“And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away.” 2 Kings 4:27
Dear Ones:
The story of the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4 is quite an illustration of “laying hold of” that which is of God. Elisha the prophet had previously promised the woman a son, and this in part, because of her care for him. The son was born, and grew. But one day his head began to hurt to the point that he had to be taken to his mother. It was there, upon her lap, that he died. The woman quickly decided to “run” to seek Elisha, who had promised the child. Upon her arrival, in bitterness of soul and spirit, she falls before him and “catches his feet.” She will not let go because of the intensity of her suffering, and the singular hope that she has…that the God who gave the son to her, could, and would heal him, bringing him back to life. Later in the narrative, it is mentioned that while Gehazi, Elisha’s servant went to tend to the boy, the Shunammite said to Elisha: “…As your soul lives, I will not leave you.” (v.30) Here is a woman, whose conviction is so very great, that she will NOT leave Elisha until her request of him is answered, and the boy lives again.
In one of Jesus’ parables, He speaks of a widow who petitioned an unjust judge to render her justice in a circumstance concerning an adversary. The judge, who did not fear God, nor esteem man, would not yield to her demands. It would only be by her determined persistence that he would finally yield. The woman BELIEVED that if she “laid hold” on him for the answer, he would eventually grant her justice. Jesus, in using this parable, would then ask the question: “And shall not God avenge his own elect, who cry out day and night to Him, though he bears long with them?” (Luke 18:8) “I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.” (v.8)
In Paul’s first letter to Timothy, he writes: “Fight the good fight of faith, LAY HOLD on eternal life, where unto you are also called.” (6:12) Why does He write concerning “laying hold” on life? As it was the case with the Shunammite, whose acute, conscious need was for the intervention of God in an impossible circumstance, so with Timothy. His whole life and ministry is centered in this truth: Life is Christ, and Christ is Life. In one sense, the Shunammite, in laying hold of Elisha’s feet, was “laying hold of Life…,” her sole hope and certainty. The story of the widow reveals to us, that regardless of our status in life, and the “hopelessness” of the situation, it is the perseverance of faith that will ultimately triumph. The woman “laid hold” on a certain hope, for she cried unto this judge “day and night,” believing that the answer would come. The promise of God is that God sees, knows, and will certainly intervene for the one who will LAY HOLD on Him as one’s life, for the fulfillment of His will for His glory.
Dear Father, give us grace to fight the good fight of faith, truly, and aggressively laying hold on LIFE, on the Lord Jesus Christ, for the realization of all that You desire to be and to do in and through us, and in Your church. Strengthen our hearts to persevere, refusing to let go, but living in the certainty of the expectation of Your blessing and answer in all things. We praise, and thank You, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad