2 Kings 4.
HERE we have several examples of the character of God’s dealings with a people from whom, as a nation, He had withdrawn. We may say, reading the story of verses 1 to 7, here is an example of what the Lord said in Matthew 8:1313And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour. (Matthew 8:13), “As thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee.” And likewise, the scene in Gen. 18:23-3323And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? 24Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? 25That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? 26And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes. 27And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes: 28Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it. 29And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake. 30And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there. 31And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake. 32And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake. 33And the Lord went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place. (Genesis 18:23‑33), as long as Abraham stood interceding, the Lord stood promising, as another has said,
It was what the poor widow had, that was to be used in faith, —she had nothing “save a pot of oil,”—and what was that with which to meet the creditor? “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” It was enough, under God, to supply the full measure of the faith that now, at the prophet’s prompting, counted upon Him. And this in no public display of power, but unseen by the world (verse 5).
The second portion of the chapter (verses 8-37) deals with the “great woman” of Shunem. She marks this prophet of God, that he walks alone and has nothing, and speaks to her husband so that a little room is provided for him in their dwelling.
Was she not herself one who knew God, and for His sake sought to do something for His servant? Blessing then was to be hers, though earthly honor (verse 13) had no attraction for her. She believed the promise, and as with the widow we have just been considering, faith’s demands are fully met.
There was more; as with Abraham and his dearly loved Isaac, the sentence of death is laid on the child of promise, that the lesson of resurrection may be learned in the heart. No wavering in either case do we see: faith is lively, and calmly in energy of faith the bereaved mother goes, through the prophet, to God for help, and seeks not in vain. And when her faith is answered, it is not astonishment that she exhibits, but gratitude (verse 37); she had counted on Him Who is able (Eph. 3:2020Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, (Ephesians 3:20)).
Lastly (verses 38-44) we have a time of famine, and death is near. The meal (verse 41) is a figure of Christ Who entered this scene of death and Satan’s power, to intercept the course of things. He has “destroyed (annulled the power of) him who had the power of death” (Heb. 2:1414Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; (Hebrews 2:14)).
Carelessly, heedless of consequences, the gathering of the wild fruit had been carried out—such has been the history of man from Adam down. Note that this was not part of Elisha’s provision (verse 38); it was “one” that went out into the field who brought in the deadly thing, spoiling everything. But it becomes harmless, and presently there is abundance to eat.
So God has met in the ruin of all things here, the desires and needs of those who put their trust in Him, so that they can appropriate the words of Psalm 23,
“The Lord is My Shepherd: I shall not want ... ..Thou preparest a table before memy cup runneth over ... ..”
ML 10/23/1927