The double portion of your spirit ! [2 King 2]

Let me inherit the double portion of your spirit

2 King 2:1-22.

2 King 2:9

Introduction

Since we have not gone through history that led this far, it is good to review so as to understand the full context of the events that evolve in this passages.

a.    He rescued Israel out of Egyptian slavery with his mighty hand. So the nation did not exist. But it came into being by God’s delivery of the people from Egypt to create a nation. Since from its beginning of the creation of the nation Israel, God was worthy claim that the nation as his own. Particularly in the rescuing process, God used his mighty hand to destroy Egyptians while saving Israel. So it was all too obvious that without God’s mighty hand it was impossible for Israel to come out from the slavery in Egypt. In this way, God’s authority and God’s ownership over Israel was made clear to the nation herself as well as to the many surrounding nations.

b.    God gave them the law by which God would govern them according to his principle. The law was a reflection of his character, his holiness, his righteousness and his goodness and love. Since the nation is His, God blessed them everything that they have, God’s demand on the nation in this way was fully justified.

c.    The law was tightly connected to a contract or covenant; in this covenant, if they observe the law, they will be blessed than any other nations of the world. But if they do not observe the law, and reject or disobey God, they will be punished.

d.    Also God’s purpose of doing such things was to bless them as well as many other nations of the world. In this way God wanted to make them the example of what it means to be God’s people so that the world may come to believe God of Israel as well.

But after God set up everything for the nation to go according to God’s purpose, the kings of Israel defected from God and rejected to serve God as the Lord for them. They pursued others gods of pagan nations. Particularly Ahab and his wife were so bad to the extent that the whole nation turned away from God. The situation was so bad that when Elijah met God personally Elijah complained to God in this way:

¹⁴ He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too." 1 King 19:14

As has been addressed here, he listed three things:

a.    Israel rejected God’s covenant—violated God’s law

b.    Broken altars—worship to God is stopped

c.    Prophets to death—all the ones that served God were destroyed.

After all, God-worship was about to be extinct. Elijah thought that he was only one left to serve God. God said that there were 7000 that did not kneel down to Baal. Out of several millions of people, only 7000 who was loyal to God. Realistically the kingdom as God’s people was about to degrade into a completely pagan nation. In this situation, there comes a big question, where is God and what is he doing? Particularly the king Ahab is still there and the evil Queen Jezebel is still fuming with her murderous rage against God’s servant, specifically against Elijah. So he was so much in anguish and sorry for the fact that even if he poured out his zeal for the Lord, there came very little change in the nation of God. In addition, he was tired, so lonely and so depressed that he wished to die.  The question in his mind is why God is not doing enough to wipe away all the wicked, including King Ahab and his wife Jezebel?

In this setting, God gave the word:

 ¹⁵ The LORD said to him, "Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus.

When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. ¹⁶ Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.

¹⁷ Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu.

Here God told Elijah to do the three things to handle the wickedness of King Ahab, his wife Jezebel and all their associates. God would surely punish them according to purpose in his time. To do so God told him to anoint three men, Hazael, Jehu and Elisha. Hazael were to be the king of Aram; Jehu was to be the King of Israel. The last one is Elisha, who would carry out the duty of Elijah after him.

So Elijah anointed Elisha [1 King 19:19-21] and Elisha followed him since. In today’s passages describes Elisha’s pursuit of his zeal for the Lord.

         

1.    God will take Elijah to heaven [1-8]

Read v1  When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.

We do not know exactly how long years have passed since Elijah called Elisha as his attendant. Since Elisha’s call in 1 King 19, there were only one miracle, calling down twice a fire upon a king Ahaziah’s captain in his 50 people[2 king 1]. We can reasonably say that Elisha had not been with Elijah’s long time as his direct attendant and this might have been the first and last miracle he saw as Elijah’s attendant. As we will see in the following passages, Elijah had many members of his prophet school. This means that Elijah worked as God’s servant long time and during his tenure as the prophet of God, he raised many disciples. Yet Elisha was not one of them. He was pretty much a fresh man in the Elijah’s school of prophets, though he was called by God to continue to do the work of Elijah.  

It was clear to all of his disciples that God was going to take Elijah up to heaven and he was about to take Elijah very soon. At this time Elijah took journey from Gilgal. During this journey Elijah told Elisha to stay there, not follow him anymore. Where was he going?
Elijah did not want Elisha to see his departure. It seems that not seeing the last moment of their master’s life seems to be a respect and courtesy for their master. Also it is prudent to listen to his master’s request. So since Elijah did not want Elisha to follow him, he should have stayed there, not following him further. But he said this.

