“‘For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman,’ says the Lord. ‘Enlarge the place of your tent…’ Isaiah 54:1,2
Just before Elijah the prophet was to be taken up into heaven in a chariot of fire, he asked Elisha the following question: “What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” (2 Kings 2:9) Much like Solomon of old who asked for the right thing in the sight of God, so Elisha would ask the right thing. Elisha’s response, certainly made after careful, and prayerful consideration, was, “…please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” Though even Elijah, the great man of God, would say, that Elisha’s request was a difficult thing, he said that it would be granted IF “…you see me when I am taken away from you…if not, it shall not be so.” (v.10) Why did Elijah answer Elisha in this manner concerning his request? It was not because God could not give this gift, which was remarkable, and which certainly had to come from heaven. Nor was it a matter of the will of God that Elijah came to realize. The issue would be one of being able to receive the gift, in its magnitude, but also with its responsibilities. It was not enough to be endowed with the power and authority that Elisha saw in Elijah, but it was essential that this gift received from God, would be embraced and used well in the service of God. The vision of the horses and chariot of fire which came down out of heaven was overwhelmingly glorious in itself as an event. But that which accompanied this vision was the larger reality of the Eternal God taking His servant to heaven in a most remarkable way, so that Elisha who would follow him would realize that God’s gifts and capacities are only imparted to His servants who will be faithful in the use of them. It was essential for Elisha to see the glory of God to realize not only that the Eternal God could and would give the gift according to the word of Elijah, but that the gift received was an eternal one, entrusted to Elisha for the advancement of the kingdom of God, and the doing of His will. In the vision was revealed the holy commitment of God to meet all of Elisha’s needs and provide for all that he was called to do. God sealed His faithful commitment to Elisha that day, at that moment, by the revelation of His glory, and also by the fact that Elijah would no longer be there as Elisha’s point of reference. What does this have to do with the issue of the “much more of God?” The answer is, “everything.” No one who saw that vision would have believed that God would do what He did in sending the chariot and horses of fire to retrieve Elijah. Only the man who picked up Elijah’s mantle, or cloak, from the ground, would grasp the profound meaning of it all, for he would be the recipient of the blessing, which would certainly exceed all that he could ask or think.
In the Gospel of Luke, we find some remarkable words of the Lord Jesus, and this concerning the “much more” of God. Jesus’ words are almost identical to those He uses in Matthew’s gospel in speaking of the “much more.” He said, “…how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him?” (7:11) This is a remarkable statement of the goodness, and care of God. When we come to Luke’s gospel, Jesus takes us up higher by declaring: “…how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” (11:13) The “much more” of God applies to things that are good, but also, as Elisha saw and understood, to the Holy Spirit, the very Spirit of Christ, to be asked for and received by faith. God gives in abundance that which is good and eternal.
Dear Father, Grant us Thy fulness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.