seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
2 Kings 4:8 One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat. 9 She said to her husband, “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. 10 Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us.”
11 One day when Elisha came, he went up to his room and lay down there. 12 He said to his servant Gehazi, “Call the Shunammite.” So he called her, and she stood before him. 13 Elisha said to him, “Tell her, ‘You have gone to all this trouble for us. Now what can be done for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?’”
She replied, “I have a home among my own people.”
14 “What can be done for her?” Elisha asked.
Gehazi said, “She has no son, and her husband is old.”
15 Then Elisha said, “Call her.” So he called her, and she stood in the doorway. 16 “About this time next year,” Elisha said, “you will hold a son in your arms.”
“No, my lord!” she objected. “Please, man of God, don’t mislead your servant!”
17 But the woman became pregnant, and the next year about that same time she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her.
11 One day when Elisha came, he went up to his room and lay down there. 12 He said to his servant Gehazi, “Call the Shunammite.” So he called her, and she stood before him. 13 Elisha said to him, “Tell her, ‘You have gone to all this trouble for us. Now what can be done for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?’”
She replied, “I have a home among my own people.”
14 “What can be done for her?” Elisha asked.
Gehazi said, “She has no son, and her husband is old.”
15 Then Elisha said, “Call her.” So he called her, and she stood in the doorway. 16 “About this time next year,” Elisha said, “you will hold a son in your arms.”
“No, my lord!” she objected. “Please, man of God, don’t mislead your servant!”
17 But the woman became pregnant, and the next year about that same time she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her.
It's a warm story. This woman had the means to offer Elisha a place to stay. She didn't ask anything in return. She didn't do it so she could be known for her generosity. She did it because she wanted to. It's always nice when someone does something nice just to be nice.
This is from the easy English site.
Elisha asked his servant how he should reward the woman. This servant was called Gehazi. Elisha was the servant of the prophet Elijah before he (Elisha) became a prophet. So Gehazi could have become a prophet too. In the end, Gehazi will disappoint us. But here, Gehazi answered Elisha well. Gehazi realised that the woman did not need any human help. She needed the help that only God could give. She needed a son. That was because her husband was old. It seems that they were unable to have a child. Also, the woman’s husband might die soon. Then she would need a son to provide for her. God gave Elisha a promise for the woman. And in less than a year, the woman had a child.
We cannot always do something to help people. But we can pray for them. In that way, God can supply the things that they need.
We cannot always do something to help people. But we can pray for them. In that way, God can supply the things that they need.
I was just thinking about that this morning..... I had four miscarriages before I had my first child. I would just pass the pregnancy test and then within a week or so.... I'd loose the baby. Twice I had to go to the hospital. Then I had another between my oldest daughter and my second daughter.... and one more between my second daughter and my son.
I know the ache in that statement.... "Don't get my hopes up." I know how she felt. It's heart-wrenching to recall.
