2 Kings 8:1-6
You remember about the little boy who became ill in the harvest field, and was carried home and died; but soon was made alive and well again by God’s power when Elisha prayed. (2 Kings 4:18-37).
Sometime after that, Elisha knew, there were to be seven dry years in the land of Israel, when even the nice fields near Mt. Carmel, where that boy’s parents lived, would grow little food, and he said for them to go to another land to stay, this family knew Elisha always told, them what was true, and that he learned from God, so they obeyed and went to another country nearby.
After seven years the famine in Israel was over, and this family returned to their home. But someone else had gone to live in their house and claimed their fields! The woman and her son went to the king to ask him that their home should be given back to them.
Before they came to the king, a man, who was the servant of Elisha, was telling the king of the great things Elisha had done, and how he had raised a child from death. Just then the woman and her son came in to the king!
“This is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life.”
The king asked the mother about this, and she told him the same, and must have been glad to tell the king of God’s great mercy to them.
The king had been in wars, and of course had seen many dead people, but no doubt this boy was the first person he ever saw who had been raised from death. Another boy had been raised to life when Elijah was a prophet, but he did not live in Israel.
So, because of that most wonderful act for the woman’s son, the king was willing to grant their request, and ordered one his officers to see that their home and fields were restored to this family, and also, grain and fruit. They must have been happy to have their good home again, a grateful to God for all His help to them through Elisha. This is the last we are told of this family.
Perhaps this story teaches us of a future time when the nation of Israel shall again have their own land of Palestine. It will then be because of One raised from death, their Messiah, Christ.
All our blessings, too, are, and always will be, because of that same One, The Lord Jesus, “Who was delivered for our offenses and raised again.” Romans 4:25.
ML 07/23/1939