A Double Portion

II Kings 2:9 NKJV - And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” 

I've had a quickening in my spirit the last few days about the phrase "double portion" that is referenced in the Bible a number of times.

I'm not sure for who exactly this is for but I sense that there is some of you who are about to experience a "double portion" of God's blessings in your life and you need to prepare and be ready for when that blessing arrives.

The double portion is Biblical fact. It part of God’s promise to give beyond the normal amount to a select few. 

In Luke 6:38 He says: “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return." 

The double portion was given to certain men in the scriptures according to God’s promise to His people. 

Isaiah 61:7 -  “Instead of your shame you will have a double portion, And instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion. Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land, Everlasting joy will be theirs."

This is God’s portion to His people in this day. They won’t just have a portion but will have a double of a portion; twice as much, This seems impossible since most Christians have not even received a portion of what God has for them. But He plans to give double even of what He has promised. 

The premiere example of a double portion occurred between Elijah and his servant Elisha. Elijah was going to be taken to heaven without dying and all the prophets knew it. 

Elisha was intent on being with him when this took place and asked for a double portion of Elijah's anointing.

Elijah said, “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.” 

As they were going along and talking, all of a sudden there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven. 

Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw Elijah no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. He also took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and returned and stood by the bank of the Jordan. He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over.

Notice that Elisha let no time lapse until he exercised the double portion but immediately tool Elijah’s mantle and parted the Jordon.

Elisha went on to walk in the double portion as we see further in 2 Kings. He purified bad waters, killed some young lads mocking him, deceived the Moabites into thinking water in trenches was blood, gave a woman an unlimited supply of oil to pay her debts, resurrected a boy, purified a poison pot of stew, cured Naaman of leprosy, floated an axe head that had fallen into the water, deceived the entire Aramean army, leading them into a fatal trap, stopped a cannibalistic famine in Israel and many other act too numerous to mention. It is said that after Elisha died and was buried a man who was killed fell on Elisha’s grave and was resurrected. This was all because of the double portion given him by his spiritual Father Elijah.

Hannah was also given a double portion. When the day came that Elkanah, her husband, sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and her daughters; but to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, but the LORD had closed her womb. Hannah was barren and cried out to the Lord and the Lord heard her cry and she gave birth. However the Lord heard her cries and she gave birth to Samuel who was to be a great prophet in the land of Israel (1 Samuel 1:4-5). 

Job, after his long ordeal with the Lord was given a double portion. In Job 42:10 it says: “And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: and the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before” 

The first born of the children of Israel also received a double portion of their Father’s inheritance. Deuteronomy 21:17 Says: “But he [the Father] shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength; to him belongs the right of the firstborn”. 

The children of Israel I the wilderness also received a double portion of manna on the day before the Sabbath so they did not have to gather it on the Sabbath. Normally the manna did not last until the nest day but on the day before the Sabbath the manna lasted 2 days including the Sabbath. 

Today we too can have a double portion of God’s blessings. The opportunity has never been so great to obtain the double portion and it has never been as necessary as it is in this time of the changing of ages. 

Prepare your heart for more.  Prepare your life for increased blessings of the Lord for it might come when you least expect it.  Walk with a thankful heart for what God has brought you but also walk with an expectation of the increase that God will bless you with in the future.

May God bring a "double portion" to your life and soul as you seek Him!