THE SHUNAMMITE’S SON

My first recollection of death occurred when I was in early elementary school. A friend, Mitch, lived up the street and around the corner. Tragically, Mitch’s little sister fell out of their backyard swing, broke her neck and died instantly. It was a devastating loss, a heartbreaking tragedy.

Children are precious! The death of a child, any child, is a heartbreaking tragedy!

Elisha’s dear friends from the village of Shunem, southeast of Mount Carmel, had been given a miracle-child, born after years of wanting and waiting. So, when that little boy died, the grief was great.

The little fella had followed his daddy and the harvester out to the field. “Suddenly he complained to his father, ‘My head! My head!’ ” (2 Kings 4:19). They rushed the child back to the house where he died in his mother’s arms (2 Kings 4:20).

The Shunammite momma laid the boy on the bed in their guestroom and sent a servant to fetch Elisha. “When Elisha got to the house, he discovered the boy lying dead on his bed. So he went in, closed the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the Lord” (2 Kings 4:32-33).

Imagine the words whispered by the prophet. “Oh, God! You are the Author of Life! You gave this child to this family, and You can give the boy life again! This faithful and loving couple, this grieving momma and daddy, they need a miracle! Please Lord, please. Breathe life into this sweet little boy! Please Lord God, demonstrate Your power and Your grace!”

After waiting a bit, Elisha bent over the lifeless body to listen for his breathing… nothing. Suddenly, “the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes” (2 Kings 4:35).

God answers prayer! He did then. And He still does today!

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).