Give me Double

2 Kings 2:8-15

Elisha took over the role of Israel’s primary prophet, literally inheriting the mantle of Elijah.

Elijah - My God is Yahweh

Elisha - My God is Salvation

This whole passage is full of miracles. parting of the waters, ascension into Heaven without death! A second parting of the waters, and so on. Elisha had at this point been a disciple of Elijah, even his adopted son, for around seven years. He knew the score, so when he comes to ask a blessing he is quick to ask the right thing.

He asks for a double portion of the spirit that has been upon Elijah.

Deuteronomy 21:17 tells us that it is the right of the first born to receive a double portion in inheritance That is, while the rest of the sons get an evenly divided portion, the first son gets double what they get.

This leads us to realise that not only does Elisha desire (as he indeed got) double the spiritual power compared to Elijah, but also that he saw Elijah as his spiritual father. He wanted to inherit the spiritual things from his father in the same manner as we inherit physical things.

Paul reminds the Corinthians of a similar thing, though a lack in this case. 1 Corinthians 4:14-16 tells us that we need fathers, not just instructors. While you can learn from your dad, you can’t inherit from your teacher.

Is it selfish and power hungry to ask for a double portion? Not in the things of God. As it says in 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2, in what we know of God let us abound!

Did Elisha go happily through life, ask for this blessing, and suddenly become this amazing man of God? Not at all. He was tested for obedience when he was first called, then spent seven years watching how Elijah lived and ministered. He was better prepared that most students for the work set before him, yet he could do nothing without God. In fact he could not even get home without a miracle!

He learns, he asks, he receives, and immediately puts it into practice.

We need to do the same.