2 Kings 2

2Ki 2:9 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."

Elijah knows his ministry is over. Elijah is now planning on exiting this world and going straight to heaven. How does Elijah know this will happen? He is a man led of the Spirit of God. Perhaps God revealed what lies in Elijah’s future (The Mount of Transfiguration and the two witnesses). Perhaps God merely said to Elijah, “It is time.” Whatever the case, we see Elijah on a mission.

Beside Elijah is his trusty student, Elisha. He too knows that Elijah will be taken up. In fact, this seems to be common knowledge. He will not desert his master until Elijah is taken off earth. He stays right beside Elijah, knowing that the Lord has something for him too. When the time comes, Elijah asks his faithful friend what he can give to him. Elisha asks for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit.

Elijah’s first answer is, “You have asked a hard thing.” Why does Elijah respond this way? Because Elijah’s life was hard! Following Jesus is difficult at times. Look at the disciples. Each one of them except John were killed for their faith. Elijah was persecuted and at times felt like the only person in the world following God. Despite this, Elisha saw something in this man’s life which he knew was real, and he wanted it. When he asked for a double portion he was asking for qualification to be a servant of God. Jesus promises us that He will send the Holy Spirit upon us, should we ask and believe. Jesus can give it with a lot more authority than Elijah could. Elijah could not send the Holy Spirit but Elijah could intercede on Elisha’s behalf, that God might send the Holy Spirit. We need to follow the example of this faithful servant and call on Jesus to intercede for us before God, that the Spirit might be poured out on us.

We find, in the latter part of this chapter, Elisha, a man filled with the Spirit. On his way back he too splits apart the Jordan. Later, we find some youth calling Elisha a baldhead. Elisha pronounces a curse on them, “In the name of the Lord.” Read the rest of the story to find out what happened, and learn from this never to mock a man of God about his hair.