2 Kings 4:28-37

2 Kings 4:28-37 - Daily Devotion - 11 July 2026 St Barnabas Anglican Church Fairfield & Bossley Park Context: The Shunammite woman’s son has died, and she has travelled to find the prophet Elisha.~~~28 Then she said, “Did I ask you for a son, my lord? Didn’t I say, ‘Do not deceive me?’”29 So Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tie up your garment,[A] take my staff in your hand, and go! If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not answer him. Then lay my staff on the boy’s face.”30 And the mother of the boy said, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So he got up and followed her.31 Gehazi went on ahead of them and laid the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or response. So he went back to meet Elisha and told him, “The boy has not awakened.”32 When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his bed. 33 So he went in, closed the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the LORD.34 Then Elisha got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eye to eye, and hand to hand. As he stretched himself out over him, the boy’s body became warm. 35 Elisha turned away and paced back and forth across the room. Then he got on the bed and stretched himself out over the boy again, and the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.36 Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunammite woman.” So he called her and she came.Then Elisha said, “Pick up your son.”37 She came in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out.REFLECTIONSWritten by James DavidsonIn the list of the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11 we read, ‘Women received back their dead, raised to life again’ (Hebrews 11:35). Here is one such example. Her faith is emphasized. As soon as her son dies, she knows what she’s going to do. She’s going to ask Elisha to raise him. That’s why she places him on the bed that she had provided for Elisha in her home. That’s why straight away she went to him as quickly as she could. That’s why she wouldn’t leave his side once she found him. And, sure enough, her faith is rewarded. Elisha prays and the boy is raised.But why did God raise this boy? No doubt many boys died in Israel’s history. Well, remember that this was a very special boy. His mother was the woman who showed remarkable kindness to God’s prophet Elisha. He was the miracle baby that God had promised her through Elisha. So God decided to demonstrate his power over death through this particular mother and child.It’s the same today. God doesn’t promise to raise every boy who dies. But nonetheless, this reminds us that nothing is impossible with God. It also reminds us that the prayer of faith is powerful because God is powerful. Our prayers are powerful because our God is powerful. What an encouragement to pray! ABOUT THE AUTHORJames is one of our Assistant Ministers.