Source/Author: Rev Irene Lay Lim Dalseno

Judging by the success of Elisha's ministry, maybe more of us should ask for “a difficult thing.”

“YOU ASK FOR A DIFFICULT THING” (2Kings 2:10)

By Rev Irene Dalseno

Have you ever asked God for a difficult thing?

Elisha, a prophet in the Old Testament, has.

His request for a “double portion” of Elijah’s spirit did not come unthinkably or callously but by a desire to answer God’s call, serve his master Elijah, and faithfully attend to God’s lost people.

It is said that Elisha came from a wealthy family, yet he was willing to sacrifice it all to serve a man of God whom he hardly knew. He was a young man when he accepted this humble role of service and for his acceptance, Elijah declared, “What have I done to you?”  Elijah knew through experience that the life of a prophet is difficult, challenging and somewhat unrewarding at times.  He was once on the run himself from a livid Queen intent on taking his life. Elijah had spiritual highs and equally spiritual lows.  Was such a “legacy” to be passed on to the young Elisha too?

When the time was nearing for Elisha to succeed Elijah, he requested a double portion of his master’s spirit; but the condition was that Elisha had to see Elijah being taken up from him.  How was Elisha to handle that?  He had no idea where, when or how, or even what it all meant.  All he knew was that it would be soon and he had to be obedient in order to obtain the blessing.  What would you have done in such unusual circumstances?

Then, on what seemed just a routine kind of day, the Lord suddenly brought about the separation of the two men. A chariot of fire, and horses of fire, separated the two men while Elijah was caught up in a whirlwind.  Elisha saw his master go up to heaven. The succession was now complete and he assumed Elijah’s “mantle” of a prophet to Israel. 

Elisha did become a powerful voice to the nation, confronting the dreadful evils of Baal worship. Some say he performed twice the miracles, with perhaps double the power. He was freely available to serve both men and kings.  He served for 50 years and God used him in diverse manners in declaring His will for both individual and nation. 

In asking for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit Elisha was not asking for some self-indulgent privilege, but for the strength, wisdom, power and faith to handle the task he felt he ought to do. Though the Lord usually never asks us to exceed our call and gifting, He may just pour out more of His anointing on the person who humbly asks for it. For Elisha, it was indeed “difficult,” but he did receive it and appropriate it nevertheless. Judging by the success of his ministry, maybe more of us should ask for “a difficult thing.”