2 Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel." But Elisha said, "As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.

Elisha was determined to follow Elijah. Most likely Elijah being taken by God is a private event between God and his servant Elijah. Yet Elisha would not let this event go out of his sight. He was determined to see what God is doing to Elijah or how Elijah is serving God! Whatever intervention God makes in Elijah’s life, how Elijah reacts and obeys God’s word; Elisha did not want to miss out.

How can a man see the interaction between God and his servant even in his secrete corner of private life? Yet in his zeal to know and learn the power of God in Elijah’s life, he decided to follow Elijah.  This decision is before God and before Elijah. In other word Elisha was fully cognizant of God’s will and possible implication of disobeying Elijah’s as well as God’s will. Seeing such seemingly ostensive denial of Elisha, a company of people came out to help Elisha.

3 The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, "Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?" "Yes, I know," Elisha replied, "but do not speak of it."

When they got to Bethel, the company of the prophets came out to talk to Elisha, they saw something strange and unusual that Elisha was following Elijah’s to the very private moment with God. So they asked if Elisha knew about it.
But what did he say, Yes I know! But do not speak of it!
His mind was so disturbed that his master was leaving so suddenly. He wanted to learn from Elijah. But he even did not have chance to see all. He felt a great sense of loss. He left everything behind when Elijah called him. There are so many things to do for the nation! Elisha wanted to do many things with Elijah to bring back the nation to God. But Elijah is suddenly leaving. He would be left alone. He didn’t have any idea what to do if Elijah leaves. He did not have the power and he did not have knowledge how to carry out the mission. How can he let go of his master so easily and so quickly?

So, though Elijah said to stay here and do not follow him; though the company of Prophet came out and remind Elisha that Lord is going to take Elijah, But he is resolved to follow Elijah.

Read 4-5

4 Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here, Elisha; the Lord has sent me to Jericho." And he replied, "As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So they went to Jericho. 5 The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, "Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?" "Yes, I know," he replied, "but do not speak of it."

At Bethel Elijah said to Elisha again stay here! God is sending him to Jericho. But Elisha would not listen and followed him to Jericho. Also when they got to Jericho, again  the company of the prophets in Jericho told him the same thing. But he said the same thing: Yes I know. But do not speak of it.

Don’t tell me again! I am taking all the risk. Whatever comes to me, let it be! I am willing to take all the risk if I can get to know intimate knowledge in and with God that happens in the life of the master Elijah! Even if it might be against God’s will, I will take that risk!   

Read v6
From Jericho, God sent Elijah to Jordan. So Elijah told Elisha again. Stay here! The Lord has sent me to the Jordan! 
God is sending me to Jordan. God is saying that you stay here and I have to go to Jordan all by myself! It is God’s will! So listen and stay here!

But his reply was clear. He unswervingly and resolutely answered, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you."  He was undeterred!

As they were on the way, there were another group of people. v7
7 Fifty men of the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan.

At this time, it was not just a company of several but 50 men. It was a big company of the prophets. None of them followed Elijah or even asked where he was going or expressed if Elijah was willing to take any one of them along.  All stood the other side of the Jordan watching the Master, Elijah. But Elisha alone followed Elijah as they were going to the Jordan River.

When the two, Elijah and Elisha cross the Jordan from the promised land[the west] to the east, they were crossing life in east, the side of Gilgal to death. So as Elijah was about to cross the Jordan, the 50 men were watching. At this time they did not say anything but just watched the two of them. Actually the two crossed the river in a very unusual way.

 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.

 Elijah struck the water and it was divided into two. Both of then crossed the Jordan River on dry ground together.

The 50 men of the company of the prophets watched them standing afar from the river. In front of these two were flowing a river deep and wide. There was no other way to go except crossing or coming back where they have come. Elijah rolled up his cloak and strike the river. Then it was divided and the dry ground appeared. Both Elijah and Elisha went to the other side of the Jordan..

Going back to the passage, Actually the other side of Jordan was very sparsely populated and desert area—symbolizing death. So by the time they crossed, it was clear to Elijah that Elisha is determined to follow through no matter what happens to him. He could not change the mind of Elisha. Not only that, but also God did not forbid Elisha crossing the river with Elijah. This means that God implicitly allowed Elisha to be able to follow Elijah up to this far. What is God’s permissive will in this? Particularly for Elisha?

2.    Let me inherit double portion [9-12]

 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.

So it is clear so far that God is taking Elijah in a matter of hours. Also it is clear to Elijah that God is giving some leeway to Elisha in imparting some of what God has given to Elijah.

So Elijah asked Elisha. What can I do for you? Why did Elijah at this time make this offer to Elisha? Why did he not make this earlier?

