Good things happen to kind and generous people! Go ahead and do what is right and good and let the Lord surprise you with His blessing!!
Those were the thoughts that entered my mind as I read the full story of the Shunammite woman and Elisha the prophet this week… (You’ve got to read it… it’s amazing! (2 Kings 4.8-37 and then 8.1-6)
This wonderful lady opened her home to the prophet. She periodically prepared and provided a wonderful meal for him whenever He and his servant would stop by her home. She even, in a wonderful expression of generosity and kindness, appealed to her husband to prepare a “prophet’s chamber” for them (a hotel-like room for him and his servant to stay and refresh themselves for a few days).
Her generosity and kindness did not go unnoticed! One day Elisha had his servant approach her and ask this question, “You have gone to all this trouble for us. Now what can be done for you?” He offered to do several things on her behalf but she deferred from asking for ANYTHING in return (which is just the way this kind of person acts).
The prophet’s servant reminded the prophet that she had not been able to have a child. The prophet, prompted by the Holy Spirit, prophesied she would have a son in about a year. And to her and her husband’s delight it came to pass! But one day, out in the fields, the son fell sick and died. She was devastated and sent and called for the prophet. In bitter grief she told the prophet what had happened. Elisha hurried to their home, went up into the room where the dead child was and miraculously, the child was raised from the dead.
Story not over…
Elisha warned the family of a coming famine and urged them to go away for a while so they would be able to survive. They went to the land of the Philistines for seven long years. Afterward they returned to Israel and made an appointment to appeal to the king to get their land back. Just as they arrived, it happened that Gehazi, the servant of the prophet, happened to be meeting with the king and at his request and was reporting some of the wonderful things God had done through the ministry of the prophet. Just as he was telling the king about the very occurrence of raising the Shunammite’s son back to life, who should appear for her appointment with the king but the Shunammite!! Gehazi exclaimed, “This is the woman, my king, and this is her son Elisha brought back to life!” The king’s response? He said, “Give back everything that belonged to her, including all the income from her land from the day she left the country until now!”
Wow!! God causes good things to happen to kind and generous people! Reminds me of a well-known and quoted Biblical principle: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) Lesson one more time… Good things happen to kind and generous people! Go ahead and do what is right and good and let the Lord surprise you with His blessing!!
Coffee With The Lord 