We can learn many lessons from the life and times of Elisha – the successor to the great Prophet Elijah. In the next few days, we shall consider some of these lessons, and we will start with ‘diligence’ today. For example, we see that Elisha – a prosperous farmer’s son, was working alongside his father’s employees when Elijah met him. He could have refrained from joining the workers, but he worked with them because he was a diligent man. To excel physically in your endeavors, you must be diligent (Proverbs 22:19); likewise, to excel spiritually you must seek the Lord diligently (Hebrews 11:6).

Another lesson we can learn from Elisha is ‘good leadership’. As successful as he was, he was on the field with hirelings, ploughing in his father’s farm (1 Kings 19:19). He was a leader by example – not a sit-at-home leader who issues commands while he himself would not lift a finger to do anything. To lead is to serve, according to the injunction of our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 20:27. He was diligently doing his business when he received the call to the office of a prophet. Children of God should not be idling away in the name of a call that could be for a set time – they must be found busy doing legitimate business because the Lord does not call the mediocre. Moreover, Elisha did not allow his call to becloud his obligation of honor to his father. He went to honor his father before resuming at his divine post as a son of a prophet (1 Kings 19:20). This conforms with the Scripture that says, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee” – (Exodus 20:12).

It is a dangerous thing to fail in honoring our parents under the guise of either our newfound faith or calling in the ministry. I will forever be grateful to God who gave me the opportunity to honor my mother while she was still alive and I received a lifetime blessing from her. Beloved, let us take note of these lessons as we continue to examine the life and times of Elisha the Prophet.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.

Elisha of the Bible is not patient and forgiving!

42 lads called him bald head and cursed them in the name of the Lord. Bears came and tore the lads up!

What a tragedy!