That many yoke of oxen plowing in a field says Elisha’s father was a man of considerable means. But though wealthy, Shaphat did not allow his son to stand around idle while the servants did all the work. He put Elisha to work. Scripture says, “It is good for a man that he bear the yoke [work] in his youth” (Lamentations 3:27). Elisha’s father evidently subscribed to that truth, and it was of great value to Elisha in preparing him to fulfill his calling. God does not call idle men to His work. The