It was like Joshua when he crossed the Jordan from the east to the west, into the land of the promise of God. To Joshua the crossing the Jordan River was the first of his miracle that he personally performed as the leader, though he saw many performed by Moses. Crossing the Jordan river has particular meaning and significance for Joshua. Whatever it meant to Joshua, it might be meaningful to Elijah and Elisha as well.

Josh 3-5 crossing of the Jordan

Joshua 3:7 And the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. ⁸ Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: 'When you reach the edge of the Jordan's waters, go and stand in the river.'"

Joshua 3:11 See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. ¹² Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. ¹³ And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD-- the Lord of all the earth-- set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap."

Joshua 3:15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge,

Joshua 4:2 "Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, ³ and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan from right where the priests stood and to carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight."

Joshua 4:10 Now the priests who carried the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything the LORD had commanded Joshua was done by the people, just as Moses had directed Joshua. The people hurried over, ¹¹ and as soon as all of them had crossed, the ark of the LORD and the priests came to the other side while the people watched. ¹² The men of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over, armed, in front of the Israelites, as Moses had directed them. ¹³ About forty thousand armed for battle crossed over before the LORD to the plains of Jericho for war. ¹⁴ That day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they revered him all the days of his life, just as they had revered Moses.

Joshua 4:19 On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. ²⁰ And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. ²¹ He said to the Israelites, "In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, 'What do these stones mean?' ²² tell them, 'Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.' ²³ For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. ²⁴ He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God."

a.    The ark of God was at the edge of the Jordan and they all crossed the river on dry ground.—stop flowing of the flood water. It was not Joshua but the ark that made this river divided.

b.    The men of the 2.5 tribes of this side of the Jordan also crossed over to this side at this time.

c.    Crossing the Jordan river as well as circumcision is a token of new life in God and the blessed land. So this side of the Jordan River stand as the new life, life removed of all ungodliness and the other side is the life under the power of sin—i.e. death.

d.    God clearly said that God would honor Joshua by this miracles—crossing of the Jordan on dry ground—this was reiterated again after crossing; no one dare to challenge his leadership.  Joshua’s leadership is associated with Israel’s ability cross the Jordan river on dry ground.

e.    Gilgal was the first place they stayed and there they piled up the stone they picked up from the river bed as memorial: So Gilgal is the place where crossing of Jordan is memorialized. God did this so the world may know that the hand of God is powerful so that you might always fear the Lord. 

What is the Jordan river then?

As we know, from the beginning of today’s passage, the journey started at Gilgal and the journey ends in the Jordan river. In between the two, there are two de tours; Bethel, and Jericho. In these de tours, Elisha was told repeatedly to stop following Elijah. If we say that these de tours are created so as to test Elisha, then we can say that if Elisha is worthy of seeing or even crossing the Jordan river tested and found worthy of.

Death is the Achilles heel of all human being as well as godly servants. It is whereby a servant of God experience of power of life through faith in God. How can this happen?  God may force his servant to such condition. Or, as in this case one’s zeal for the Lord, as this passage indicates, supported by strong courage and/or commitment, push himself enough to cross the Jordan river, the door of death, then he can be worthy of seeing Elijah and his ascension as well as receiving the power of God.

God’s servants risk many things. It is not just God’s servants that risk every day. We all risk our lives every day. But in each of these risk-takings we need faith. When one is dare to risk his life on God’s hand, to know him and to seek God’s righteousness and holiness, he is truly worthy of seeing God’s power and His glory. Seeing Elijah going up to heaven in the chariot of fire and horses of fire is an amazing blessing. It empowers the servant with a great deal.

When one is about to risk all even to the point of death, the most fearful thing is fear of sin and death. It is whereby one need faith in God who let his servant cross on dry ground!

Before crossing the Jordan they were not circumcised and their sins were still with them. But after crossing Jordan, and after they were circumcised, they were told that God removed their sins and they were to memorialize this event by piling up the stone from the Jordan River. So the Jordan river is where one cross from life to death or death to life. So the having power of God is always associated with one’s experience in and with the experience of ‘Jordan River’

After all it is evident in the eyes of Elijah as well as God that Elisha is worthy of God’s grace and power!

What was Elisha’s request?

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.

Elijah is a powerful man of God. God heard his prayer and did so many miracles. So his prayer for Elisha is so important. It is like a last word for his own son. Here the word ‘inherit’ is used. If there is any asset that Elisha can inherit, he wanted to have double portion. Here double portion does not mean twice of Elijah’s power. It means the inheritance of the first born. As we have noticed, Elijah had many students in his school of prophets. Out of so many he wanted to get the best and first inheritance. 

