A Face to Face Encounter Read 2 Kings 4 :8- 37 (The Shunammite's son restored to life)
As you read this passage of scripture, you find that a Shunammite couple open up their home for a traveling Holy man, Elisha, to stay the night in an upper room they have prepared for him, whenever he passes thru their town, Shunem. Elisha was touched by their hospitality and wanted to bless them because of it. He asked the Shunammite woman if there was any way who could repay the favor. She replied, that there was really nothing he could do for her because her needs seemed to be met, but Gehazi, Elisha's servant, knew that this woman was barren and so he told Elisha. After receiving this information, Elisha prophesied over the woman that she would have a son. At first, the woman was not able to receive it because she was afraid that it would not come to pass, but Elisha assured her that the blessing was there. And a year later and she bore a son.
The child grew and one day became ill and died. The desperate Shunammite woman was stricken with such deep grief that she begged her husband to allow her to find Elisha to pray over her son. She traveled and met Elisha and his servant on the road. Elisha hearing of the grave news, sent his servant, Gehazi, ahead of him to lay his staff on the boys head. Willingly, Gehazi traveled ahead and did just as Elisha had asked, but nothing happened.
Eventually, Elisha reached the woman's house and went into the room where the dead boy lay and closed the door. Elisha prayed to God, then he got on the bed and lay upon the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he did this, the boy's body grew warm and he was awaken. Obviously, the woman rejoiced that her God delivered him from death!
In this day and age, we are all looking for a miracle such as this. God wants to show us a face to face encounter with him, just like the one we saw in this story. He knows that some of us need it in our lives, whether it is thru broken relationships, marriages, prodigal children, health, finances, whatever the circumstances ,God wants to show you His love. Because, just as you saw in this story, He is a God that shows up on scene and meets you face to face.
Notice, how the Shunammite woman allowed the Holy Man to enter into her home, her life, even before the tragedy took place. We must first invite God into our lives and into our circumstances before he can perform such an act of faith.
Invite God today for a face to face encounter. Allow him to show up on scene for a miracle. You have not, because you ask not and God has been waiting to show you just a glimpse of what He can do for you today.
God is good!
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