“And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.”
The Few
Elisha’s request here is worth noticing directly, not merely to continue Elijah’s work at the same level, but a double portion, genuine expectation of exceeding his mentor’s own measure, worth holding as this whole book’s own aspiration, multiplication genuinely meant to surpass, not merely replicate, what came before.
This is worth examining against however much your own investment in others has quietly aimed only at replication, producing someone genuinely similar to yourself, rather than this verse’s own bolder request, double portion, genuine hope that whoever you invest in might actually exceed your own measure entirely.
Notice this request required Elijah’s own genuine willingness to actually be exceeded, not threatened by Elisha’s bold ask, but willing, this whole story eventually shows, to see it genuinely granted, worth holding as needed humility, willing to see those you invest in actually surpass your own measure.
Consider today whoever you are investing in, and whether you are genuinely hoping, and actively enabling, something like this double portion, not merely replication of your own current measure, but genuine possibility of exceeding it, following Elisha’s own bold request and Elijah’s own willing, humble response.
Pour Into the Few
- Consider whether your investment aims at mere replication or genuine possibility of exceeding you.
- Encourage whoever you disciple today toward this bolder, double portion aspiration.
- Examine your own willingness, like Elijah’s, to actually see someone you invest in surpass you.
Prayer
Lord, let whoever I invest in ask boldly for a double portion, and let me be genuinely willing, like Elijah, to see them actually exceed whatever measure I myself have reached. Amen.
Carry this today
Genuine multiplication hopes for a double portion, not merely replication of your own measure.