2 Kings 2:15 And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah does rest on Elisha… I. IT WAS A LEGACY BEQUEATHED WITH DIFFICULTY. There is a great, general truth underlying these words. It is a hard thing to communicate moral qualities It is easy to cause another to possess your material wealth; it is not so easy to enrich him mentally, morally, or spiritually. This is the experience of every good parent. You want to make men of your children. It is no easy task. What patience, what wisdom, what grace are needed to do it. Yet thank God it is a work in which many succeed. But, again, when Elijah said, "Thou hast asked a hard thing" — he meant, I think, that the request was beyond him. He could not give his servant what he sought. He might give him his mantle, and by doing so symbolise the transference of his office, but he could not give him his power. He could teach him — could from the resources of his own experience give him many a hint that was sure to be useful when he should fill his master's place — but the power — the spiritual force — required, and required as the chief thing — that he could not cause him to inherit. So is it with us in whatever capacity we act for the good of others. We draw a distinct line between our work, what we can do, and what is beyond us — as possible only with One higher than we. We can plough the fields and sow the seed, but we cannot quicken it. We can preach and teach, but we cannot change the heart. II. ELIJAH'S LEGACY WAS BEQUEATHED WITH GREAT WILLINGNESS. When Elisha said, "Let me have a double portion of thy spirit," Elijah's first thought was, "You ask what is very hard to give"; but his second thought was, "Well, but I am after all pleased with your request. Now, I don't say that I can give you this; but still what I cannot do I am sure the God whom I serve will do. Yes; it is a good desire, and if thou art faithful unto the end it shall be done unto thee." There is surely an important lesson to be learned by us here. We ought not to do only the good that is of easy achievement. It will, indeed, be well for us if we always do what we can, yet the danger is to suppose that all we can do is what we can do with ease. We should remember that there is little value in the life that copes not with difficulties. III. ELIJAH'S LEGACY WAS BEQUEATHED BECAUSE ASKED, "I pray thee let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me." From the promptness in which the request was made it is apparent that this was the blessing his heart was set upon obtaining. When the heart is fully resolved the tongue does not hesitate. His master confesses that it was a hard thing to grant; but if he had not asked it would have been impossible to endow him with such a blessing. It is the seeing soul that is enriched, not because God would enrich only the few, but His blessing can only enter the open receptive spirit. We have not because we ask not, or because we ask amiss. The thing I ask is great, but the greatness of my faith is commensurate, and, lo! the promise is spoken — "It shall be so unto thee," and after the voice the heavens open and the blessing comes down. Let Elisha's case encourage us to ask for what we need. IV. ELIJAH'S LEGACY WAS BEQUEATHED AS THE RESULT OF FAITHFUL SERVICE. A condition was attached to the bestowment of the blessing asked, "If thou see me when I am taken from thee it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so." (A. Scott.) Parallel Verses KJV: And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him. |
    |