Thurs.’s Devo - Elijah Passes His Mantle to Elisha -

Read: 1 Kings 19:1-21; Acts 12:1-23; Psalm 136:1-26; Proverbs 17:14-15 When Ahab got to Jezreel where Jezebel was, he told her all Elijah and done and how he had killed all the prophets of Baal. She sent a message to Elijah saying by tomorrow at this time, she was going to do to him what he did to her prophets. He was afraid and fled to Beersheba in Judah. He left his servant there and went into the wilderness alone. He sat down under a broom tree and asked to die. He went to sleep and was awakened by an angel who told him to eat and drink. There was some hot bread cooking and a jar of water. He did, then went back to sleep. It happened again and he ate. This time the angel told him that it would sustain him for 40 days and nights till he got to Horeb, the mountain of God. *** He came to a cave and the Lord asked him what he was doing there. He told him the people of Israel had torn down his altars, killed his prophets and forsaken him. Now they wanted to kill him also. The voice told him to go and stand on the mountain to meet the Lord. *** The Lord brought a strong wind, that tore the mountains so that rocks fell, then there was an earthquake, and next there was fire. In all these things, he didn’t hear the word of the Lord. Then he heard a low whisper and went and stood in the entrance of the cave. *** Again, the Lord asked him what he was doing here. Elijah told God again what Israel had done and how they wanted to kill him. God told him to go to the wilderness of Damascus and anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. He was also to anoint Jehu, son of Nimshi to be king over Israel and he was to anoint Elisha to be the prophet in his place. Whoever escaped Hazael’s sword, Jehu would kill and whoever escaped Jehu, Elisha would kill. Seven thousand would survive in Israel who had not bowed to Baal. *** Apparently Elijah was so ready to die, he went first to anoint Elisha to take his place and left the other two requests for him to do. He found Elisha plowing his father’s field with 12 yoked oxen. Elisha was with the 12th one. Elijah cast his cloak on him and Elisha ran after Elijah begging him to wait till he told his family good-bye. He sacrificed his 12 oxen and gave it to the people, then followed Elijah and became his apprentice. *** In Acts, they were killing the believers also. Herod was king and became a persecutor of the church. He killed James and John and when he saw this pleased the Jews, he arrested Peter. It was the time of the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. *** They put Peter in prison with four squads of soldiers guarding him till the end of the Passover, then he would be brought to trial and killed. The church prayed earnestly for him. The night before he was to be brought before Pilate, Peter was chained between two soldiers with sentries guarding the door of the prison. An angel of the Lord woke Peter and told him to put on his clothes and sandals and wrap his cloak around him and follow the angel. He did, thinking he was dreaming. They passed the guards and came to the gate leading to the city. It opened for them and when they had passed through it, the angel disappeared and Peter woke from his dream. He was at the house of Mary, John’s mother and knocked on the door. Many believers were there praying for him. The servant girl went to the door and came back telling the people that Peter was at the door. When Peter continued knocking they finally opened the door and were amazed to see him. He explained what had happened, then left town. *** The next day, at the prison there was chaos when they found Peter gone. The soldiers were killed, but Peter escaped to Caesarea. *** Later, the people of Tyre and Sidon came to beg Herod to make a covenant of peace with them because their country depended on Israel for food. Herod came to his throne to give them his decision and when he gave his speech, the people shouted that he was a god, not a man. Immediately, the angel of the Lord struck him down because he received their praises and didn’t give God the glory. His body was eaten by worms and he died. *** When God begins to move on the earth in signs and wonders, judgment comes to those who oppose it. We will witness this same move of God and judgement on the wicked very soon. *** Lord, may we fear you above our lives. May we not grow weary like Elijah, but endure till the end. Great victories are for those who endure. Give us strength and courage to stand in the whirlwinds, the shakings, and the fiery trials so we can hear your voice in the end.