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. 18. The child grew, and one day he went out to his father, who was with the reapers. 19. "My head! My head!" he said to his father. His father told a servant, "Carry him to his mother." 20. After the servant had lifted him up and carried him to his mother, the boy sat on her lap until noon, and then he died. 21. She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, then shut the door and went out. 22. She called her husband and said, "Please send me one of the servants and a donkey so I can go to the man of God quickly and return." 23. "Why go to him today?" he asked. "It's not the New Moon or the Sabbath." "It's all right," she said. 24. She saddled the donkey and said to her servant, "Lead on; don't slow down for me unless I tell you." 25. So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel.’
The words of the contemporary song reminded me of a question that tests our faith, “God didn’t take us this far to leave us.”
Last week we looked at the reward and blessing God gave to the woman and her husband for their humble hospitality. Without requesting, Elisha declared they would have a son and so he was born. This was the desire of her heart. Now some years later we read tragedy occurred. Her only son died unexpectedly. What could test our faith more than a death of a child?
There are different views as to how old the boy was. He was still young, perhaps elementary age. Being that the family was wealthy and had many servants, perhaps the father was overseeing many of the reapers and took his son along for a ride. Then the boy complained about not feeling well and having severe pain. The father told a servant to take the child to his mother. He kept getting worse and died.
Scriptures record he died. He did not faint, go into a deep sleep or a coma. He was not resuscitated like many claim experiences today in near death situations. We are grateful for many who are brought to recovery through medical procedures, CPR, and medications. Some conclude the boy was still alive and appeared to be dead or in a coma. He died, just as the Bible said.
Notice the woman's response to her husband and the servant when asked about the boy. Could she have been in shock and couldn’t face the fact? Could she have been experiencing the trauma of emotion that was in denial? She did not want to face the facts until she could see Elisha.
We will also experience difficult times that will test our faith. We will struggle to make sense of our situations where the pieces don’t seem to neatly fall together. Some will trust the Lord, believing completely He will answer one way only to receive an answer we did not expect and we question why.
Like the Centurion with a sick boy in Matt. 8:5-13 this mother reaches out to the one she thought could help. She prepared to leave to visit Elisha for it is through him that God speaks.
People turn to God when they have no place else to turn. Even when our faith is tested, look up! The last chapter hasn’t been revealed to us yet. Miracles can happen.
Application: Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face and the things of this world will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.
Prayer: Lord, I look to You for healing of my mind, sould and body. With You all things are possible.
