A BLESSED LEGACY

At the moment when Elijah was taken up in his fiery chariot, his prophet’s mantle, unloosed by an invisible hand, fell from his shoulder and floated down before Elisha. Although this was a trifling circumstance in itself, yet it is too significant to be overlooked. With his mantle Elijah had forever thrown off the burden of his commission. When formerly he cast his mantle upon Elisha at Abel Meholah, it was but as a preparatory vocation to the prophetic office. But Elisha, on inheriting this mantle, is henceforth called to take the place of his great master, and to carry on his work. This singular legacy was therefore very significant to Elisha. The mantle came flying towards him heavily laden. But with the onerous commission he thus received, was connected the encouraging circumstance, that it came accompanied by such a precious memorial of his paternal master. It was now no longer the mantle of the redoubted reformer, but the robe of a blessed heir of heaven, borne thither on the wings of the cherubim. It would remind him, and others, of the kindness and love of God to sinful men, expressed in a most unusual manner. The ascension of its owner to heaven had rendered it a truly festal garment; and thus it would contribute to refresh the spirit of Elisha in his arduous office; and, at the same time, to identify him as that gracious messenger of peace who was to announce to the house of Israel, like the rainbow after a storm, Jehovah’s goodwill towards men.

It was also a significant circumstance to Elisha that the official garment he was henceforth to wear was cast to him, as it were, out of the open heavens. What else could he perceive in it but an immediate investiture and vocation on the part of the living God? And indeed, every priestly mantle ought to carry the same significance now. I mean that every clergyman, teacher, missionary, or whoever else labors in God’s vineyard, ought to be able to say with Elisha, “I have received my commission from Heaven — my call is of God.” But, in the present day, people commonly make the mantle themselves, esteeming it as an idle tale that any thing should fall from heaven but rain or snow, and looking upon the sacred office of a minister as upon any other profession, which may be taken up at pleasure or for the sake of a maintenance. The parents decide for their child that he shall be a clergyman. The vain youthful student, especially if he be conscious of possessing some little talent, immediately thinks himself fit for the sacred office. How many young men proceed to universities to enter upon the study of divinity without even the most distant thought of asking counsel of God, in order to learn by the directions of Scripture, by circumstances of Providence, and their own qualifications whether it be his will to employ them in the work of the ministry! And when arrived at the university, how seldom do they meet with any pious counsellor such as Elijah was to Elisha, to take them aside and inquire whether they had any other proof of their call to the ministry than their own notion and fancy, and the counsel of flesh and blood. Hence it is that we have now the mournful example of many a flock in christendom among whom grievous wolves fill the shep-herd’s office, to the subversion and ruin of souls. Is it then to be wondered at that the common mariner should occasionally seize the helm when the pilot knows not how to govern the ship? The persecutors of such would do well to consider that they are only opposing what they themselves have contributed to bring into existence.

Excerpt from Elijah the Tishbite by F. W. Krummacher

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