The Apprentice
An Apprentice, by definition, is a person who is bound by indenture to serve another for a prescribed period with a view to learning their art or trade. In the Bible we read of many stories of men and women who were at one time an apprentice to someone. Though they didn’t sign legal contracts they made a commitment to learn from the one they follow. No greater example of this than the disciples who followed Jesus.
There are times when the apprentice asks to learn and there are times that the apprentice is called out to learn. In the case of Elisha he was surprised to find out he would become the apprentice to the prophet Elijah. What is interesting about this story is that the time frame for Elisha’s training would take place in about a 6 year period. Though we do not have a record of all that transpired in those years between the two, suffice to say that Elisha took to the training quite well. As the life of Elijah on this earth was about to come to a close we read that Elijah’s departure would not be through death but eventually a whirlwind. He and Elisha were both made aware of the plans of God to transport Elijah in such a unique way.
Then something different happened. Elijah tells Elisha to stay put while he keeps traveling toward Bethel. Elisha’s reply, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” II Kings 2:2. On three different occasions on this journey Elisha would say the same in response to Elijah. On the way they passed by two schools of prophets. They were called the sons of the prophets. They too had been informed that Elijah was to be taken away on this very day. When the students approached Elisha to bring it up, he just told them to stay quiet and let Elijah enjoy his final walk on earth. Elijah didn’t need a parade or applause, and Elisha served as his press secretary that day. “No questions fellas, give the Prophet a chance to reflect as he passes by.” Three places he went to Gilgal, Bethel and Jericho. All three were places that had schools of prophets. Elijah took his main apprentice and passed by many other future apprentices. It was a purposeful journey. In the end we find 50 apprentices watched as Elijah and Elisha walked across the Jordan River together to where Elijah would be taken up.
Still today, the apprenticeship takes place in our own lives. There are those who have trained us up in our spiritual lives that we owe such a great debt of gratitude for their faithfulness. Then there are those that God places in our path for us to help train up ourselves. The purpose of the Church is found in this story more than you realize. It’s about apprenticeship in many ways. We are called to simply, MAKE DISCIPLES. I encourage you to ask yourself this week, who poured into my life to help shape me and then ask, who am I pouring into as well?
There are times when the apprentice asks to learn and there are times that the apprentice is called out to learn. In the case of Elisha he was surprised to find out he would become the apprentice to the prophet Elijah. What is interesting about this story is that the time frame for Elisha’s training would take place in about a 6 year period. Though we do not have a record of all that transpired in those years between the two, suffice to say that Elisha took to the training quite well. As the life of Elijah on this earth was about to come to a close we read that Elijah’s departure would not be through death but eventually a whirlwind. He and Elisha were both made aware of the plans of God to transport Elijah in such a unique way.
Then something different happened. Elijah tells Elisha to stay put while he keeps traveling toward Bethel. Elisha’s reply, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” II Kings 2:2. On three different occasions on this journey Elisha would say the same in response to Elijah. On the way they passed by two schools of prophets. They were called the sons of the prophets. They too had been informed that Elijah was to be taken away on this very day. When the students approached Elisha to bring it up, he just told them to stay quiet and let Elijah enjoy his final walk on earth. Elijah didn’t need a parade or applause, and Elisha served as his press secretary that day. “No questions fellas, give the Prophet a chance to reflect as he passes by.” Three places he went to Gilgal, Bethel and Jericho. All three were places that had schools of prophets. Elijah took his main apprentice and passed by many other future apprentices. It was a purposeful journey. In the end we find 50 apprentices watched as Elijah and Elisha walked across the Jordan River together to where Elijah would be taken up.
Still today, the apprenticeship takes place in our own lives. There are those who have trained us up in our spiritual lives that we owe such a great debt of gratitude for their faithfulness. Then there are those that God places in our path for us to help train up ourselves. The purpose of the Church is found in this story more than you realize. It’s about apprenticeship in many ways. We are called to simply, MAKE DISCIPLES. I encourage you to ask yourself this week, who poured into my life to help shape me and then ask, who am I pouring into as well?
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