Slaughter Your Oxen, Burn Your Plow
Nick Poindexter
Part of Elijah & Elisha: A Tale of Two Prophets
February 25, 2024

1 Kings 19:19 (NIV)

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.


Zechariah 4:10a (NLT)

10a Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin


Matthew 13:31-32 (NIV)

31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”


1 Kings 19:20 (NIV)

20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.”

“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”


1 Kings 19:21 (NIV)

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 servant.