32 When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch. 33 He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed to the Lord. 2 Kings 4
The Shunammite woman had travelled some twenty miles to Mount Carmel to bring Elisha to pray for her dead son. Gehazi had run ahead to touch the boy with Elisha’s staff but he hadn’t responded. Now, Elisha was alone with her son in the room where he’d stayed many times. I’m surmising a bit, but that room must have been filled with the prophet’s prayers and at times the very presence of the Lord Himself. The Shunammite had left her son in the one place in her house flooded with the presence of God. In times of crisis we need to seek the Lord’s presence and not just religious ritual.
34 Then he got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he stretched himself out on him, the boy’s body grew warm. 35 Elisha turned away and walked back and forth in the room and then got on the bed and stretched out on him once more. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes. 2 Kings 4
There’s something very significant about close identification with those we’re trying to help. Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission (CIM), eventually adopted Chinese dress and customs so that the people could relate with him more easily and eventually all the other missionaries in CIM followed him. This practice gave both the men and women of the mission great favour with the people they sought to serve and win to Christ.
John G Lake was praying and ministering to a woman dying of cancer and he’d left her room for a short time to freshen up. As he returned to her house he heard her crying out in pain and ran to comfort her. He embraced her body in his arms and cried out to God for mercy for her. The Lord heard their cries and the lady was spontaneously healed as he pleaded for her.
In the case of the Shunammite’s son, God also accepted the prayers of the prophet and no doubt the mother, for the life of her child. Elisha had to fully invest himself to save the child he’d prophesied would be born to her and an older husband.
May we always trust God that He is able to keep what He’s given to us, in Jesus Name. Hallelujah
24 ‘“‘The Lord bless you
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face towards you
and give you peace.’”
27 ‘So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.’ Numbers 6
May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.