“When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?’ ‘Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,’ Elisha replied.” -2 Kings 2:9
For a prophet in the Old Testament, a cloak was a symbol of authority - a symbol of the power of God resting on that person. In last week’s message, we saw that when Elijah first met Elisha, he threw his cloak around him. I wonder, did Elisha feel the weight and responsibility in that moment? Did he sense God’s anointing and calling? As we learned, Elisha left everything and followed Elijah.
Years had passed since the time God chose Elisha to succeed Elijah as His prophet. Training and instruction had taken place. Job-shadowing and apprenticeship had happened. Now the time had come for the handoff, but before it took place, Elisha asked Elijah for a double portion of his spirit...and this was no small ask.
Suddenly two things happened at once: a chariot and horses of fire came between them and Elijah was sucked up into a mini-tornado and was gone! Because he saw Elijah taken away, Elisha received what he had asked for. He picked up Elijah’s cloak and immediately performed his first recorded miracle.
I wonder how many of us are afraid to make the big “ask” of God? Perhaps we think God has done so much for us already. Perhaps we think that God has other people He needs to help. Perhaps we’re afraid of what God might ask us to do once He answers us.
But I think that there is something we can learn in all this. First, note that Elisha didn’t ask for a “safe” life, or a “rich” life, or a “blessed” life. He asked for a double portion of God’s Spirit. He didn’t want his life to be about himself…He wanted it to be about God. And second, don’t be afraid to ask for the double portion. Don’t be afraid to ask God to use you!
