas. We needed to keep the main thing the main thing.

Body

Serving God can be a lot like riding a roller coaster until we realize that it is not about us, it is about God.

At times serving God takes us to the pinnacle (victory on Mt. Carmel).

Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a showdown that went from morning until evening.

I want to remind you of one of the greatest events in the life and ministry of Elijah. Elijah issued a challenge to King Ahab and hi false God Baal. Elijah called for Ahab to summon all the people to Mount Carmel and make sure to bring along the prophets of Baal. On Mount Carmel Elijah called the prophets of Baal to prepare a sacrifice to Baal but not to set fire to the sacrifice themselves but instead to ask Baal to set the fire. From morning until noon the prophets called on Baal but there was no response. By midday the prophets had cut themselves open with swords hoping that the flow of blood would capture the attention of Baal. Yet still Baal failed to burn the sacrifice. When the time of the evening sacrifice came it was Yahweh's turn.

Elijah prepared his sacrifice to Yahweh.

Elijah rebuilt the fallen alter of Yahweh, cut the bowl into pieces, and then poured water over the sacrifice.

Elijah's prayer is recorded in 1 Kings 18:36-37 "36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”"

The people responded "Yahweh, he is God, Yahweh, he is God (39).

Elijah's mountain top experience was epic. Not only did God show up, but God won in an unquestionable way. If this were a movie we would now expect Elijah to continue onward to the capital city and set himself up as the new King of Israel.

Sometimes serving God places us in the wilderness (loneliness in Beersheba).

What always strikes me about the Mount Carmel Victory is the wilderness experience that immediately follows.

I would have expected Elijah to go on to great things. I would have expected Idolatry to be destroyed from the land. I would have expected Ahab to be removed as King. But that is not how God worked.

After the victory Ahab goes and tells Jezebel, Jezebel responds with a threat, and Elijah flees into the wilderness.

Elijah's depression is obvious in 19:4

while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”

Image: Motion Sickness - look out the window if you can

Since I spend a lot of time in airplanes, you can probably guess that I have spent some time thinking about motion sickness. One of the most important parts of defeating motion sickness is to look outside the airplane and find something far out in the sky on which you can focus. This can be very hard on a cloudy day but in a clear day this is the key. I personally, have only gotten motion sick once in an airplane. I was riding the back seat of a crop duster dusting crops. I could look out the side window, but straight ahead was the other pilot. It made it really hard to keep my focus on the horizon. We went up and down for 45 minutes but after 45 minutes of the up and down with nothing to look at my stomach had enough and I found myself sick.

Then God pulls us back to the pinnacle (revelation on Mt. Sinai).

In the midst of depression in the wilderness God calls on Elijah to come to Mount Sinai (Horeb).

Since God is God he knows how to ask just the right question "What are you doing here Elijah?" (19:9)

Elijah's answer reveals that he is focussed on the wrong thing.

He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”

Elijah was focussed on himself. Yes, he was serving God, but the focus was on himself.

There are times when we can clearly see God building to something great.

We serve a mighty God and there are times when God seems to be so involved in a plan that we can't help but give him the glory. As we continue through the life of Elijah we see God begin to work in an amazing way. The first item to notice is that often

God provides people who can be trained to be the next generation (the Call of Elisha).

In 1 Kings 19:19-21 we see God, in his perfect plan, providing the next generation. Elijah is not alone!

We will talk a little later about some of the characteristics of Elisha but for now I want you to just consider the fact that God provided the next prophet.

Since it is all about God we should not be surprised that God always has the next generation prepared to receive their training.

Elisha already had a good job

Really, he is plowing with twelve yoke of oxen. A farmer who has twelve tractors participating in preparing a field is a very wealthy farmer.

Sometimes God removes major obstacles (the fall of Ahab).

Ahab was in some sense the Arch Nemesis of Elijah.

Few people did more to lead the people of Israel away from God than Ahab and his family. There is a reason people don't name their daughters after Ahab's wife Jezebel. the man was arrogant, and selfish, and had it in for Elijah. If there was someone standing in the way of revival it was Ahab.

