Today we see Elijah's final days before he was swept up in the chariot of fire.
I love how Elijah tries to shake his companion, Elisha off his trail, knowing that God is about to take him to heaven. But Elisha was not to be deterred. He was going to stay with Elijah until the very end.
Inspiration tells us:
"In his early labor of guiding the plow, Elisha had learned not to fail or to become discouraged, and now that he had set his hand to the plow in another line of duty he would not be diverted from his purpose. He would not be parted from his master, so long as opportunity remained for gaining a further fitting up for service. Unknown to Elijah, the revelation that he was to be translated had been made known to his disciples in the schools of the prophets, and in particular to Elisha. And now the tried servant of the man of God kept close beside him. As often as the invitation to turn back was given, his answer was, “As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.” (Prophets and Kings, p. 225)
Finally Elijah asks, "What would you like me to do or you before I am taken away?"
Elisha wasted no time pondering this important question: "A double portion of your spirit! This is what I need!"
Wow! I love it! And what a request... like Solomon asking not for riches or wealth, but for wisdom! Elijah then tells him, "You've asked a hard thing. However, if you see me go, then that means God has answered your prayer."
Well, Elisha did see his master go, and if we read through the rest of the stories of Elisha's life, we find that God worked exactly TWICE the number of miracles in Elisha's life as He had in Elijah's (complete with what happened when the dead man was put on Elisha's bones and came back to life). So God answered this bold but humble prayer!
I believe this is what we need to be asking for today too... for MORE of the Holy Spirit. For when we have the Holy Spirit, we have all we need!
Tomorrow's Reading: 2 Kings 4-5 and 2 Cor. 3
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