Last night I was reading in 2 Kings. It has been a while since I’ve read about Elisha the Prophet.

I was amazed as I read different stories (Chapter 4) about people running to Elisha for help. Can you imagine being the local prophet? The weight and responsibility of it all? You would definitely need to hear clearly from the Lord.

First, a widow woman ran to him because her sons were about to be taken as slaves since she wasn’t able to pay her debts. She told Elisha all she had was a jar of oil. He told her and her sons to go gather many jars from her neighbors — go in her house, close her door, and start filling each jar.

This woman didn’t hesitate. She believed and acted in faith. EACH jar was supernaturally filled then the oil stopped flowing! She sold the oil and paid her creditor.

2 Kings 4:5-6
She left him and afterward shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.

I think it required faith from the woman and her sons. They had to step out in faith and gather jars from all of their neighbors. I can imagine the looks they received as they scurried from door to door asking for jars.

The next story was about the Shunamitte’s son.

There was a wealthy woman who invited Elisha to come for a meal when he was in town, so each time he came to Shunem he would eat at her home. This woman talked with her husband and decided to make a room for Elisha to stay when he visited. Because she did so much for this man of God, he wanted to do something for her. He found out through his servant that this woman did not have a son and her husband was old.

2 Kings 4:15-16
Then Elisha said, “Call her.” So he called her, and she stood in the doorway. “About this time next year,” Elisha said, “you will hold a son in your arms.” “No, my lord,” she objected. “Don’t mislead your servant, O man of God!”

1. Wow, wouldn’t it be awesome to have a prophet offer you such a holy gift?
2. I can totally relate to her response. Can’t you?
3. So what happened you ask? I’ll tell you …

The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son the next year just as Elisha had said! Don’t clap and cheer yet — something happened. Isn’t it just like the devil to try to steal a blessing?

The child grew and complained about his head hurting. He came back to the house and died in his mother’s arms. BUT IT WAS HER REACTION THAT AMAZED ME!!!

2 Kings 4:20-28

After the servant had lifted him up and carried him to his mother, the boy sat on her lap until noon, and then he died. She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, then shut the door and went out.

She called her husband and said, “Please send me one of the servants and a donkey so I can go to the man of God quickly and return.”

“Why go to him today?” he asked. “It’s not the New Moon or the Sabbath.”
“It’s all right,” she said.

She saddled the donkey and said to her servant, “Lead on; don’t slow down for me unless I tell you.” So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel.

When he saw her in the distance, the man of God said to his servant Gehazi, “Look! There’s the Shunammite! Run to meet her and ask her, ‘Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is your child all right?’ “
“Everything is all right,” she said.

When she reached the man of God at the mountain, she took hold of his feet. Gehazi came over to push her away, but the man of God said, “Leave her alone! She is in bitter distress, but the LORD has hidden it from me and has not told me why.”

“Did I ask you for a son, my lord?” she said. “Didn’t I tell you, ‘Don’t raise my hopes’?”

Even if you’re not a Mom, can you imagine a child (the promised child) dying in your arms while you kept it a secret? She had to have kept her composure or others would have known. I’m amazed.

She knew she had to find the man of God, Elisha. Even when Elisha’s servant asked if everything was ok, she said it was. I wonder why she didn’t tell the servant the truth?

I can imagine myself saying something very similar: Didn’t I tell you not to raise my hopes?

Well, the story ends well. You should read what Elisha did to raise the boy from the dead. Go to 2 Kings 4 to see what he did. Amazing!

(Picture credit.)