“…the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks, until the Spirit be poured out upon us from on high.” Isaiah 32:15
When Elijah asked Elisha what he wanted him to do for him before he would be taken away to heaven, Elisha apparently did not hesitate with a singular answer: “And Elisha said, ‘I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.'” (2 Kings 2:9) There is no doubt that the key to the remarkable, victorious life of Elisha at a time when wicked Ahab and Jezebel reigned in the land, was the Spirit of God. That presence and power of the Spirit was manifested in the power of God, from believing God to send fire from heaven to consume a sacrifice, to the striking of the waters of the Jordan River, parting them to pass on dry land to the other shore. Elisha had been chosen by God to be Elijah’s successor. One wonders all that went through Elisha’s mind when he witnessed the power of God working in and through Elijah, to bring the people back to God. One thing is for sure, and that is, when Elijah asked Elisha what he wanted, Elisha knew exactly what was the highest priority of all, if he would be able to fulfill his mission, as Elijah had fulfilled his. It was the “double portion” of the spirit of Elijah. In making such a request, we need to ask ourselves the question, “Why?” Of all things, why was this singular response so essential to Elisha? It had to do, not only with the certain consciousness and conviction of his personal need in the face of such a calling, especially in following Elijah, who would one day stand with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration. It was also because of the very real spiritual opposition to God, and thus to him, which might result in his death at the hands of Jezebel, the murderess of the Lord’s prophets. The need without and within cried out for one answer, a double measure of the Spirit of God, strengthening his own spirit to BE and to DO what would be pleasing to God, fulfilling the mission God would give him.
There was a two-fold issue that Elisha was facing with regard to receiving the double portion of Elijah’s spirit. The first would be what Elijah called it: “…a hard (or difficult) thing.” (2:10) Then, there was the remedy to this problem. This involved the vision of Elijah being taken to heaven in a chariot of fire, pulled by horses of fire. Why was the double portion of the spirit a hard thing? Elisha had faith enough to accept, and embrace his calling. However, it appears that he did not yet have the faith to believe God for the miracle of the double portion. The remedy was in the vision of Elijah’s miraculous departure. It would be in the revelation of God, His power, might, and holiness, that Elisha would receive faith enough to believe. We see this same principle applied when Jesus partially healed a blind man. At first, the man “saw men as trees walking,” but after Jesus touched his eyes again, and made him look up, he saw clearly. Why did this occur? The man tasted something of the power of God in his partial healing, but when Jesus put His hands upon him the second time, faith was strong enough to see clearly, being completely healed. Faith is the key. However, it must but a “faith without doubting,” based upon the revelation of God. It is one thing to know the truth; it is quite another to believe God in such a manner, “without doubting,” to receive the blessing.
The Lord’s promise concerning the outpouring of the Spirit was accomplished at Pentecost. Also, the Lord’s promise through Isaiah was: “For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour out My Spirit upon thy seed, and My blessing upon thine offspring.” (44:3) This outpouring is destined for all who will believe.
Dear Father, Give us the faith to believe, and receive, Thy fullness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.