Changes

15 The LORD said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel–all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.”
The Call of Elisha
19 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. 20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother good-by,” he said, “and then I will come with you.”
“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”
21 So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.
1 Kings 19:15-21

After his contest with the prophets of Baal, his escape from Jezebel’s death threat to Judah, and then his journey on to Mount Horeb, Elijah was being sent back to the “Desert of Damascus” (verse 15). He was to appoint “Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet” (verse 16). Elisha would anoint “Hazael king over Aram” (or Syria), but Elisha wept when he told Hazael the news. Hazael would begin his rule by murdering Ben-Hadad, the present king and Elisha knew the harm that Hazael would do to the Israelites: that he would “set fire to their fortified places, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little children to the ground, and rip open their pregnant women”. (2 Kings 8:12).

Elijah would also send a prophet to anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel (2 Kings 9:1-13). The royal dynasty begun by Omri and carried on through his son Ahab, grandson Ahaziah and great-grandson Joram (also called Jehoram) was to end at Jehu’s hand. But Jehu went further: he would order the killing of Ahaziah, king of Judah, and 42 of his relatives.

With the passing of time, things change. People leave this world, and new people take over. Sometimes it seems to be an improvement, but sometimes the situation seems worse. However, as Christians, we can be sure of one thing. Even when evil happens, God has not lost control. He can take even the worst situation and use it for His glory.

Prayer:
• What changes are happening around you? Do things seem to be getting better or worse?
Pray that God will help you remember his promise: “Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”.