The Prophet Elisha
2 Kings 13:19 And the man of God was angry with him, and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed it! But now you will strike Syria only three times.”
When Elisha was about to die, King Joash of Israel (a wicked king) came to him weeping, “My Father, My Father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” Perhaps he was asking for a boon from Elisha as Elijah had given to Elisha. Elisha told Joash to take a bow and arrow and shoot. When he did, Elisha cried, “The LORD’s arrow of victory!” Then he told Joash to take a bundle of arrows and strike the ground with them. Joash struck the ground three times and stopped. But Elisha was angry because he only struck the ground three times. He told him, “You should have struck the ground five or six times for then the Lord would have given you victory over Syria until you made an end of it.”
What Elisha, and more importantly, Elisha’s God was encouraging was boldness and persistence in prayer. Elisha had made a bold request when asking for Elijah’s spirit. Joash’s three strikes were not as bold. Jesus similarly encourages boldness and persistence in prayer. “Ask and you shall receive!” (Matthew 7:7) “Whatever you ask the Father in my name, He will give you!” (John 16:23). Luke 18, “they ought always to pray and not lose heart.”
Are you likewise bold in prayer? Or do you forget that it is the God of Elijah, Who has conquered, Who has ascended, Who bids you pray and promises to hear you? Do you ever strike once, twice, or thrice and then quit? Do you lose heart?
Instead, cry again, “Where is the God of Elijah” and dare to pray for big things. Pray and shoot the Lord’s arrow boldly! Pray “greedily” for all of the gifts of the Spirit!
Thou art coming to a King,
Large petitions with thee bring,
For his grace and pow'r are such,
None can ever ask too much.
LutheranService Book 779:2