"Elisha said, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me."" 2 Kings 2:9
Elisha's miracle in the widow and her two sons' lives mirrors Elijah and the miracle in the widow and her only son's lives. In 1 Kings 17:17 we see the widow putting this prophet above her son. She trusted the word from the Lord (God had prepared her heart prior to Elijah coming in verse 9) so much that she gave food and water to the prophet, knowing her son would die, and herself for that matter. Her reward was that not only her and her son, but her entire household ate for many days, or until the drought was over and the rain came.
The widow Elisha helped in 2 Kings 4:1, had a deceased husband who feared the Lord. In Matthew 4:10 Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:13 but replaced the word 'fear' with 'worship'. Her husband was close to, worshipped the Lord, or did not want to do anything to jeopardize nearness to God. This widow had two sons, not just one. This fear of the Lord had generational blessings. After obeying Elisha's request, she poured oil freely into as many pots her sons (two of them) could bring until there were none left. She was able to pay her debts (debt cancellation) and 'live on the rest' (inferring no end, possibly for the remainder of her life).
Matthew 11:14 quotes Jesus who said, "And if you are willing to receive it, he (John the Baptist) is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" The Jews were expecting Elijah the prophet to come back because of Malachi 4:5. Matthew 17:11 explains further, "Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things.12 But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.”13 Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist."
If Elijah paved the way for Elisha and Elijah is John the Baptist, then Elisha is a picture of Jesus Christ. In Elisha's case of the widow, the oil (symbolic of Holy Spirit) did not stop until there was not enough room to hold it. Jesus gave us comforting words in John 16:7, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you." The oil will never run dry. Our Helper will always be with us, even in Heaven.
Fear of the Lord, worshipping our Lord Jesus has generational blessings. Holy Spirit is poured out like fragrant oil on mankind because of The Blood Of Jesus. The wonderful, precious blood that covers and protects us every second of every day, through every storm and fiery trial, His precious blood is the assurance we have Holy Spirt to comfort (heal) us, to give us debt cancellation, and most wonderfully give us a double portion, a double anointing so that we can flourish and bring Heaven to Earth, as a glorifying bride to the one and only King of kings.
Special shout out to Mary Magdalene. Let us not forget the power in giving!
Matthew 26:10 "But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me.11 For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always.12 For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial.13 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”" *John is the only gospel to mention her by name [John 12:3]. Matthew 26:8 says the disciples were angry she gave the costly, fragrant oil to Him. What a risk! What a reward! Remember she was the first one He appeared to after He rose [Mark 16:9]. Can you imagine being the first one? Still, the disciples didn't believe her when she told them He was alive.
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