Got tears?

February 9, 2021 (Tuesday)

 

We see prophets living off the kindness of others. Even Jesus lived of the generosity of his followers (see Luke 8:2 – 3). These relationships tend to be symbiotic, benefiting both sides. Elisha demonstrates an example of this in today’s story.

 

Here’s the setup, “One day Elisha went to the town of Shunem. A wealthy woman lived there, and she urged him to come to her home for a meal. After that, whenever he passed that way, he would stop there for something to eat.” [2 Kings 4:8 NLT] Seems simple enough. The woman shows Elisha hospitality. This was fairly common in the days before there were restaurants and hotels.

 

The Shunamite woman comes to a conclusion, “She said to her husband, “Look, I know that he is a holy man of God and he passes by regularly.” [2 Kings 4:9 CEB] In other words, her initial hospitality was not linked to any specific knowledge. Over time, she begins to understand Elisha’s connection with God.

 

She then steps up her hospitality, “Let’s make a small room on the roof. We’ll set up a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp for him there. Then when he comes to us, he can stay there.” [2 Kings 4:10 CEB] Traveling on foot was a dangerous thing. Being robbed on the road was a common occurrence. She imposes on her husband to provide shelter for the prophet.

 

Elisha seeks to return the blessing. On questioning, she states she is content. Elisha is not deterred. “And he said, “What then is to be done for her?” Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.” [2 Kings 4:14 ESV] What Gehazi, his assistant, is saying the woman has no one to care for or protect her when her husband dies. Since he said “no son” instead of “no children,” I think the issue is future security.

 

Elisha calls her, “Next year at this time you will be holding a son in your arms!” “No, my lord!” she cried. “O man of God, don’t deceive me and get my hopes up like that.” [2 Kings 4:15 NLT] Yikes! Here is something she could not dare to ask for but it was being promised. The following spring, she had a son.

 

Wouldn’t it be great it that was the end of the story? Sometimes life stinks. Stuff happens that hurts. After the child hand grown to be able to work in the field, tragedy strikes. He complains of a headache, is carried home, and we read, “And when he had lifted him and brought him to his mother, the child sat on her lap till noon, and then he died.” [2 Kings 4:20 ESV] If this were the end of the story, it’s a sad end.

 

Death is not the end. It’s never the end. For the believer or unbeliever. After an exchange with her husband, she saddles a donkey, refuses to speak to Gehazi, “And when she came to the mountain to the man of God, she caught hold of his feet. And Gehazi came to push her away. But the man of God said, “Leave her alone, for she is in bitter distress, and the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me.” [2 Kings 4:27 ESV]

 

I think it is interesting because the cause of the woman’s distress is only for her alone. The fact the Lord actively hid the meaning from Elisha is also telling. In an awful moment we read, “Then she said, “Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive me?’” [2 Kings 4:28 ESV] Elisha knows exactly what this means.

 

How many times does it seem like God is a “trickster?” He gives us something only to take it away. Or God gives us something but there is a twist. The result can lead to bitterness. The end of this story is the woman receives her son back, alive. But that’s not always the case for every story. Sometimes people die, or bad things happen, or we are plunged into a dark time. Sometimes we never recover.

 

My only answer is a theological one. God is good, all the time. God is a loving God, not a trickster. We live in a diseased, decaying, and dying world. While the situation may be life long, it is temporary in light of eternity. Got tears? God treasures them (see Psalm 56:8), carries them (see Isaiah 53:4) and will wipe them all away (see Revelation 21:4).