Burn the Plow, Sacrifice the Oxen

We have now entered the new Hebrew year 5786. As we enter this new Hebrew year, we cannot continue to look back and have a backup plan. We must choose if we are going all in with God's Plan A or if we are out. We must count the cost and make a choice.

For many years, I have kept Plan B as an option. My Plan B was to work in the Publix bakery. I have always loved baking, and the thought of baking and decorating cupcakes every day sounds really good to my flesh man. Whenever things get hard, trials arise, or I have to press through to complete the assignments God has given me, Plan B will come out of my mouth. I will text my friends, "It's time to go apply." Although deep down I know I will never do that. My spirit man will not let me run from the assignments of God. I may have some down days, even some down weeks and months, but I always come back to the calling.

For me, the Hebrew year 5785 was one long test of endurance and willingness to let go of Plan B. As I step into this new Hebrew year, I am going to sacrifice the oxen and boil the flesh (1 Kings 19:21). When we saw Elijah call Elisha forth into His assignment, Elisha had to burn the evidence of his past life and make a choice to go forward with Elijah.

So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat while he was plowing, with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah came over to him and threw his cloak on him. Then he left the oxen behind and ran after Elijah, and said, "Please let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you." And he said to him, "Go back, for what have I done to you?" So he returned from following him, and took the pair of oxen and sacrificed them, and cooked their meat with the implements of the oxen, and gave it to the people and they ate. Then he got up and followed Elijah and served him.
1 Kings 19:19-21, NASB

When we break down these verses, we see an even greater depth of instruction for us.

Elisha's name means "God is salvation" (H477). Elijah's name means "my God is Jehovah" (H410 + H3050). Verse 19 says, And Elijah passed over to him and threw his mantle on him. Passed over is the Hebrew word ʻâbar (H5674), meaning to cross over, to make a transition. Mantle (H155) is not only a prophet's garment, but it also means glory and splendor. As we cross over into this transition period, we carry the mantle of glory. We cannot carry God's glory if we are still holding on to Plan B. We must choose to fully follow Jesus and the path He has for us, or we will get off the road.

Elisha went back to kiss his mother and father before He went with Elijah. The word kiss (H5401) in Hebrew means to equip with weapons. As our parent, Jehovah wants to equip us with the weapons we need to carry the glory. To do this, we must sacrifice the oxen and boil the flesh. The roots of the word oxen (H1241) mean to consider, reflect, and to break forth. Boiled (H1310) has an ancient Hebrew meaning, where we allow the fire of God to consume and destroy our soul's plans so we can be yoked to Jesus (bet, shin, lamed). It is only by being yoked to Jesus and under His authority that we will be able to carry the glory.

After Elisha was equipped with weapons and had laid himself on the altar for his soul's self-made plans to be burned up, he then arose and followed Elijah (vs. 21). Arose is the Hebrew word qûwm (H6965), meaning to rise, arise, to endure, to persist, and to set. Remember, Elijah's name means "my God is Jehovah." Elisha chose to arise and set his mind to following Jehovah. He decided to persevere and remain faithful to his assignments and calling, no matter what lay ahead.

To follow (H1980) is the Hebrew word halak. Broken down into its Hebrew letters, it is composed of the chet (8), lamed (30), and kaf (20). These letters reveal a deeper meaning:

To follow God means we are willingly bending our will (kaf) and hearts (chet) to the authority of the Shepherd (lamed), to be yoked (lamed) to Him. As we choose surrender, we will be covered (kaf) and protected (chet) by our Shepherd (lamed). At this threshold (chet) moment in time, we want to be covered (kaf) by Jesus (lamed).

Those who choose to sacrifice the oxen will be covered in the days ahead as glory and evil rise simultaneously.

The last part of God's instructions from 1 Kings 19:19–21 is that Elisha ministered to Elijah. This Hebrew word is a picture of service to others. The meaning is two-fold. First, we must always put ministering to Jehovah first in our lives. Above all, we must spend time in the presence of God in prayer, worship, and His Word. We cannot fulfill the second part of service—service to others—if we are not first ministering to God. It is in the place of ministering to God that we will have joy, peace, love for others, and keep our strength to endure.

Do you have a plan B? Do you have a backup plan "just in case?" I know I did. But it's time to lay all plan Bs and all backup plans on the altar. The Kingdom of God needs every one of us. Army of Jesus Christ, it's time to advance and take ground!

Burning the plow,

Brandee