Ordinances or Faith?

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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"And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again. And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him today? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well." 2 Kings 4:22,2322And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again. 23And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well. (2 Kings 4:22‑23).
Her husband represents formal religion, forms without faith or feeling. The mother was not dismayed by the indifference of her husband, for faith must press on alone, turning neither to the right hand, nor to the left.
"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Phil. 3:13,1413Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13‑14).
She left formal religion behind, pressed on to the mark for the inheritance, and ran to the man of God, for there only rested her hope, all in a person. If the prophet could lay the power of nature aside and give her a son contrary to nature, he could also give her a son back in resurrection. She had not asked for the son; it was his own choice.
"Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee." 2 Kings 4:2424Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee. (2 Kings 4:24).
The discomforts of the way are not noticed when the heart is set on the proper object, for it is "but a little way to come to Ephrath [fruitfulness]." Gen. 35:1616And they journeyed from Beth-el; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labor. (Genesis 35:16). How we should covet the spirit of this mother, this great woman, the spirit of normal Christianity.