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 God, Please speak to our hearts; and help us to hear that special Word from You that will bring us hope. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Today we will continue the study that we began yesterday. As our title suggests, there are instances in our life when the only voice we want to hear, is the voice of Jesus. We love family and friends, and we respect, and appreciate their words to us during times of trouble. But some situations are so difficult, that the only Words that will bring us through, are the Words of the Savior! Obviously, this “notable” Shunammite woman understood this, and decided that this was such a time.
Her husband was the first to question her motives for going to see the man of God. It seems that unless he passed by their homes, people only sought his help on special occasions, on the “rest days.” All she replied was, “It is well.” It was as if she was saying, “Even if I told you the reason I was going to see him, you would not understand. But, “it is well.” It will be okay, after I have heard a Word from the LORD! She gives specific instructions to her servant, “I want you to go as fast as you can; only diminish the speed if I tell you to.” And off They go! Have you ever been so pained that there was no time to lose? You had to hasten to the mercy seat, because there is where the Words of Life are spoken. There is where you find sweet release! The song-writer put it this way:
“I love the Lord, He heard my cry and pitied every groan! Long as I live, when troubles come, I’ll hasten to His throne!”
Do you remember Peter’s answer to the Savior when Jesus asked them if they (the twelve), were going to abandon Him as his other followers had? “Where could we go?” Peter replied; “You are the One who has the Words of eternal life” (John 6: 66-68). “There are times that only a Word from You will get me through whatever I am going through!”
From a distance the man of God sees her coming. He has known her long enough, and knows her well enough, to know that something is very wrong! There is an urgency to her gallop! So he sends his servant Gehazi to find out what is wrong! “Are all the members of the family well? Are you ok?” It is amazing that he should ask her that question seeing that the LORD had “hidden it” from him, and not told him (27b). Her response to Gehazi is the same as to her husband, “It is well.” There is only one thing that will soothe her pain, a Word from God! When Gehazi would prevent her from expressing her grief, as she holds on to the feet of the man of God; Elisha stops him. “Let her vent! This is not a small matter. Something bigger than her has turned her world upside down. Nobody, can understand the love of a mother for her child, except God reveals it! God had shown Elisha the depth of this mother’s pain!
He gave Gehazi his staff, with the intention that she would go back with him. She would not have it! You, Elisha, are the man of God. I will not go without you (30), because, at a time like this, only a word from God will do!
We will continue tomorrow!