In 1 Kings 22:29-40 evil king Falls in battle.

His death is a testament to God's sovereignty.

Ahab and Jehoshaphat join together in battle against Aram. Ahab, fearing for his own life, convinces Jehoshaphat to enter the battle in royal apparel while he, Ahab, wears a disguise. The king of Aram tells his forces to focus on killing the king of Israel and so upon seeing Jehoshaphat the soldiers of Aram mistake him for Ahab and begin chase. However, someone randomly draws a bow and shoots into the air, the arrow happens to strike Ahab between sections of armor and Ahab dies.

At times God so clearly demonstrates His sovereign power that He cannot be denied (the judgement of Ahaziah).

When we get to 2 Kings in Chapter 1 we open with a fascinating story.

Ahazia, son of Ahab is king but he has been injured.

Actually, it seems he managed to fall out of his bedroom window.

Ahazia responds by sending a captain and company of 50 men to fetch Elijah.

The message is clear, God is supreme!

What I want us to see in this whirlwind tour of Elijah's life is that God was at work. God was doing amazing works. There are times in life when God can be seen clearly to be at work!

However, the focus always has been and must always be on God not the mere servant (2 Kings 2).

If we were making a movie we would end the story here. Elijah would ride into the sunset and we would be left wondering how many other great things Elijah had done. But that movie would be all about Elijah and not about God. Remember the story is really about God not any mere man. At the pinnacle of his career God does something that seems completely crazy he moves Elijah out of the way and puts in a new servant. This seems crazy but only if we think Elijah is the main character. The main character never was Elijah, it was always God.

God continues his work through those who are willing to work (2:1-2, 4-6).

Elisha was a worker and desired to work. We can see the work ethic of Elisha in 2nd Kings 2:2. Elisha refused to risk missing an opportunity to learn from Elijah. Another telling story of Elisha’s work ethic comes back in 1st Kings 19:19. Elisha was the heir of a wealthy family. Notice the position Elisha was in. Elisha is plowing with the servants. Not only is Elisha plowing, but also Elisha is plowing at the back. Elisha is plowing in the position where all the dust and dirt fall, behind many oxen, downwind of the dust cloud that must have been present. Elisha is in the lowest of low places working when he could have been basking in his future riches. Elisha knew how to work. God continues his work through those who are willing to work.

God will preserve His work, it is not for humans to bear that burden themselves (2:3).

Another characteristic of Elisha is revealed in 2nd Kings 2:3. In this passage the ministers in training ask the question on everyone’s mind, “What are we going to do now that Elijah is leaving, don’t you know this is going to destroy our ministry?” Elisha’s response reveals his trust in God, “Keep quiet.” These two words convey a multitude of meaning. God was at work and to Elisha the doubters were unhelpful. God would preserve his ministry.

God qualifies the called (2:7-10)

Not every hardworking, God trusting individual is chosen to serve in the way Elisha was. In fact, another characteristic of Elisha stands out. Elisha was desirous of an opportunity to serve. Before Elijah leaves he asks Elisha what Elisha wants. Elisha asks for a double portion. The cultural significance cannot be overstated. Elisha is asking to be the given the ministerial position of first-born. Recall that Elijah did not have an easy life, Elisha is not asking for fame and fortune, or easy living. Elisha is asking to be the successor. In fact, scripture seems to confirm a double portion. Elisha has twice as many miracles recorded as Elijah. God is the one who qualified Elisha by granting him the double-portion. Elisha by asking for this was unassuming. Nothing Elisha possessed could qualify him to serve as the next great prophet, that had to come by God's grace.

MTR: Just do it (2:11-18)!

When Elijah is taken Elisha once again shows himself a worthy successor. Others are still focused on finding the body of Elijah. Elisha immediately begins ministry. God’s work is in motion. When God moves one person into a new realm he knows what he is doing and we can be confident that he will provide for his ministry. The key is that we are ready, willing, and desire to work.