When The King Restores

2 Kings 8:1-6 (NKJV)

When the King Restores

March 5, 2023

Today’s scripture begins with the Shunamite woman we preached about in chapter 6, where we learned that she had prepared a rooftop room with a bed, a desk and chair for Elisha. Because of her hospitality toward the prophet, God blessed her with a son. When that son fell ill working in the field by his father’s side and later died in the arms of his mother, God brought that young boy back to life again. We are to note that since that last time we spoke of her and her son that her husband has died, for he is no longer mentioned in the text. Thus, the inheritance would now be passed to the son. But Elisha foresaw a seven-year famine which was coming and advised her to take her household and seek refuge outside the land. Obediently she sought refuge in nearby Philistia and waited. So, at the end of the seventh year, on her return, she discovered that her son’s inheritance had been taken over by someone in her absence. Now instead of seeking the prophet to resolve her legal matter, her intention was to appeal to the king for her son’s rights to be restored. For she was a woman of means, a woman of resources. The history shows that it was in the will of God that this happened precisely at that time that the king was asking Gehazi, Elisha’s former servant, to report to him some of Elisha’s miracles, and Gehazi was telling him about Elisha raising the boy from the dead. And as he was speaking Gehazi saw the Shunamite coming to the king he said, “This is the woman, and this is her son.”

The Return – This woman was told to leave here home for 7 years. When God tells you to move, it does not mean that the place where you want to be is not for you it simply means that it is not for you now. She returned to the land of her choice as soon as the famine was over. But she found things different from when she left. Her house and her land had been taken over by another. Sometimes what God is moving you away from is simply because it’s not your season. You see… It’s not that you are not ready for it, No it’s just not ready for you. You may have it, but just not now. It’s yours if you are willing to wait for it. If you would simply wait for it to be prepared for you. There are some things that will harm you now, but if you wait, He will clear that away. Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you.” He said, “I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” Why couldn’t the disciples go right then? It wasn’t their time! Jesus did not say that they weren’t ready to be with Him, He said the place that I have for you has to be prepared for you! He taught through Jeremiah, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” The woman returns after 7 years, to find that her property is occupied, and she will have to plead with the king to receive back what is hers. God gave this woman resource and intellect and she prepared to use it wisely! Do what you have the power to do! Do you remember when Elisha first met this woman in chapter 6 he told her that he could get her an audience with the king. She said no because she didn’t need Elisha’s influence, she knew by law how to get to the king. There is a lesson for us here; she did not ask anything of the prophet, that she could handle on her own.

The Report - So, she went to the king as the custom was to plea for what belonged to her. While she was preparing her argument God had aroused the king’s curiosity and he called for Gehazi, Elisha’s servant and said, “tell me, please, all the great things the prophet has done.” I need a report! I need a testimony. Surely the king remembered, his great victory over the Syrian raiders and how He blinded their eyes so Elisha could lead them into his own Israeli territory of Samaria. Tell me what other great things Elisha has done by the power of God. So, Gehazi told the King of the floating Ax head. He told the king of how Elisha purified the pot of poisoned strew. He told the king of how Elisha blessed one of his minister’s wives and her son to take a little jar of oil and fill a multitude of empty pots to sell and pay her debts and live on the abundance of her profits. Then he told him of the Shunammite’s son of how God promised a wealthy woman a son and then when he got sick and died how God raised him up again! At that very moment, in the midst of Gehazi’s report, here comes the woman from Shunem up to the king to make her case. Gehazi says, “This is the woman and this is her son who was once dead but now lives.” There is power in the testimony of God’s grace! It is through continual telling of the biblical history that people are inspired to act out in faith. Revelations 12:11 says that when the evil one accused the saints day and night, “they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and because of the word of their testimony.” There is power in your testimony!