Elisha, upon being chosen as Elijah's successor, recognized the immense responsibilities and challenges of the prophetic office. As a young man thrust into this role, he sought assurance to perform not just adequately, but to match or exceed Elijah's accomplishments. In his request for a double portion of Elijah's spirit, Elisha may have been expressing humility, feeling inadequate and needing greater strength, or ambition, desiring to expand God's work among the people and turn more of Israel to the Lord. Elijah responded that this was a difficult request, as only God can bestow His Holy Spirit, and he did not know God's will regarding the extent of Elisha's future ministry. He told Elisha that if he saw him when taken away, the double portion would be granted; if not, it would not be so. When Elisha cried out, seeing the miraculous translation of Elijah, it confirmed that he had received the double portion of God's Spirit. This event shows that God is always willing to provide the necessary help to complete the tasks He assigns. If we feel unequal to our calling, He will equip us to meet and surpass the demands of our responsibilities.

Martin Collins asserts that miracles and signs from God, while certainly generating awe and fear, seldom lead to righteousness, but more likely to continued rebellion. Jesus points out that only an adulterous generation seeks after miracles and signs. No greater period of miracles took place in history than at the time of the Exodus, including the plagues of Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, and the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. Yet, the stiff-necked Israelites rebelled against God on ten separate occasions. The longest period of growth and stability in Israel occurred under David's and Solomon's reigns, a period attended by no miracles. Elijah and Elisha performed godly miracles during a massive apostasy. John the Baptist, proclaimed by Jesus as the greatest of men, performed no miracles whatsoever. The miracles and signs Jesus performed were received with awe, but also with much ridicule and scoffing from the religious leaders. Axiomatically, the spiritually weak need miracles; the more spiritually mature one becomes, the fewer signs and wonders he needs to sustain faith. God blessed the Corinthian congregation with spiritual gifts (of discerning prophecy, speaking in tongues, healing, etc.), but the vanity which these gifts produced led to party-spirit and jealousy. In the future, the False Prophet and Beast will lead many astray by miracles and signs, deceiving most of the world. As God's called-out ones, walking humbly with God should displace any desperate need for signs and wonders.