The Road to the Double Portion – Jordan
“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.” 2 Kings 2:9
Again, Elijah pleads with Elisha “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to the Jordan.” Elisha’s commitment to his master prompts his response, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they continue their journey to Jordan.
The first mention of Jordan is in Genesis 13:10-11. We find Abraham and Lot parting ways. Abraham allows Lot to choose the land he wanted, and he chose the Jordan Valley because it was fertile, “And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other.”
The separation was between God’s man and man’s choice. God’s man is Abraham, and Abraham chose to take Lot with him when he left home. Can you see it, separation between the spirit and the soul? Jordan is typically a type of death. The meaning of Jordan is descending, to flow downward. Jesus went down in the Jordan and came up receiving the anointing of the spirit. (Mark 1:9-10)
After crossing the Jordan is when Elijah asks Elisha, “What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha replies, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” Elijah responds, “if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” We know that shortly after a chariot separates the two that Elijah goes up in a whirlwind.
Their journey is now over. They were traveling together, each on a different journey. Elisha receives the mantel of Elijah; and Elijah reaches the place God was leading him to, Jordan. We might even say to his final test. “…Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water” overcoming death. Elijah crosses over to never experience death and Elisha crosses over to receive a double anointing, and continues the work of his master.
Wow! Are we in a position to continue the work of our Master? Can we recognize where we are on the journey? Are we still struggling with the flesh unable to leave Gilgal? Or, are we wrestling with the world, with Bethel just out of reach? Maybe we are fighting with the enemy of our soul, not able to defeat Jericho. The ultimate destination is crossing Jordan, overcoming self, and dying to self, a continuous journey until Jesus returns. (1 Corinthians 15:26, Romans 6:23, Romans 8:2)
Both men are a type of the overcomer…
