June 29, 2025

What We Should Ask

Pastor Rok Lee

2 Kinds 2:6-14

6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. 7 Fifty men of the company of prophets also went and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8 Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and the two of them crossed on dry ground. 9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” 10 He responded, “You have asked a hard thing, yet if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.” 11 As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. 12 Elisha kept watching and crying out, “Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 13 He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water. He said, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah? Where is he?” He struck the water again, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha crossed over.

Everyone asks questions in life. From “What should I wear today?” to “What am I living for?”—questions shape our values, our priorities, and ultimately our destiny. But not all questions are equal. Some questions, though simple, change our entire direction. Others, though complex, lead us nowhere. 

In our spiritual journey, there is one essential question we must learn to ask: “What should I ask of God?” In 2 Kings 2, as Elijah is about to be taken up to heaven, his disciple Elisha is asked this exact question: “What can I do for you before I am taken from you?” (v.9). Elisha’s answer reveals not only his heart, but a model for us today. Through this powerful passage, we will explore three key questions we too must ask as followers of Jesus.

First question is “Are we willing to follow to the end?” Verse 6 says, “Then Elijah said to him, ‘Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.’ But he said, ‘As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.’ So the two of them went on.”

Elisha’s journey with Elijah had taken him from Gilgal to Bethel to Jericho, and now to the Jordan River. At each step, Elijah gave Elisha a chance to stop—to remain where he was. But Elisha refused to stay behind. This steadfastness reveals not only his devotion to his master but his spiritual hunger for something greater.

Following a mentor or a calling is never a matter of mere proximity. It is about endurance, discernment, and desire. Elisha sensed that something significant was going to happen. And so, no matter what, he resolved to stay the course. This reflects the kind of spiritual determination that marks the lives of those who go deep in their walk with God.

Many believers begin their journey with great enthusiasm. But the road of discipleship requires more than a good beginning. It calls for perseverance. Jesus Himself said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). The call is to daily, consistent, obedient following—even when it is difficult, even when others drop away.

The Hebrew phrase Elisha uses, “I will not leave you,” is an emphatic covenantal expression. He essentially binds himself to Elijah’s path, much like Ruth did with Naomi: “Where you go, I will go.” This is covenant loyalty—not convenience, not casual interest, but deliberate commitment.

Spiritually, this question remains crucial for us today: are we willing to go all the way with Jesus? Or are we only willing to follow Jesus when it is easy, popular, or personally beneficial? The Christian journey is not a sprint; it is a long-distance race that requires endurance and continual dependence on the Holy Spirit.

The second question is “Do we know what to truly ask for? Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” This is the central moment of the narrative. Elijah gives Elisha an open invitation: “Ask what I may do for you.” It is a moment of profound opportunity. Elisha could have asked for status, comfort, fame, or favor. But instead, he asks for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit.

This request is often misunderstood. Elisha is not asking to be twice as powerful or to perform twice the number of miracles. He is asking to inherit the prophetic ministry of Elijah, in the same way that a firstborn son would inherit a double portion of his father’s estate (Deuteronomy 21:17). This is a request for spiritual responsibility—not privilege.

The Hebrew word for “spirit” is ruach, a term rich in meaning. It can refer to wind, breath, or divine presence. In this context, it is best understood as the divine empowerment and prophetic calling that rested on Elijah. Elisha is not asking for a spirit of his own choosing, but for the specific spirit that empowered his master to serve God faithfully.

Imagine a soldier who is offered anything he wants before his commander retires. He could ask for medals, rank, or benefits. But instead, he asks, “Give me your mission. Let me carry on what you began.” That’s what Elisha asked for—not the fame of Elijah, but the fire that fueled him.

Furthermore, this request shows that Elisha recognizes the weight of the task ahead. He is not asking to be seen as great; he is asking for what he will need to faithfully carry out his calling. It is a prayer born out of humility and purpose. Elijah’s response, “You have asked a hard thing,” shows the seriousness of such a request. It is not granted automatically, but is contingent upon seeing Elijah taken up, implying spiritual attentiveness and readiness.

This leads us to reflect: What do we pray for? What fills our prayer lists? Do we ask for comfort, convenience, and blessing? Or do we ask for deeper things—wisdom, courage, discernment, and the power to serve others well in Jesus’ name?

To ask rightly requires spiritual maturity. James 4:3 reminds us, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” Elisha’s example challenges us to elevate the quality of our petitions. When God invites us to ask, let us not ask small, self-centered things. Let us ask for God’s presence, His power, and the ability to fulfill His purpose in our lives and the world.

The last question is “Are we ready to take up and use what God gives us?” Look at the verse 13 and 14, “He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water.”

When Elijah is taken up, his mantle falls. Elisha must choose what to do with it. He picks it up. This moment marks the transition of leadership, the passing of prophetic responsibility. But the mantle is not magical. It symbolizes divine calling, which must be actively embraced.

Elisha could have merely mourned Elijah’s departure. He could have cherished the cloak as a relic of memory. But he does not. He acts. He walks back to the Jordan and strikes the water, calling on the name of Elijah’s God. This is the moment of confirmation. And the waters part—just as they did for Moses, just like when Israelites entered to the Promised Land.

The Hebrew verb for “struck” (nakah) is used for decisive action. It is not passive or symbolic; it is bold and expectant. Elisha is testing whether the God of Elijah will now work through him—and God responds.

We must consider this in our own context. What mantles—what callings, responsibilities, opportunities—has God placed before us? Are we content to honor past heroes of the faith, or are we willing to take up the mantle and continue their work?

Every generation of believers is entrusted with the gospel. We are not called to preserve tradition for tradition’s sake but to carry forward the mission of Christ in our time. This requires not just reverence, but response. Not just admiration, but action.

The story of Elisha and Elijah is about transition—but more than that, it is about spiritual desire, discernment, and decisive obedience. Elisha followed when others stopped. He asked when others might have hesitated. And he acted when the moment required faith.

We live in a time when spiritual clarity is deeply needed. We need followers of Jesus who will not stop halfway, who will ask boldly and rightly, and who will step into their calling with courage.

So, what will you ask?

     •         Will you ask for more comfort—or for more character?

     •         Will you ask for ease—or for endurance?

     •         Will you ask for status—or for the Spirit?

Let us be a people who, like Elisha, ask for the right things. Let us be willing to follow to the end, to seek what matters most, and to pick up the mantle God lays before us. May the Spirit of God be upon us—not for our sake, but for the sake of the Lord and His Kingdom.

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