Why couldn’t the religious leaders in those days see the symbolism in 1 Kings 19?

If I ask a question, know that I have an answer to offer.

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

What value is there in knowing the scriptures if we cannot apply the warning to our own failed attitudes and behaviors?

Luke 11:42-44 English Standard Version

42 “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. 44 Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it.”

Luke 20:45-47English Standard Version

45 And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 47 who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”

The Word of our Lord.

The Old Testament is full of scriptures pointing us all towards Jesus. Pharisees were religious leaders and scribes were teachers, both should have led others to a saving grace knowledge of Jesus Christ.

When John the Baptist saw Jesus approaching he declared, “Behold, the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.” When the Pharisees and scribes heard this they screamed heretic and blasphemer. Pride would not allow them to see the truth.

When Jesus said “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing”, their response was to try and kill Him.

No truer words have ever been spoken “I will have no part with this Jesus.” With that they condemned themselves.

John 3:18

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

1 Kings 19:18-21 English Standard Version

18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

The Call of Elisha

19 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. 20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” 21 And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.

Would you be able to find one man among seven thousand faithful to be your replacement in service to God?

It is easy to assume that Elijah chose Elisha but the truth is God showed Elijah who would be his apprentice. We have no idea what God told Elijah to look for or why. All we have is His Word to read by faith and listen to the Holy Spirit. How does this remind us about Jesus?

Matthew 21:2 saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me.

God tells us where to go and what to look for to meet His will. Given this example of how God works, we might believe by faith that God said “You will find a man plowing a field with twelve oxen. He is my choice for you. Cast your cloak upon him.”

What are the odds that anyone has twelve oxen, much less teaming them up together to work the field? In this case the odds are 1 in 7000.

Once again we look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

Luke 6:13 And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles:

Once again we can turn to the Word to see things wondrous to behold.

Luke 1:17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.

Why couldn’t the religious leaders in those days see the symbolism in 1 Kings 19?