This request is somewhat absurd and even outrageous in some aspects. a. He was a fresh man apprentice; many had followed Elijah long before him. So reasonably he cannot inherit the portion of the first born. b. It was not Elijah’s prerogative to give such power. It was God who gave such power Elijah.

Truly it was a difficult thing that Elisha was asking! But his demand is undeterred and is accompanied by full resolution!

a.    Actually it began at the time when Elijah called Elisha. It is recorded in 1 King 19:19-21

 Elisha was a son of rich farmer having 12 oxen and he was driving the 12^th of oxen. So we can presume that he might be the youngest of his father.  He was plowing while Elijah met him.

Not long ago for three years, there was severe famine in the land. It was called upon by Elijah in order to punish the nation’s rebellion against God. So it was very certain that Elisha and his family were also greatly affected by the droughts. He knew that Elijah was the agent of this drought. But the moment he heard Elijah’s call, he was so happy and made such a decisive action. He slaughtered the yoke of oxen and burned the plowing equipments and cooked them and gave it to people. Simply he left nothing behind him. He is not going to come back and pick up the farming again. He made no reservation in following Elijah. It was very decisive and all out commitment. What is in this commitment? As we have seen, he was determined to get the power of God like Elijah.

What is at the heart of such demand? Is it a passion for God’s power? Or something else?

b.    It begins by the zeal for the Lord.

This is found first in Elijah. I like to refer to the passage 1 king 19:14

¹⁴ He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelite have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too."

Elijah described himself as being very zealous for the Lord God Almighty.

Elijah honored God as the God Almighty. No one dare to oppose his will and purpose. No one should dare to break the covenant that God made with his people. No one dare to break down the God’s altar. No one should dare to kill God’s prophets. All these are direct defamation to the name of God Almighty and challenge to God’s power and his authority, his righteousness and his goodness.

Like this he had zeal for the Lord God Almighty! He could not withstand any offense to God’s name. He wanted God to be honored as God deserves; His honor, his righteousness and his holiness. So he dared to challenge King Ahab and even the whole nation Israel. One man challenged the king or the whole nation? It is a formidable task! But God was with him and he did so so powerfully.

Elisha was the same. He shared the same passion and zeal with Elijah. He saw the sin and wickedness of men that defied the name of God Almighty and he had passion to undo all these ungodly things. So in his mind, he had to have such power of God. There was no other way around! So he even risked everything!  He even almost disobeyed God! Stay here, no, Stay here, No, stay here No! God wanted to have a private business with Elijah but Elisha was not willing to let it go by! He wanted to see even God and he wanted to know everything as far as God’s power was concerned! Figuratively speaking he dared to follow Elijah to his death valley!  

Spiritual power is directly correlated with his or her zeal for the Lord, in his righteousness and holiness. As much one honors God, so much God will honor the servant! As much we uphold the name of God, so much God will bless us with his power. All these are to honor His glory and to fulfill what God promised for us!

So Elijah was willing! But is God also willing to give Elisha such power?

10 "You have asked a difficult thing," Elijah said, "yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours--otherwise not."

If God let Elisha see Elijah being taken, then God is willing to give such power to Elisha.

11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.

Suddenly God took Elijah away by chariot of fire and horses of fire separated two of them and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.

This is a remarkable scene. God let him see this and He was willing to impart His power and grace to Elisha!

When Elisha saw this he shouted.

12 Elisha saw this and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!"

Elijah suffered a great deal under death threat from ungodly king and his wife Jezebel. He was worn out so much that he wished that God may take his life. He was truly a warrior for the name of God. He endured all hardships and suffered a great pain and anguish over all ungodliness of the land. He fought all by himself against humongous powers of the time. Now God is taking him with chariots of fire and horses of fire riding on whirlwinds. God displayed his mighty power in this and showed his honor for his own servant in suffering. God took him to heaven. God honors those who fight the good fight. When God comes with his chariots and horses of fire, no one can challenge. Simply it was full of power and glory!

Elisha saw this and shouted  My father! My Father! Elijah was his father in spirit. Elisha was Elijah’s son in spirit. Actually Elisha did so many miracles, many more than Elijah. Truly God let Elisha saw this great spectacle of power and glory. Further Elisha saw the power of God that came along with Elijah—the chariot and horses of fire on which Elijah was riding on. What does it signify?

Elijah did so many miracles. He even shut down the sky so that it may not rain for three years. He could do it because he was, figuratively speaking, riding on God’s chariot and horses of fire!  He, Elijah, was the power for the Israel.

