September 11, 2020
Dearly Beloved, I greet and bless everyone in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. The blessed word that God has given for you today, is from the book of 2 Kings 4:30, “ As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So He arose and followed her.
From the above context we understand that Elisha the prophet often visited Shunem, where there was a notable woman. And knowing that He was a man of God she made a small upper room in the terrace of her house. She then provided a bed for him there and also a table and chair, and a lamp stand, so that he could use it whenever he visited that place. And it so happened that one day as usual Elisha came to Shunem and lay down there in that room. And he asked his servant Ghezahi to call the Shunammite woman and so she came and stood before him. Elisha looking at her said, “Look you have been concerned for us, with all this care, What can I do for you? She answered, “I dwell among my own people and I have been blessed with all things so I don’t need anything.”’ So Elisha said, what else is to be done for her? And Ghezahi answered, “Actually she has no son. And her husband is old.”So he called her again and she stood in the doorway. Then Elisha the man of God said, “About this time, next year, you shall embrace a son”.
Just as Elisha had said, the woman conceived and bore a son, when the appointed time had come, of which Elisha had told her. And the child grew, and said to his father that his head was paining. So he sent him to his mother. He sat on her knees till noon and then died. So the Shunammite woman took the child, went up to the room on the terrace and shut the door upon him and she immediately left her home to meet the Prophet. She said to her husband, “Please send me one of the servant and one of the donkey, that I may run to the man of God, and come back.”When questioned about her going to see the man of God, she told her husband .All is well. Then she saddled her donkey and drove on until she came to the man of God at Mount Carmel.
When the man of God saw her at a distance he informed Ghehazi, about her coming. The servant ran to her and asked if all is well with her husband and her son and she boldly said, “’All is well.” She fell at the feet of the Man Of God and explained her situation. She said, “Lord did I ask for a son, ? Did I not say, Do not deceive me? So Elisha asked his servant to take his staff and go right away to her house and place the staff upon the face of the child. But the mother of the child said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So He arose and followed her, seeing her resolute determination, and being overcome by her persistence. And his tenderness of heart was seen in the act, towards so great a friend.
Here we see the sudden death of the child. All the mother’s tenderness could not keep alive the child of promise, a child of prayer, one given in love. But how admirably does the prudent, pious mother, guard her lips under this sudden affliction! Not one peevish word escapes from her mouth. Such confidence had she of God’s goodness, that she was ready to believe that God would restore what He had now taken away. O woman, great is thy faith! She knew that He who blessed her with a son would not disappoint her. And so she approached the Prophet Elisha.
When Elisha entered into the upper room, he shut the door behind the two of them. He cried unto God in faith; He lay on the child. He put his mouth on the mouth of the child, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands, and he stretched himself on the child, and the child came back to life, and the beloved son was restored alive to his mother.
Here we see the faith of the Shunammite woman being honoured. She displayed her faith not only in God but also testified her faith before the man of God therefore God immediately began to act for her. God acts for those who wait upon Him in faith. She was bold and vibrant in action. She was neither lethargic nor did she delay her pursuit in search of the prophet. May be you are waiting for God to perform such a miracle for your son, or daughter. They may be ill and they need the healing touch of God. Their education, or business or their family life may be in a dead situation and they need restoration. Have faith in God and pray fervently then he will hear your cry and come to your aid. He will never leave you nor forsake you. The Bible says, this poor man cried out and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. Sometime we need to cry out to the Lord for help. Then God will hear your cry and save you from all your troubles. God bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Lord help us to be wise like the Shunammite woman. Give us a kind heart, to serve the men of God who come to our house. May we be able to provide the best for them and help them in their ministry. Teach us to set a good example like her. She did not utter a word even though she was in deep distress. Help us to ponder within our heart and pour it out before the Lord God Almighty, who will help the widows and the fatherless, and never forgets the expectation of the poor.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
