Then she called to her husband, and said, “Please send me one of the young men and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God and come back.” So he said, “Why are you going to him today? It is neither the New Moon nor the Sabbath.” And she said, “It is well.” Then she saddled a donkey and said to her servant, “Drive, and go forward; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you.” And so she departed, and went to the man of God at Mount Carmel. So it was, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to his servant Gehazi, “Look the Shunammite woman!” Please run now to meet her and say to her, “Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?” And she answered, “It is well.” Now when she came to the man of God at the hill, she caught him by the feet, but Gehazi came near to push her away. But the man of God said, let her alone, for her soul is in deep distress…” 2 Kings 4: 22-27, NKJV.
Dear LORD, where can we go when our souls are in deep distress, except to You? So here we are; please speak to each of us according to our need. This is our prayer, in the blessed name of Jesus. Amen.
Some of us may be familiar with this story, even though we do not hear many sermons preached about it. The name of the woman is not mentioned. That is not a novelty in Scripture; and even less so in the Hebrew Scripture, the Old Testament, as we refer to it. However, as I study the Word, I truly believe that God has permitted some of these biblical characters to remain nameless, so that we can insert our names in their stories. Perhaps there are many of us this morning, who believe that the only person that can understand our deep distress is Jesus! So we take it to only Jesus, with no one between. Let us consider some of the particulars of this story.
The Shunammite’s son is a miracle child. She was lent this child at a time when she most likely did not believe she would ever have a child! We do not know her age, but the Bible makes mention of the fact that her husband was “old,” in reference to the possibility of her having a child (14). I have purposely used the word lent, because children are not our own; we have only been given the sacred task of raising them in such a way that they might come to know, love the LORD, serve Him, and one day go home and live forever with Him. Therefore, at every step of the way we need to ask, “LORD, what are your plans for this child?” Although it is not mentioned, it would appear that at no time, she lost sight of the fact, that this child was a “gift from God!” As a cherished gift, she would handle him with care.
Knowing that his birth had been made possible only because God so ordained; neither would she accept his death, unless she was also convinced, that this was the will of God! Oh, that more of us might dare to trust God beyond what our natural eyes can see! Oh, that we might dare to question the doctor’s diagnosis, and go for a second opinion! And even after a second opinion, and a third, we would go to the “Doctor of doctors,” and present our cases! “LORD, I thought you had some work for me to do. Is my work for you finished? Is it really time for me to die?” Or, “LORD, my children are so small; I know that you are well able to take care of them if I should die; but is it Your will that I should die while they are so young? Do not forget that God is not limited by circumstances, or, by time. Don’t ever forget, that God is the Life-giver; He came to give us life, eternal life! He is also willing and able to give us life in abundance, here on earth! “He,” or she, “will not make it through the night,” might be an invitation for God to show Himself “mighty to save,” on behalf of both physicians and patients!
We must also be willing to say, “Not my will, but Your will be done.” However, when we are sure that we are praying according to God’s will, let us press our petition forward, and see the glory of the LORD revealed!
We will continue with this thought tomorrow.