THE GOD OF RESTORATION
Background: II Kings 4:8-37
Today’s Lesson : II Kings 8:1-6 (NKJV)
The King Restores the Shunammite’s Land
¹Then Elisha spoke to the woman whose son he had restored to life, saying, “Arise and go, you and your household, and stay wherever you can; for the Lord has called for a famine, and furthermore, it will come upon the land for seven years.” 2 So the woman arose and did according to the saying of the man of God, and she went with her household and dwelt in the land of the Philistines seven years.
3 It came to pass, at the end of seven years, that the woman returned from the land of the Philistines; and she went to make an appeal to the king for her house and for her land. 4 Then the king talked with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, saying, “Tell me, please, all the great things Elisha has done.” 5 Now it happened, as he was telling the king how he had restored the dead to life, that there was the woman whose son he had restored to life, appealing to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, “My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son whom Elisha restored to life.” 6 And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed a certain officer for her, saying, “Restore all that was hers, and all the proceeds of the field from the day that she left the land until now.”
1. The Shunamite woman lost her son ; the main man in her life; her home and; her resources. Let’s examine her traits. Not much is known about her except that she was (i) great, kind and perceptive 4:8-9 (ii) persuasive 4:10 (iii) consistent 4: 13 (iv) barren 4: 14 (v) humble 4:15 (vi) doubtful 4:16 (vii) received her promise 4:17.
As the story progresses, her promise (her son) died! What do you do when your promise dies/ is delayed/ lies dormant? What is your posture when despair or desperation replaces hope? What happens when hope seems less than useless?
2. There is nothing more hopeless than death. This great woman needed support and she recognized that. She needed the support of someone who knew how to reach God on her behalf so she went after the man of God. We sometimes face challenges that we cannot handle on our own. Like the paralyzed man in Mark 2:4, we need the help of friends who will take our concerns to Jesus.
She made a confession in answer to her husband’s inquiry, it shall be well (II Kings 4:23). She was walking by faith. However, when she got to Elijah, she said, It IS well (4:26). Notice the difference between her faith and her confession . In this case they were both positive, however, at times we believe one thing, but speak a different thing. Our words are powerful. Death and life are in the power of the tongue…( Prov. 18:21).
3. It became “well” just like she confessed. Her son was restored to life by the God of Elijah. This God is trustworthy, so when Elijah later prophesied that there would be a famine in the land and she was instructed to leave and reside elsewhere, she left her home (8:1-6). We can assume that somewhere along the line, she lost her husband because he was old and he is not mentioned in the rest of the story. Now she was about to lose her home, her land, her friends and seemingly all her resources. Can we see her reflecting on everything she was about to leave behind? Can we visualize her counting the cost?
We do that too! We question God! “…but God; YOU said so and so; How come…?; But why, God?; Alright God, let me put a fleece before You.” Then, to justify our concerns, we remind Him of Gideon. (Judges 6:37)
4. After seven years of famine, she returned to nothing ( that’s what she thought). She went crying to the king for her household and her land (II Kings 8:5), thinking that the king was her source. Unknown to her, God had a plan of restoration, because the king’s heart is in His hands. He was about to use that same king to bring about restoration. The king appointed a certain officer to sort out the woman’s loss.
Job 7:1 tells us that God has appointments for us: our bounds (Job 14:5) ; our time for change (Job 14:14) ; things performed (Job 23:14).
God gives His angels charge over us. (Psalm 91) God gives ministering spirits to work on our behalf. (Heb. 1:14)
5. The certain officer was instructed to RESTORE ALL that she had lost ( II Kings 8:6). Can you imagine seven years of increase in her livestock; bank account ; land ; friends ; you name it, seven years’ worth?
Can we see her not having room enough to receive (Mal.3:10-11) ? She, in her sensitivity, provided for the man of God without the motive of what was in it for her. She did as unto the Lord. Her blessing began when she opened her home to God’s servant.
6. We cannot outdo the God of heaven. When He gets ready to restore, He does more than we can ask or think. This God of restoration is ready, willing and able. He CAN DO IT AND HE WILL DO IT!
REFLECTION
1. Think of a time when you were anxious about something that seemed impossible for you to resolve, but God came through for you, just in time.
2. Give an example of how our confession sometimes does not reflect our faith.
3. Pause and say a prayer of thanksgiving to God to restore something that seems beyond restoration.
Dr. O. A. James