Harry Pitts examines Elisha's decision to burn his plow and oxen when called by Elijah, arguing that God demands we destroy our backup plans before He promotes us. Pitts says this means abandoning comfort, family expectations, and former identity with the commitment: "I will not return to what God is calling me out of."
Before Elijah could ever ask for a double portion, he had to kiss some things goodbye. When you look at 1 Kings chapter 19, verses 19 through 21, he had to kiss some things goodbye. He had to burn the plow. He had to burn the oxen. He had to burn the tools of his former life. He kissed comfort goodbye. He kissed familiarity goodbye. He kissed family expectations goodbye. He kissed old identity goodbye. He announced to heaven, I will not return to what God is calling me out of. In essence, He removed the Plan B. There is no Plan B in Elisha's life. What are you willing to kiss goodbye to have more of God in your life? What are you willing to do to have more of God in your life? Who are you willing to kiss goodbye? What are you willing to kiss goodbye? He announced to heaven, I will not return. I will not return to what God is calling me out of.
