2 Kings 2:9-10

 

In this Scripture, we have two super prophets…One the master and one the successor. Elisha has been Elijah’s companion and student for several years at this point. Elisha knows his master will depart from him on this day. He has shown that he is determined to stay by Elijah’s side.

 

Elisha asked for something that was beyond Elijah’s power to give. Remember Elijah’s question was what could Elijah give to Elisha. However, Elisha knew that this prophet was a man of God, a man with God’s anointing upon him. He was a man who allowed God to do extraordinary things in his life. He was a prophet who lived life on the edge with the Most High God, El Elyon. He had gone to the extremes that man can go with our Creator. So asking Elijah for a small human powered request was disconnecting Elijah from the power and anointing of God that flowed through him. Elijah may not have had the ability, but his God did.

 

Elisha asked a hard thing. I did some research on the Hebrew word for “hard.” It is also used in Genesis 35:17 to describe Rachel’s hard labor when she died giving birth to Benjamin. It is used in Isaiah 8:21 to describe the people who were oppressed and distressed, but they refused to turn to God with their problems. It is also used in Jeremiah 7:26 and 17:23 to describe the stiff-necked people who would not listen to God or pay attention to Him. Is there anything harder than hearts that don’t care about God - stiff-necked or oppressed - or the pain of someone who is dying?

 

Elisha asked for a hard thing. He didn’t limit the power of God that had been displayed in Elijah’s life. He knew the hard thing was possible. Later that day, Elisha received that hard thing.

 

It makes me consider what level of difficulty are the things that I am asking of God? Do I ask for only easy things? Do I ask for things that man can give or for the things that are given by the Holy Spirit from the hand of God? Or as strange as it may sound, sometimes I think I go for the hard things and by-pass the easy things! I neglect to take everything to Him in prayer. James 4:2 says that I do not have because I do not ask.   

 

Scripture says over and over that there is no difficulty barrier for the things that God can do. When Sarah laughed at the thought of having a child in her old age, the LORD said to Abraham rhetorically, "Is anything too hard for the LORD?” (Genesis 18:14) Jeremiah 32:17 says that nothing is too hard for God. In Mark 9:23, Jesus says that everything is possible for those who believe. 

 

If people can ask for hard things and get them, then I want to be the recipient of the hard things answered, too. Don’t you? I think our God delights when we finally start acting on the fact that He is beyond all that we know of this world. So let’s ask for hard things that are pleasing to Him.

 

What is your hard thing? Imagine yourself before God’s throne. Instead of a man of God asking, it’s the Son of God asking you. Beloved, what is your request? Single out something that means the most to you. Sift through the complexity of your life. What would you ask?