A DOUBLE PORTION

1. A Double Portion of Elijah’s Spirit (Anointing)

a) 8 Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground. 9 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. (2 Kings 2:8, 9 NIV)

b) Immediately prior to the time Elijah was caught up to heaven in the whirlwind, his younger understudy Elisha requested a double portion of Elijah’s spirit (2 Kings 2: 9). Elijah being under the inspiration of God then replied that Elisha’s request would be granted provided that the younger prophet were with him at the time he was taken away. The scriptures then record that this condition was fulfilled.

c) After reading of the spectacular career of Elijah, it is difficult to believe that any man could have a double portion of his spirit, yet it came to pass that exactly twice as many miracles were done in the ministry of Elisha as in that of Elijah. The miracles in the careers of these two men of God:

i) Elijah – 14 miracles (1 Kings Chapter 17 – 2 Kings Chapter 2)
ii) Elisha – 28 miracles (2 Kings Chapter 2 – 2 Kings Chapter 13)

d) Despite the fact that after Elisha’s death, there was one miracle short. Yet God performed the last miracle i.e. resurrection of the man touched by his dead bones (2 Kings 13: 20-21) to fulfilled the double portion’s requirement.

i) 20 Elisha died and was buried. Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. 21 Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet. (2 Kings 13:20, 21 NIV)

e) Why did God grant to Elisha’s request for double portion of Elijah’s anointing?

i) It was because of the law in Deuteronomy 21: 15 – 17 that speaks of the rights of a firstborn son. Elisha was some sort of a firstborn son to Elijah even though they did not have any biological connection.

2. The Rights of A Firstborn Son

a) 15 If a man has two wives, and he loves one but not the other, and both bear him sons but the firstborn is the son of the wife he does not love, 16 when he wills his property to his sons, he must not give the rights of the firstborn to the son of the wife he loves in preference to his actual firstborn, the son of the wife he does not love. 17 He must acknowledge the son of his unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double share of all he has. That son is the first sign of his father’s strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him. (Deuteronomy 21:15-17 NIV)

b) God gave this law to the Israelites regarding the rights of a firstborn son. If God can give a Law binding the Israelites, then He is bound by the Law that He gave.

e) In this respect, we can ask God for our double portion blessing on the basis of the rights of a firstborn either biologically in a family or non-biologically.

f) Why did God give a double portion blessing to the firstborn son?

i) It is because of the social responsibility and accountability required as a firstborn son in the family.

3. Can we expect the double portion of blessing to happen to us?

a) Absolutely YES!

b) So, on what basis!

i) 19 God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? (Numbers 23:19 NIV)

ii) 10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10, 11 NIV)

4. Prayer focus

a) Pray for those who are the firstborn son in the family to receive a double portion of blessing i.e. the customary double portion inheritance.

b) For those outside the biological firstborn son, God has not left us out but included us as well in His “firstborn son” list just like Elisha. Thus, we can also receive the same double portion of blessing from God himself.

c) How?

i) When we surrender our lives to Him?
ii) When we surrender our families to Him?
iii) When we surrender our jobs to Him?
iv) When we surrender our businesses to Him?
v) When we surrender our ministries to Him?

d) Also, for those outside the firstborn son, as children of God, we can still receive the rich blessing of God:

i) We will have bumper crops and our granaries will be full to overflowing and there will be so much that we do not keep track of them (Genesis 41: 49 – TLB).