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Elisha’s Faithfulness Rewarded, March 27
So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who
was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the
twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
1
Kings 19:19
.
The prophet Elijah was about to close his earthly labors. Another was
to be called to carry forward the work for that time. In his course of travel,
Elijah was directed northward.... Wherever Elijah looked, the land he saw
was owned by one man,—a man who had not bowed the knee to Baal,
whose heart had remained undivided in the service of God.... The owner
of the land was Shaphat....
The attention of Elijah was attracted to Elisha, the son of Shaphat,
who with the servants was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen. He was
educator, director, and worker. Elisha did not live in the thickly populated
cities. His father was a tiller of the soil, a farmer. Far from city and
court dissipation, Elisha had received his education. He had been trained
in habits of simplicity, of obedience to his parents and to God.... But
though of a meek and quiet spirit, Elisha had no changeable character.
Integrity and fidelity and the love and fear of God were his. He had the
characteristics of a ruler, but with it all was the meekness of one who
would serve. His mind had been exercised in the little things, to be faithful
in whatsoever he should do; so that if God should call him to act more
directly for Him, he would be prepared to hear His voice.
The surroundings of Elisha’s home were those of wealth; but he real-
ized that in order to obtain an all-round education, he must be a constant
worker in any work that needed to be done. He had not consented to be in
any respect less informed than his father’s servants. He had learned how
to serve first, that he might know how to lead, instruct, and command
Elisha stood in Elijah’s place. And he who had been faithful in that
which was least, proved himself faithful also in much
[94]
71
The Youth’s Instructor, April 14, 1898
.
72
Education, 60
.
94