What does it mean to Elisha?

He saw the chariot of fire. He saw horses that pull the chariot. He saw Elijah riding on the chariot. Chariot of fire and horses of fire is the exact presentation of God’s POWER. Simply Elisha saw the POWER of God in its vivid form! The power is the mighty one. Also it is fiery one.  

We know what the mighty power is. Then what is the fire?

Exodus 24:17 To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. Also in Deuteronomy 4:24 For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

When a God’s servant works hard in fight against ungodly forces, they look weak and feeble. But God is carrying them with his chariot of fire and horses of fire in and all through the course of this fight against all godlessness. God’s name must be upheld.

12 Elisha saw this and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!" And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart.

Elijah let his cloak to Elisha. This was the cloak that struck the Jordan river to make them cross on dry ground. So it was clear that the power that was with Elijah is also with Elisha. Power and office are carried on to Elisha. 

3.    Elisha’s power [13-24]

13 He picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the cloak that had fallen from him and struck the water with it. "Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?" he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

Here is the evidence that Elisha received the power. Elisha crossed back to this side of the Jordan on dry ground by striking the water with Elijah’s cloak. God’s power is now with Elisha. In this land of God, God must be honored and glorified. God gave his servant the power to do so! The nation and the land must uphold the name of God Almighty. There should not be any ungodliness in His kingdom and in the land of Promise! Also there must not be any suffering, pain and sorrow! It must be the place where milk and honey is flowing.

What did he do first?

V19-22

Elijah healed the water so that they may be able to drink and fertilize the land. This is the land of God’s blessing. This land was corrupted and barren because the people of this land became disobedient to God. According to God’s covenant blessing and covenant curse, [Deut 28] Barrenness of the land is the first line of God’s curse on Israel’s disobedience.

But Elisha healed the land as the first line of his miraculous work.

V23-25

These are more likely young men. As Elisha was walking along, these young men made mockery of Elisha’ go on up, you baldhead! Go up you baldhead!

These young men knew the claim made by his followers as well as by Elisha that Elijah went up to heaven in Gods glory.  Baldhead is demeaning mockery and is considered as a sign of God’s curse. They were saying that Elisha, like Elijah who went up and disappeared, also should go up and disappear. They were ridiculing the works of Elijah, who called for famine and death of 450 Baal prophets. Through these we can conclude that these young men didn’t like what Elijah did, punishing the nation, bringing many curse of God upon the nation. As Elijah disappeared so you do disappear, go up. Get out here!

Elisha knew what they were making mockery of. They made mockery of Elijah, God’s servant, and Elisha. All the more they were making mockery of God who was behind all the judgment on Israel. God is dishonored and his servant, particularly Elisha’s teacher and master was dishonored.

 24 He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the Lord. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths.

Elisha sensed evilness in these young men. They made direct offense against God Almighty. So he called God’s curse upon them. Suddenly two bears came out and mauled 42 youth.

Judgment on these young men was vivid.

What can we say about this? How can understand Elisha?

God is God Almighty. His name must not be demeaned. All the works that Elijah did is not of his own but God’s. When one becomes bitter because of God’s judgment, then there is no hope for such people. These young men seemed to have made a casual joke. But there is a deep seated hatred and dishonor to God who did all the works through Elijah and Elisha.

When one cannot accept the works that God’s servant is doing, particularly in regard to judgment, that man has no hope at all. First and primary purpose of such judgment is not for the sake of judgment but for the purpose of salvation. God wants to save the world as many as possible. God shows his mercy to those who are humble and meek. But God bring his judgment on those who are evil and ungodly and arrogant. God’s power is not just name only. He is still exercise his power to judge. But his judgment is delayed and delayed for the purpose to save more. But no one should take God’s patience as God’s ineptness or powerlessness.

God’s name must be upheld. Anyone who does not honor God and his servant will surely face God’s judgment.  The nation Israel, the one God chose as his own nation, became so corrupted that God’s name is casually and wittingly demeaned and disgraced. God would not tolerate such ungodliness. 

Here Elisha’s passion and zeal for the Lord. When God is honored most highly in one’s heart God endorse his authority and delivers his might power through that servant.

Elisha could not bear such ungodly remarks because God’s name is dishonored and demeaned.

As we know the first three commandments of God is,

You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make an idol and shall not bow down to it. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.

Passion for God’s name and his holiness and His righteousness are the most important characteristics of God’s servant. Elisha, when he was called, left everything behind him. He knew deeply how the nation had been corrupted and how the name of God is being dishonored. So he sought God all the way and received the power to carry out the zeal for the Lord.