"When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.” And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.” 2 Kings 2:9
Imagine you have one last moment with your mentor, someone who has helped you grow into who you are today. What would you ask them? Would you ask them for one final pep talk or lecture? Would you ask for something of theirs to keep and remember them by? It would certainly take me some time to determine my answer. Yet, this was precisely the situation that Elisha found himself in 2 Kings chapter 2. Elijah, his mentor, knew that his time on earth was coming to an end, so he gave Elisha one last request. After that, it was time to decide how to answer this question.
Elijah and Elisha’s last moments together are recorded in 2 Kings 2. They were traveling together, and Elisha knew that his time with Elijah was short, and he did not leave his side. During this time, Elijah asked, “What can I do for you before I am taken away?” (verse 9). This request was generous. There were so, so many things that Elisha could have asked for. Ultimately, he said to Elijah, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor” (verse 9). Elijah told him that he would know his request would be granted if he saw Elijah taken to heaven (verse 10). As the two were walking, a fiery chariot appeared in front of them. The chariot and its horses went between Elijah and Elisha, and Elijah “was carried by a whirlwind into heaven” (verse 11). At this moment, Elisha had confidence that his request had been granted and that he would be the successor to Elijah.
As I think about Elisha’s request for a double share, or “double portion,” as some translations call it, I wonder what was going through Elisha’s mind. I wonder why he asked for this. It seems like Elisha understood that he had big shoes to fill after the prophet Elijah left, and he wanted to be equipped to honor God as he stepped into his role as Elijah’s successor. He wanted to leverage all of his gifts and talents for God.
What about you? When it comes to your life, what are you asking God for? Are you requesting a “double portion” to use what He gives you to serve and love the people around you in His name? He has blessed us greatly. In return, we get to use His gifts to honor Him.
Elisha set an incredible example of what we can ask God for. Let’s follow this example and ask God for a double portion today, not for our benefit, but for His. Spend some time praying now, and ask Him to give you a double portion of gifts, talents, and opportunities to honor Him. Then, look for how God answers this prayer and gives you opportunities.
"After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.
5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. 6 But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
