CLick here to read Bible passage: 2 Kings 4:22-28
The temptation is to give in to your feelings instead of clinging to your faith. The anger and hurt of the woman are seen in her response to Elisha. She was a grieving mother. When she left home to see Elisha she refused to talk to anyone. She was holding her grief inside. Denial was turning into anger which can lead to bitterness. She wanted to tell Elisha of her loss and how he and the Lord had failed her! It would have been better if the son had never born than experience the pain of his death. It hurts so badly.
She ran to Elisha and clung to his feet despite the protests of the servant Gehazi. Elisha had not been told the problem yet, but saw her bitter distress. Her words were sharp and clear, "Did I ask you for a son, my lord?" she said. "Didn't I tell you, 'Don't raise my hopes'?"
Sometimes God gives us answers and sometimes He doesn’t. The woman had been many times in despair for being barren. Her hopes many times were dashed by trying to have children and not being able to do so.
The joy and excitement and hope were overwhelming as God gave her the desire of her heart. Satan took it away. She was fulfilled, but now was barren in her heart again with the love of her life gone. The temptation to curse God and die was probably there when she felt the fault lay on Elisha for interceding on her behalf for a child.
There are always situations around us that cause us to question and circumstances we do not understand. Our faith is tested, but we do something that we believe is of God we keep on doing it,
What is faith for? Our spiritual exercises-Bible study, prayer, reading Christian books, listening to Christian radio and CD tapes are also for a purpose. They are meant to strengthen our faith. They are to gain greater love and devotion to the Lord. They are to be used by God through us to build God's kingdom, not simply to improve our posture before an admiring audience. Our faith is not just to show our piety, but to be used when the times of testing and temptations come.
Satan will tempt us to quit. He will tempt us to hold grudges and we can become bitter people. There are many empty pews that once were filled with people who believed, but the tempter came. In our despair, we thought God had not kept up His end of the bargain. He did not do what we wanted Him to do. Our faith is sidelined instead of used to help us through hard times.
Application: How has your faith been tempted recently? When do your feelings overshadow your faith?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the many ways that You send that exercise my faith. Teach me to trust in Your sovereignty in all things.
