2 Kings 8:1–6 ‘Give back everything that belonged to her, including all the income from her land…’ (v6)
Remember the Shunammite woman whose son Elisha restored to life? She appears again here. Having heeded the prophet’s warning to flee the impending famine, she returns seven years later to find her home and land taken over.
Her tenacious character comes through again, for she goes straight to the king to seek justice. What happens next is God at work, for we see her approaching the king just as he asks Elisha’s former servant about Elisha’s exploits for God.
Even as Gehazi speaks of the Shunammite woman and how Elisha had raised her son from the dead, she and her son appear before Gehazi and the king.
The double grace is that on the one hand, the woman and her son provide an in-person confirmation of Gehazi’s stories to the king, while on the other hand, she finds favour with the king, receiving her land and seven years of profits back without trouble.
When we despair over the circumstances of our lives, we can turn to God for help. As we see in this story, He can intervene through a miracle of good timing.
What may at first seem to be a chance encounter could actually be God’s movement in our lives. As He is the most powerful being anywhere, He can shape the events of our lives as we submit to Him.
Why not commit to asking God to move in mysterious ways in our world? May He rule and reign over all the earth, and may His love be known.
A Prayer To Make:
‘Father God, You are all powerful and yet all loving. I submit my life to Your care. Mould me and shape me into Your image. Amen.’
An Action To Take:
Pray about some of the seemingly intransigent world leaders who wield control over their people, such as the leader of North Korea, that God’s kingdom would be enacted.
Scripture To Consider:
Jer. 32:26–27; Zeph. 3:16–17; Matt. 19:24–26; Eph. 6:10–13
