God’s Hand in Meeting Others’ Needs • 2 Kings 4:8-17; 32-37
By Clay Anthony
The story of the succession of God’s prophets continues in this week’s lesson. Elisha ventured through the process of recognition from the other sons of the prophets and as we saw last week he performed his first miracle involving a widow’s financial needs. Furthering the recognition in today’s scene is an unnamed woman from Shunem (v. 8) who recognized God’s hand on Elisha.
In a reverse blessing moment, the Shunammite woman desires to be a blessing to Elisha. She notes that he is constantly passing through her neighborhood and coupled with an obvious belief in God, she contrives a plan to prepare him what we would call a rest stop. Again, do not let it be lost on us the power of recognizing God’s hand on his anointed ones. As Elisha worked to represent the people before God, this lady wanted to play a part in his ministry by providing a place of shelter and rest. Also, as present-day readers, we must not read into the story any form of quid pro quo. The actions taken by this lady were driven purely out of respect for God’s prophet and not an attempt to receive anything in return. That is a picture of hospitality towards and love of God’s people.
The point of verses 8-10 is that you and I are called to have our needs “antenna” in full focus towards the hurting and tired who walk among us every day. What can be done through your small group, your family, or your own initiative to help just one person. In your neighborhood, who are the single mothers, the lonely elderly, the fatherless children? These can never pay you back and that is the point. For the Christian, how could we ever repay the grace that God has exposed us to?
Elisha did have a surprise for this lady as a way of saying thank you. Like Sarah and Hanna before her and Elizabeth after, this lady was childless even after asking God for a child. Her kindness to Elisha was repaid in a way she certainly could not have seen coming. Today, you and I might send a thank you note or perhaps a gift card to a local eatery, but Elisha announces that in one year’s time this barren lady will be a mother (vs. 11-17). If nothing else, we can always tell people that our God is full of surprises.
If you live long enough, you will see your joy turned into mourning. Verses 32-37 turn the occasion from celebration to heart wrenching despair. The baby boy grows into a child who develops some form of medical need in his head. In short, we are told that he passes away. Once more there is a surprise involved but it is not the good kind. Upon the first reading it seems this mother is in shock. First, she tells no one what has happened, only to hide her son in the room she created for Elisha. She does not even bring up the death to her husband. Next, she prepares for and takes a journey to Mt. Carmel, the home area of Elisha. Once again, she mentions no death to Elisha’s assistant Gehazi. She is perhaps in shock from all that has happened, or could there be more going on in her psyche?
We are told that she finally tells Elisha what has occurred, and the truth of her behavior comes out. Verse 28 reveals that she clings to Elisha and will not let him go. Why? Obviously, as Elisha notes, she is in bitter distress. If you have even owned a piece of distressed furniture, you know that it looks beaten and battered. This woman is worn to a frazzle. Her promised child, the one given to her for her kindness, has died. She did not even ask for this gift so why now would she suffer over his passing?
Note this: she did not seek help from her husband nor Elisha’s assistant. This lady had a heart to bless others, and it was rewarded. When that heart was broken, she knew of only one place that she could turn to for comfort and help: God. How would she get into contact with God? By seeking out and clinging to God’s prophet. Elisha had been recognized by others and had solidified his place as God’s spokesmen through the miracle of the widow’s oil. She knew the only one that could meet her need was the one that the blessing had begun with.
Anthony is Missions Pastor at Harrisburg Church, Tupelo.
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