The Bible says: ‘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. “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours – otherwise, it will not”’ (vv. 9-10 NIV). There are two interpretations of this ‘double spirit’. Some people think that it means that Elisha wanted twice as much of God’s spirit as Elijah had. And they argue that Elisha went on to perform twice as many miracles as his mentor Elijah. Other people argue that it was talking about the right of the firstborn. Deuteronomy 21 explains that the firstborn son received a double inheritance. Elisha could have been asking Elijah to recognise him as more than just a mentee, but a son. Either way, Elisha was asking for something spiritual rather than worldly. Like Solomon asking for wisdom, Elisha was asking for something that would be used to help others rather than to advance himself. What do you tend to ask God for? Do you ask for more of His Spirit to be poured out on you? Do you long for Him more than anything else? We can often find ourselves bringing our requests to Him one after another, listing off everything we want to have, or feel like we deserve to have. But let’s be people who dare to ask for more of Him, and more of His Spirit – in other words, a double portion. He longs to bless us and reveal more of Himself to us.
