If you had a benefactor, one who had unlimited resources, and who promised to meet the needs that you had, no matter how big they were, would you be hesitant to come to him when you had a request? Or if you did come to him in a time of certain necessity, would you be reluctant to ask for your needs to be met, and instead, only asking for a small, token amount? In our Scripture for today we see where someone, when given the opportunity to ask big, doesn’t just ask for a small, token amount, but does indeed, ask big. Let’s see what this is.
In the Book of I Kings, we read a lot about the ministry of the great prophet Elijah. Now here, in the beginning of the Book of II Kings, Elijah’s ministry is coming to a close. During the last few years of his ministry, Elijah was training an assistant, Elisha, who would take over the ministry when his time was up. Now, as our Scripture passage begins, Elijah knew that his time was nearly over, so he and Elisha began to head to where the Lord was sending him.
The two men started out in Gilgal, where there was one school of prophets located. Elijah told his companion Elisha to remain there as he was going to journey on to Bethel, but the latter refused, insisting on going on with him (vs. 1-2). So they journeyed on to Bethel, where there was another school of prophets. Here, some of the members of the school told Elisha that they knew that the Lord was going to take Elijah home with Him that day. And again, Elisha refused to remain when he was asked (vs. 3-4).
Once more they journeyed on to Jericho, the location of another school of prophets. Elijah was probably wanting to pay these schools each a visit to bring encouragement to the men there. Again at Jericho, the sons of the prophets there told Elisha that his mentor was going to be taken that day. Leaving there they headed towards the Jordan River. Following them were some of the sons of the prophets. The Lord had revealed to them that Elijah would be taken up, and they wished to witness this (vs. 5-7).
At the Jordan River, Elijah takes his mantle and strikes the water with it, and the water divided so they could cross, as the Lord had instructed him to be on the other side (vs. 8). On the other side Elijah asks Elisha what he might wish as a last request before the prophet is taken up. It is here that we see that Elisha is not hesitant to make a bold request of the Lord (vs. 9-10). He had been with Elijah for several years, and he had known the prophet to be a mighty man of God, and had witnessed the Lord’s amazing power through him. He wanted more of the Holy Spirit in him, more of God working through him. No small, token blessing for Elisha! He wanted a double portion so he could do more work for the Lord! Elijah said that his prayer would be granted if he saw the Lord take him up.
As they were talking, the Lord sent a chariot of fire, with horses of fire and a whirlwind to take Elijah up bodily into heaven (vs. 11). Elisha was granted the privilege of witnessing this, and also retrieving Elijah’s mantle which had fallen (vs. 12-13). Only Elijah and Enoch (Genesis 5:24) were taken up to heaven without dying, until the Rapture occurs.
Elisha, now with the mantle of the great Elijah, returned to the river, and he also was able to part the waters (vs. 14-15). The Lord showed him that He was with him just as He had been with Elijah. The Lord had granted Elisha’s request because his motives were pure. Elisha's main goal was not to be better or more powerful than Elijah for greedy reasons or to brag, but instead to accomplish more for God. If our motives are pure we don’t have to be afraid to ask great things from God.
When Elijah, a prophet of power, was gone, Eisha, a prophet of double-power, was ready to be used by God. When a man or woman of God dies, nothing of God does. When even a mighty servant is gone, God still has 7,000 who have not bowed the knee to Baal (I Kings 19:18). He has them ready, waiting in the wings.
As believers, understanding we are serving a great God, we should stake a great claim. Do we wish to see the miracle-working power of God in our lives and the lives of other Christians around us? Then pray and ask that you will be empowered to do great things for Him, to the praise and glory of His Name.
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