And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” 2 Kings 2:9
Of all the things Elisha could of asked for, he asks for a “double portion” of spirit Elijah.” “God is salvation” is asking “My God is YAH” for a double portion of what animates him; double the courage, double the prophetic spirit, double the desire to serve YAH.
Down through the ages there have been teachers who had divine insight and extra ordinary relationships with YAH. Have you ever said, “Oh to have a tenth of the faith so-in-so has” or “I wish I had the trust in YAH that he has”. To be used by YAH is a wonderful thing. It can be as simple as helping the little old lady cross the street, taking someone shopping or going out of your way for someone else; they all come with inner joy.
What Elisha is asking for is taking it to a whole other level. Along with his desire also come double the people out to kill you, double the people who hate you and double the persecution when you prophesy thing that people don’t want to hear. But, when “the LORD is my Shepard”[1] you are able to say; “If I perish, I perish!”.[2] In the back of your mind, in the front of your mind, on both sides and top and bottom runs the words… “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”[3] or “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.[4] He wanted a double portion. In that respect I would like to love YAH twice as much as I do today, be obedient to Him twice as much as I am today, serve Him twice as much as I do today.
There was one condition to Elisha’s request…“if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you”. In no way am I saying that we fix our eyes on any man, any teacher or religious leader. What I am saying is we need to fix our eyes on YAH and YAH alone. At any moment, without notice Elijah could have been taken up. If Elisha was busy on texting on Facebook, sharing a juicy bit of gossip with a friend or watching something on TV or the web that is unappropriated He would have missed seeing Elijah being taken up and the “double portion” he wanted would never have fallen on him.
How bad do I want that double portion, what am I willing to give up or sacrifice to obtain it? Am I willing to focus my attention on YAH. Am I waiting for the mantel of Elijah to just fall out of the sky to me was I go my marry way or am I willing to push everything that steals my attention and affection from YAH aside to make sure I don’t miss the opportunity to receive that which my heart longs for, namely a double portion!
It has been said, “where your treasure is, there will you find your heart”.
[1] Ps 23:1
[2] Es 4:16
[3] De 31:6
[4] Jos 1:5