When the Double Portion fell upon the prophet Elisha, after his Father-Mentor Elijah was taken up to heaven, he faced stiff opposition from the beginning.
This example is important for every believer who wants to walk in God's victory in Jesus Christ.
Just as there was strife between the herdsmen of Abraham and those of his nephew Lot, just as Joseph was despised and betrayed by his own brethern, and even as Elisha was press to confusion by the men of God who longed to follow Elijah, every one who receives the double portion of God's blessing will be tried, tests, mocked, reviled, and persecuted in the world.
Yet we may be of courage notwithstanding all the trials and tribulations we face in this life:
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
And the Paul's confident exhortation to all believers:
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."
What we have by faith, and what we have to look forward to after death, is far greater than any setback we face in this life.
Yet setbacks there will be many. Opposition will abound.
In the case of Elisha, who received the double portion of God's blessing, he was harassed and questioned from the moment Elijah departed.
First, the other men of God insisted on chasing after Elijah, as if God may have dropped him in the mountains. Without mincing any words, the other prophets clearly demonstrated that they did not respect Elisha's authority. Pressed to embarrassment by their entreaties, Elisha let them go. When the prophets returned without Elijah, he told them bluntly, "I told you so!"
He did not apologize for his authority, and he did not make light of their stubborn blind adherence to one man as opposed to the Spirit of God.
After demonstrating his authority to the men of God, Elisha went about performing great miracles. Repeating the same divine feat of splitting the Jordan with Elijah's mantle, Elisha then healed the filthy water of Jericho with a cruse of salt.
If that would have been enough to dissuade any more disrespect, along came forty two children, gaily mocking the prophet of the Lord, shouting. "You go, baldy! You go, badly!"
Rather than just taking it in stride, Elisha cursed the children in the name of the Lord, whereupon two she-bears roared out of the wilderness and tore all the miscreant children to pieces.
Now, one would think that Elisha should not have had to endure such testing, having received the double portion of God's blessing. On the contrary, because he was doubly-blessed, because he was favored far more highly than his master, the Enemy sent many traps and frustrations his way, but all to no avail.
This serves as an example to all believers when they are challenged or persecuted. Rather than assuming that God has abandoned them or is punishing them for some wrongdoing, let them fall back on the unmoving assurance that He who never leaves us nor forsakes us wants to use us overcome the wickedness that oppresses us.
We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus. As long as we rest in His strength, nothing can stop us. As long as we rely by faith in the double blessing anointed to all of us through the Holy Spirit, we know that we have nothing to fear.
In closing, let us remember the promise that Jesus has given to every believer who trusts in Him:
"And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
"But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life." 9Mark 10:29-30)
Many Christians fear the blessings because of the persecutions. But we must remember:
"Be of good cheer [literally, "be of good courage"], I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)