Bible Studies for Life
God’s Hand in Meeting Other’s Needs
2 Kings 4: 8 And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. 9 And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. 10 Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.
The hospitality of strangers was necessary because public inns were few and far between; therefore, travelers had to depend on the generosity of strangers. Hospitality was to be extended to all people, even one’s enemies. In this instance, hospitality was extended to Elisha to such an extent that the couple constructed a room in their home where the prophet could stay whenever he was in the area. That Elisha was a holy man of God did not mean that Elisha was morally perfect, but rather that Elisha was set apart by God to do the work of God.
2 Kings 4: 11 And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there. 12 And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him. 13 And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people. 14 And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old. 15 And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door. 16 And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid. 17 And the woman conceived and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.
Elisha believed the woman’s actions and sacrifices on his behalf significant-they had cost her something. Without being asked, the woman and her husband had constructed a room for Elisha and furnished it (vv.9-10).
Having no children in the ancient world was a somber and serious predicament. This situation meant that the couple had no children to assist with the day-to-day work and would have no one to care for them in their old age. Furthermore, barrenness carried a stigma and was often looked upon as a curse from God.
2 Kings 4: 32 And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. 33 He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD. 34 And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. 35 Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36 And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son. 37 Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.
Just as Elisha had promised, God gave the Shunammite woman a child (vv. 16-17). However, the son who had been miraculously born suddenly died (vv. 18-20). The mother hurried to Elisha and reminded him of the promise that he had made to her about having a son (vv. 27-28). Elisha sent his servant to the dead boy. Elisha gave Gehazi his staff and told him to put it on the boy’s face. However, no miracle occurred; the boy remained dead (vv.29-31). The mother did not go with Gehazi but remained with Elisha (v.30)-seemingly having faith that if God was going to work a miracle He would do so through Elisah. He is consistently called the “man of God” throughout the biblical account of his life. He prayed therefore, to heal the woman’s son, in faith Elisha sought God and His power.
The boy’s mother had laid his dead body on the prophet’s bed in the room that had been made for him. Elisha exited the room where the boy was laying, entered the main house, and paced back and forth. While the text does not explicitly state the reason for his actions. The boy’s flesh had merely become warm rather than the boy fully returning to life. It may seem odd to us that Elisha would be worried or troubled. He was a prophet. However, the Bible is full of people of faith who at times doubted the power of God. Like all other miracles and acts of God, the miracle performed in this account was not based on the depth or strength of Elisha’s faith. The miracle to revive the boy was based on the power of Almighty God.
The number seven signifies fullness and completion. That the boy sneezed seven times was an indication that he was once again fully alive and healthy. This event also indicates that it is God alone who has the power over life and death. This same awesome powerful God is the God we serve if we have accepted Him into our lives.
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Be Equipped
2 Peter 1: 3 According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God has equipped believers with everything they need for spiritual growth by God’s “divine power.” Everything needed for eternal life and for a godly life on earth comes through “the knowledge” of Christ. This indicates a relationship or intimate acquaintance with Jesus. As believers, we can share in the divine nature. It is moral excellence where we reflect God’s nature and character. We have a responsibility to “make every effort” to grow spiritually. Peter listed a chain of virtues that promote spiritual growth: faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, brotherly affection, and love.
2 Peter1: 16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
Peter emphasized the assurance of Jesus’s identity as a factor in spiritual growth. Christian doctrine is rooted in historical fact, but believers need to reflect regularly on Jesus’s identity and purpose. Peter had been an eyewitness of the transfiguration and could declare with confidence that Jesus was God’s Son. The eyewitness accounts of the biblical writers give us confidence to grow in spiritual maturity. Understanding Jesus’s identity and majesty as the Son of God helps us to follow Him confidently.
2 Peter 1: 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Along with our salvation, Peter noted that we also have the integrity of Scripture. The Old Testament Scriptures pointed to Christ, and, as Messiah, He Fulfilled every word. To guard against false teachers, believers needed to “pay attention” to this truth. Peter emphasized that all “prophecy of Scripture” originates with the Spirit of God. False teachers distorted God’s word and put their own interpretations on the Scriptures. We do not have the luxury of making Scriptures say what we want it to say.
We must be true with ourselves and with God, He already knows it all!
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