The Story of Elisha's Double Portion

When it became time for Elijah to complete his ministry he knew through the revelation of the Spirit of God that he would not die but be taken up to heaven alive without dying first. In the Bible we have accounts of only two men who did not die but who were taken directly up to heaven alive. The first was Enoch , the father of Methuselah. Genesis 5:24 states, "And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him."

2 Kings 2:1 states, "And it came to pass, when the LORD was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal" The verses following through verse 13 describe the efforts of Elijah to get Elisha to stay behind . Elisha kept protesting and emphatically stating that he was determined to stay with him because he knew that Elijah was about to be taken to heaven by a miraculous occurance.

Elijah asked, "What do you want me to do for you as I leave?"

Elisha replied, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me."

"You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so."

Shortly afterward as they walked and talked "suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, 'My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!' So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan." 2 Kings 2:11-13.

After that Elisha received a tremendous anointing from the LORD God. The Spirit of God was evident in all of the things that he did and said. Exactly has Elijah had promised him Elisha performed twice as many miracles of healing and victories than Elijah had done. His life was filled with the power and anointing of God.

Nevertheless, Elisha died and was buried in a grave. The only area of in which he had not performed twice the number of miracles than Elijah was in the raising of people from the dead. Elijah had raised from the dead the son of his landlady (1 Kings 17:71-24) and Elisha also had raised from the dead the son of his landlady (2 Kings 4:8-37).

2 Kings 13:20, 21 states, "Then Elisha died, and they buried him. And the raiding bands from Moab invaded the land in the spring of the year. So it was, as they were burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band of raiders; and they put the man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet."

Through this miracle of the raising from the dead when the dead body touched Elisha's bones long after Elisha had died we see the fulfillment of the promise of God. God had promised Elisha through Elijah's words that he would have a double portion of Elijah's spirit which meant that he would have twice as many miracles as Elijah. The promises of God are true. Faith is only believing that God did not tell us a lie when He gave us promises through His word. Elisha believed what God had said and God honored Elisha's faith even though the final fulfillment did not occur until after the death of the one who believed in God's promises.

1. God's word is true, and we can believe God's promises.

2. If we truly believe that God is not a liar and will fulfill all the promises that we believe and request the results will be seen sooner or later.

3. We should not let discouragement and unbelief keep us from obtaining the blessings we need from the hand of God.