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?” So Elisha left him and went back. (1 Kings 19:20-21)
Elisha knew his commitment to serving as God’s prophet would require personal sacrifice for himself and his family.
In those days, Israelite households were regularly intergenerational, with much of the extended family living together. This appears to be true of Elisha’s family too. Elisha desired to see his father and mother one final time before leaving. He understood that his call to serve as a prophet required that he move on from his close, familial bonds. But he didn’t want to leave his parents without a kiss and a goodbye. In doing so, Elisha respected and honored those responsible for leading his family.
Today, as the United States celebrates Independence Day, it is only natural that we remember those who serve as leaders in our government.
The apostle Paul shares, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God” (Romans 13:1). Paul’s words remind us that all those who serve our nation in positions of leadership receive their authority from God. He suggests that we are honoring God by honoring and respecting our leaders. Martin Luther regularly called these leaders “God’s masks” because they are God’s tools for preserving some semblance of justice and order in this broken world.
Perhaps we need to hear that reminder from time to time. In our hyper-political world, it can be easy to forget God’s encouragement to honor, serve, and respect our leaders. So much of our world suggests doing the opposite. Indeed, sinful leaders will do things we cannot condone. We can hold them accountable, but that does not give us the right to disrespect them in their role.
Thank God Jesus obeyed the heavenly Father’s will and washed away our sins against our leaders! Elisha’s example of respect for his parents and Paul’s encouragement to honor our government leaders now serve as a call to rise above this world’s polemics. Rather than demeaning our leaders, Paul urges us to pray for them. He writes, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made . . . for kings and all those in authority” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). In praying for our leaders, in giving them our honor and respect, we honor God.
God, bless our nation’s leaders and use them to preserve peace and justice. Amen.
This devotion was originally published in Meditations: Daily Devotional® Vol. 68, No. 3. All rights reserved.
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