Photo by Wesley Tingey on Unsplash
Just as Elijah invested in Elisha, today’s church leaders are called to pour their knowledge and experience into others, ensuring the legacy of ministry continues.
All of us in ministry leadership have benefited from someone else taking the time to teach us, train us, display grace and patience to us, and allow us to learn and grow as we developed ourselves as technicians and leaders. Based purely on that, and the reminder that the Bible repeatedly shares the importance of passing lessons down from generation to generation, that should be enough motivation, right?
But it’s so easy for us to claim that we’re not leaders. We’re not teachers. We’re not experts. We’re not people-people.
Our job isn't to turn those around us into experts. But it is our job to take our knowledge, insight, and experience and share those with others.
We create and lean on those disqualifiers so often that we convince ourselves that they’re true. We’re not equipped to teach. We’re not capable of training. We’re just “techies” after all.
None of that is valid.
In fact, regardless of our station in life, there’s an expectation on all of us that we expend time and energy to invest in others. In Exodus, the story of Bezalel and Oholiab (skilled craftsmen who were the forefathers of technicians) confirms it: “Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills. . . And he has given both him and Oholiab, son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others.” (Exodus 35:30-34)
It’s clear that, just like our physical ability to reproduce is inherent in our bodies from the time of creation, our ability to relationally reproduce is the same. At the same time God gave Bezalel and Oholiab their unique skill sets (before they were conceived), he also placed in them the ability to teach others how to do those exact same things so God’s kingdom could grow from that generational knowledge.
No matter how we see ourselves, whether it’s as a qualified teacher or not, it’s clear that God sees us differently, and he expects us to share ourselves with others we lead.
Our job isn't to turn those around us into experts. But it is our job to take our knowledge, insight, and experience and share those with others. This allows them to learn from our successes and failures, and it gives the generations after us a step forward as they embark on their own journey.
One of the craziest (and saddest) stories in the Bible is mentioned briefly in 2 Kings 13:20-21: “Elisha died and was buried. Now, Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. Once, while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet.”
No matter how we see ourselves, whether it’s as a qualified teacher or not, it’s clear that God sees us differently, and he expects us to share ourselves with others we lead.
That’s crazy! Merely touching the bones of one of Israel’s greatest prophets was enough to bring life back to a dead body!
So why is that sad?
To understand that, one must rewind and look at some history.
Years before, it was the prophet Elijah who was the great influencer of Israel. But during his journey, the Lord helped him realize that part of fulfilling his purpose and destiny was in finding a young protege and dedicating himself to teaching and developing Elisha as his successor.
When Elijah was taken to heaven in the chariot of fire, he made it clear to Elisha that he would hand over his mantle of identity and purpose if Elisha was committed to being by Elijah’s side. That’s how things unfolded, and after his mentor was taken to heaven, it was Elisha who became Israel’s prophetic leader, and he ultimately performed twice as many recorded miracles as Elijah.
...regardless of our station in life, there’s an expectation on all of us that we expend time and energy to invest in others.
Elisha’s request of Elijah (to inherit a double portion of his power) was granted, and that is a beautiful reminder that in order for a successor to be successful, the mentor must be willing to intentionally develop and invest in the underling. It’s a two-way street that requires full commitment by the leader and learner.
Even though Elisha walked through this succession process firsthand, the unfortunate irony is that his ministry was devoid of that. His narrative often references a servant (Gehazi) and a “company” (or school) of prophets, but there’s never any indication that Elisha has himself identified a successor or mentee in whom he could invest.
The one who directly benefited from someone intentionally investing in him was unable to do that exact same thing with someone else.
The worst thing that could happen to us is to replicate the end of Elisha’s story.
The man who was given a double portion of Elijah’s blessing and did the most miracles of anyone in the Bible, other than Jesus himself, found no one in whom he could invest and transfer that power. There was no successive generation of prophets, and the kingdom of Israel suffered for it.
So when Elisha died, all of that supernatural potential died with him. There was no transferal, no succession, no anointing.
When that dead body hit his bones, it was the final amazing act in a lifetime of miracles for Elisha. But as incredible as it was, it was a sad reminder that it was the end of that power’s potential.
There’s a lot to learn from Elisha’s life and legacy. But making sure that we set future generations up for success may be the most important lesson of all.
So, if that expectation is on me, what’s my role?
I must call someone out from the crowd, choose to treat them differently, and take the time and energy to teach them what I know. In essence, I must do to others what Elijah did with Elisha, and what Elisha failed to do with anyone else.
Will my legacy end with me, or will I ensure that it continues?
