MENTORING - A BIBLE PRINCIPLE FOR OLD AND YOUNG.

Right through the Old Testament, this principle operated. For example, Abraham schooled his son, Isaac, especially as they walked together harmoniously three days to Mt.Moriah, the place of sacrifice. It shone in the life of Joshua ,always described as the son of Nun, suggesting his teachableness, and their obvious oneness. While Joshua spent 40 years under the tutelage of Moses, during the desert wandering.

Ruth chose to cling to Naomi, when given the optionof returning home to heathen Moab or ‘where you dwell, I will dwell. Where you stay, I will say. Where you die, I shall die and thee wil I be buried. Your GOD shall be my God. Ruth was an ideal woman to be the great grandmother of King David, and in the royal line from which the Lord Jesus ‘ fleshly line descended. The mentoring was essential preparation.

In the book of Esther, Mordecai taught, tutored and disciplined his niece, the beautiful Esther. He maintained that unique position even outside the gate of the king’s palace, influencing the charming queen of King ahashuerus. There for it is an eternal standard

For this study, we shall walk with Elijah and Elisha in the “Emmaus Walk of the Old Testament ‘ preceding the heavenly rapture of Elijah. ‘2 kings 2 began ‘ It came to pass when the Lord was about to take up Elijah into heaven with a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. ‘ why was Gilgal significant in scripture, for here circumcision ( a covenant with Abraham’s God ws reaffirmed ), the Passover remembrance kept after a lapse of 40 years during desert wandering; and the manna ceased ( a beautiful type of Christ available daily by gathering). We must lay hold of Christ in our daily walk with Him.

They held such earnest discussion on the things of eternity with the authoritative word of Elijah to his successor, Elisha. Both knew their hours together were restricted, and therefore the fellowship so precious, as Elijah approached departure for heaven and his follower prepared for a lifetime of prophecy.

It is probable that Elijah told or gave an exposition of the Scriptures concerning the three great matters for which Gilgal is noted. We will confirm in heaven the course the discussion took.

‘Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Bethel, ‘Elijah said to Elisha. (v2 ) The dignified Elisha determined ‘As the Lord lives ( Elisha knew He ws eternal and immortal )and as your soul lives( Elijah would soon be in glory. I will not leave you.’ No turning back! No second chance here! We need to make a resolute stand . Heaven should be more real to us as the Lord’s people., constantly talking about it as home, and longing for it.

So they went down to Bethel, ‘ the House of God. Bethel. where Abraham had rested between Ai ( heap of rubbish ) and Bethel ( God’s home). Here Jacob had wrestled with the angel ( was it our Lord Jesus before His incarnation) and had seen the angels ascending and descending on the ladder. At Bethel the ark would rest for a long time. Even idols would be raised here. Such an insult to a holy God.

WE presume that Elijah talked much of major events , such as confronting the false prophets of Baal and the grove on Mt Carmel . He would have described how the fire of God fell and totally burned up the sacrifice, wood, stones, dust and water, showing heaven’s proof. Did he tell of his firm stand with the wretched king, Ahab; and the threat to his life from the immoral Queen Jezebel. And if so, did he tell of his depression when he fled from the wrath of the corrupt queen. And how God sustained him for forty days on life-sparing cake, the angel had prepared, and the cruse of water. Faithful counselling demands sharing successes and failures, especially where the Lord ultimately triumphs marvellously.

In these special hours, they would have discussed family life and the public stand for morality and chastity. The scripture is silent, except for the example of the widow of the one of the prophets, possibly Obadiah, who supported 100 prophets with food, water, and biblical encouragement during the three and a half years of drought under Ahab.

The sons of the prophets tested Elisha, ‘ Do you know that the Lord will take asway your master from you today’. to which he replied, ‘Yes, I know. Keep silent.’ Did they try to unsettle the new prophet; were they foolishly undermining Elisha/? Let’s guard against that.

Elijah moved on toward Jericho. ‘ Elisha, stay here, for the Lord has sent me on to Jericho.’ ( (v4 ) met the same stubborn answer, ’ As the Lord lives and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.’ They came to Jericho. If you are mentored, you are responsible to your teacher to stick tight as a student, and not withdraw from the issue.

During my stay with the Australian General hospital in Egypt during WW11, Norman Fabian staggered with this question, ‘ Did you know that Christ was hidden in the Old Testament? I gasped, thinking it impossible Norman taught me to search for the Saviour in the Old as well as the New Testament. ‘How many men were in the fiery furnace in the book of Daniel?. I replied, ‘Three, ‘Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.’ The bible says the form of the fourth was like the Son of God.’ He then asked, Who was the Captain who appeared with Joshua on the eve of his capturing Jericho. ‘I am the Captain of the host of the Lord.’ brought Joshua to his knees worshipping, seeing our Lord Jesus before his incarnation.

Precious truth was unveiled. The Passover Lamb, the Rock that was struck by Moses, illustrated our beloved Lord. I began a life-long quest for the Christ of God in scripture.

Again the sons of the prophets at Jericho teased the new prophet that soon his master would be whisked away to heaven and he would stand alone as God’s representative.

He replied the same, ‘ Yes, I know. Keep silent.’

After Egypt, Israel and home leave in Australia, the Lord planned another teacher, for me in Papua New Guinea. Our 2000 bed hospital was at the foot of the Kokoda trail, where the Japanese land advance was first halted. Despite 12 hour shifts day and night, Scotty grant invited me to his air-conditioned ( sides up) tent for study. His rich, Scottish voice had mellowed in the streets of mining Lithgow, where he often spoke to 1000 men.

Scotty tutored me in the rich truths of the grace of God. Hour after hour, the mighty studies of salvation, righteousness, grace, holiness, obedience shone true. He taught me to study, ‘Line upon line, line upon line, word upon word, precept upon precept. The Holy Spirit was our teacher. The Lord Jesus was pre-eminent. Glory was given only to the dear trinity.

The word ‘mentor’ was not in our everyday language. It appeared more recently. These men did what Elijah had done to Elisha, when they taught; tossed truth around; rejected false statements; showed balance with study and prayer. Meanwhile, the chaplain , a dear friend, assuring us of his support, encouraged the mentoring; having himself, such a wide ministry.