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 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?” 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.

1 Kings 19:19-21

When you hear the term “burning bridges” it is usually said in a negative tone because once you’ve burned a bridge there’s no going back. I’ve seen it in the corporate world when someone leaves on less than pleasant terms and it sometimes plays out in relationships as well so that harm is difficult to overcome.

Over the last few months, we’ve observed some of the process as two different families have pursued ministry decisions that created situations where there is little or no chance of returning to how things used to be. Those kinds of decisions are daunting and exciting at the same time.

In the account above, we read of Elisha’s response to the call of God in his life as one in which he commits completely to the task ahead. There is great significance in the act as Elijah “cast his cloak upon” Elisha. it symbolizes the succession of ministry from one man to another.

Elisha fully embraced the call. He said goodbye to his parents and then publicly sacrificed his yoke of oxen as a witness to all who could see, allowing no reason or ability to return to his former life. From then on, he followed after Elijah.

Even if we’re not called into full time service of ministry, each of us is called to burn some bridges in our own lives and to die to living out our own lives and then surrendering completely to follow Christ and in Him we will find fulfillment.