The Fastest Donkey Ride Ever! II Kings 4

Can you imagine telling people "All is well" right after someone you love has died? I am sure that many of you are familiar with Horatio Spafford's famous song It is Well with my Soul. I am sure that many know that he wrote that song after he learned that his four daughters had died in a collision when their ship was crossing the Atlantic. What you may not know is that the composer, Philip Bliss, died tragically in a train wreck shortly after writing this music. Life is filled with uncertainties and pain. But life can also be filled with the miraculous power of our wonder working God.

In the book of 2nd Kings, the prophet Elisha blessed a wealthy Shunammite woman. God allowed her to give birth to a son because of her gracious hospitality toward Elisha. She actually had her husband build an additional room to accommodate the traveling prophet. She fed him and provided a room for him to sleep and study. I find this unusual because the woman was rich. Often those who have much are the least giving. But not this woman. She understood what Paul was teaching in I Timothy 6, that "we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out, so with food and clothing, let us be content. Because they who are rich fall into temptation and a snare, and many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and wasteful loss... therefore Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly, all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to share. Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life."

I have quoted this long passage because I want to highlight the importance of "laying up in store" and the connection of "laying hold of eternal life." Back to 2nd Kings 4. After the miraculous birth, the child grows up and begins helping his father in the fields. But one day, the child become grievously sick and the father asks the servant to carry him home. The Scriptures do not say much about this father, but it is hard to believe that he stays at work while his son had to be carried home. When the child arrives home he is held by his mother until the child dies. The mother then does something unusual. She doesn’t tell anyone that the child has died. She quickly takes him to the prophet’s room and places the child in Elisha’s bed, closing the door behind her. She then goes to her husband, (who is still at work!) and asks for permission to take a donkey and a servant because she wanted to visit Elisha. Her husband doesn’t even ask if their son is ok but is concerned that her request is a little out of the ordinary. Her response is very important; she says, “Shaloam, Shaloam.” Or “All will be well,” or “All is well.” Our English translations offer both of these possibilities. I personally prefer the first…"All will be well.” She then tells the servant to keep the donkey going at a fast pace unless she says otherwise. This woman is on a mission and nothing is going to stop her. The trip to Elisha is about fifteen miles. Can you imagine traveling on a donkey at a face pace for fifteen miles? Oh the love of a mother! I wouldn’t have wanted to be the servant because he would have been the one walking fifteen miles while prodding the donkey forward.

When the Shunammite woman arrives, she is approached by Elisha’s servant and asked if all is well with her, her husband and her son. Her response is “All is well!” Can you believe it? Why is she concealing the deep anguish within her? This is very peculiar. Keil & Delitzsch write that “Shaloam” can be used “when the object is to avoid giving a definite answer to any one, and yet at the same time to satisfy him.” Her only thought at this point is that she needs to get to Elisha and no one is getting in the way. She knows that if she shows she was in an emotional state, Elisha’s servant would have kept her from seeing his master. She knows exactly what she is doing and as soon she sets her eyes on Elisha, her reservoir of anguish can no longer be contained. And just as the servant is about to cast her away, Elisha says—“Leave her alone, for she is in bitter distress, and the LORD has hidden it from me and has not told me.” Everything in this chapter is rather hidden. Elisha from the beginning speaks to her through the mouth of his servant and remains somewhat distant. The woman keeps the news about the death of her son hidden. Why? There are some things in life that are so intimate and so sacred that they cannot be shared haphazardly with others. Some things are for the ears of God alone. This past week I experienced this. While sitting here with my father who has been in critical condition for the last 23 days, I was able to cry out to God from the depths of my love for my dad…I can only share these deep feelings with the Lord…He is the only one who could possibly understand.

The Shunammite woman wanted to hold on to the one who brought her son into this world and could now give him back. She believed this was the only possible solution for her despair; why try any other avenue when they couldn’t possibly deliver. Why do we waste so much time seeking help in all the wrong places…oh, precious prayer…"the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” She was fervently effectual. In Greek this means to be mighty. God is waiting for us to come BOLDLY to His throne of grace. This doesn’t mean that we can’t weep and plead…but we need to have bold faith and believe that He is able…God expects us to come boldly yet reverently, humbly. Lord I believe, help thou my unbelief…Lord, remove this cross, not my will but yours.

What does all this mean? We need to avoid the distractions that keep us from the throne of God and lay our petitions at his feet—not a counselor, not a friend, not anyone but Jesus Himself. What is beautiful about this picture, is that there is a direct parallel in Matthew 15 and Mark 7…it is here that the Syrophonecian woman breaks through the barriers of the disciples and the barriers of Jesus’ soul searching roadblocks—He doesn’t make it easy for her. Now why would Jesus make it difficult for anyone to come to Him? He was helping this woman to see the needs of her own heart before she could meet the needs of her daughter. And so often that is what God is trying to do…we need to become spiritually healthy before we can help others. The reason I believe there is a parallel here, is because if you continue reading in 2^nd Kings, you will find not only that the two woman have much in common, but Elisha miraculously feeds 100 with a fragment of bread with an emphasis that there will be some left over. A similar miracle appears right after Jesus heals the Syrophonecian woman’s daughter with the feeding of the multitudes with leftover baskets of food.

In 2^nd Kings 4, when the Shunammite woman lays hold of Elisha’s feet, the flood gates of her heart are released as she tells him that she wasn’t the one who asked for a son! So why did he deceive her, only to give her one and then take him away. I just love this woman’s approach. She doesn’t waste any of her anguish on others…she comes straight to the throne of grace…she breaks through the barriers. Why waste time talking to servants when she can go straight to the source? The heart of the prophet has been moved…her son will be raised from the dead. “All will be well”…"All is well.” What incredible faith…what an incredible approach to the throne of grace. May we learn the lesson that the Shunammite woman teaches—that those who “Lay up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come…may lay hold on eternal life.” Store well, my friends…only those who have this solid foundation will be able to get through the barriers, and right to the throne.