The first of those places (verse 1) was at Gilgal. The two men had been journeying together, and then Elijah gives Elisha an opportunity to opt out of the journey ahead.
"You can stay here," he says.
I always think of Gilgal as the place of sacrifice and consecration. Gilgal is mentioned several times in the Bible (and it may not always refer to exactly the same place) but the one that stands out for me is in Joshua chapter 5. (See Joshua 4: 19 - 20.) The people of Israel had been journeying in the wilderness for 40 years - because of their own unbelief and disobedience - and now they were on the verge of something new: they were about to claim the Promised Land, but it would require effort, courage and consecration.
They had to renew their covenant with God, committing to follow Him wherever He led them... and they did that by circumcision. (Joshua 5: 4 - 8)
Was it painful? Of course it was.
Did it make them feel vulnerable? No doubt about that.
But it was sort of a first step into the new calling of the new generation: a way of saying, "Here we are, Lord. We're going to do things your way, no matter what the cost."
One of the times when the next generation could be tempted to turn back and miss out on the double portion is at the place where sacrifice and consecration are required; where you feel vulnerable and on the verge of the unknown. It might be a call to give up paid employment and live completely "by faith," trusting God for provision. It might be a challenge to step out of your comfort zone and leave behind something that feels familiar and safe (either physically or spiritually.)
On that day when he slaughtered his oxen and burned his plough (1 Kings 19: 19 - 21), Elisha had already demonstrated that he was willing for that kind of sacrifice. Here again, at Gilgal, Elisha was not going to be someone who would fail the test and stay behind at the place of sacrifice.
What about you and me?
Read on below for the second location in Elisha's journey.
