So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah. (I Kings 19:19-20)
Fear Not… Then Get Help
John Harrison, the man who invented a particular kind of clock that solved western civilization’s navigation problems in the 18th century, finally asked for help. But only after he had been granted Parliament’s financial reward. Parliament, trusting that Harrison was about to be successful, treated him as if he had already completed his work.
When the fear was gone, he was able to ask for help. After he no longer felt the pressure and resulting fear caused by his repeated failure, he was able to ask for help. Whether it was his pride, or his insecurity, or his caution, he finally was emotionally able to ask for help.
He received it… the clock was finished… and the world was changed.
Somehow, the urgent need for his invention stopped him from being willing to ask for help. But after he no longer felt the urgency, he sought assistance.
Elijah sought help after his fear was gone, too. He recruited an assistant. He recruited an heir. He recruited someone to take his mantel, literally. (II Kings 2:13)
A Christian’s help is always the Lord. Salvific help, and all help, is the benchmark of life in Christ. But God gives us human helpers, too. He gives us an Elisha. Or a Jonathan. Or a Joseph. Or a Silas. Or a John Mark. Or me. Or you.