"So he directed one of his officials to see that everything she had lost was restored to her, including the value of any crops that had been harvested during her absence."
2 Kings 8:6
2 Kings 8:6
This reminds me of Paul Harvey's, The Rest of the Story. (Am I dating myself?) I love getting another glimpse into the life of our once barren, full of southern hospitality woman. It makes me wonder, why the Author chose to include more of her story. When I read today's key verse my mind raced to Joel and Ephesians.
"I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten."
Joel 2:25
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us." Ephesians 3:20
Joel 2:25
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us." Ephesians 3:20
When the woman and her son left because of the famine, either the government or neighbors took her land. The famine was over and she was ready to return to her homestead. She returns home to find her home is not her home anymore, so she decides to visit the king. Pretty bold more, don't you think? It just "so happened" that her visit coincided with story time.
The king not only made sure her home was returned to her, he restored her losses by giving her a share of what her crops made while she was gone. How is that for restoration? Her king, restored her abundantly with more than she could ask or imagine and far more than she expected.
This is what our King does for us. When we come home, He restores us. He blesses us abundantly with more than we could ask or imagine. Is it time for some of us to "come home?" Perhaps you left because of a famine and aren't sure how to approach your King. We are given instruction regarding how to approach the throne. The author of Hebrews instructs us to approach the throne with confidence.
Like the woman from Shunem found mercy and grace from her king, so shall we find exceedingly more when we approach our King.
The king not only made sure her home was returned to her, he restored her losses by giving her a share of what her crops made while she was gone. How is that for restoration? Her king, restored her abundantly with more than she could ask or imagine and far more than she expected.
This is what our King does for us. When we come home, He restores us. He blesses us abundantly with more than we could ask or imagine. Is it time for some of us to "come home?" Perhaps you left because of a famine and aren't sure how to approach your King. We are given instruction regarding how to approach the throne. The author of Hebrews instructs us to approach the throne with confidence.
"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16
Like the woman from Shunem found mercy and grace from her king, so shall we find exceedingly more when we approach our King.
13 Comments:
Wendy,
Thank you for this devotion and encouragement!
I needed and prayed this verse in Hebrews 4:16 for my son who is in serious trouble with the law. I pray that he approach our Heavenly Father and be restored so that he may "come home".
Blessings to you!
D
Morning Everyone,
A leper is miraculously healed of his incurable disease, 5:1-19, a
foreshadowing Jesus, who alone can restore an incurable life of sin!
So, thankful for Jesus in my heart today!
Blessings,
Lori - AZ
D, pausing to pray for your son right now. Father, reach out to this one. Thank you that you leave the rest of the flock to rescue the one. Rescuer, reach him today. Bring his heart home to you. May peace that passes all understanding guard his mother's heart today as we stand together in Your Name!
Wendy, I spent time pondering this story myself. God restored all to her including what she didn't know she lost! And, I l.o.v.e.d. how she showed up that the exact minute her story was being told. Such great hope is found here in restoration. Loved this, dear sister!
I wrote about Naaman today...isn't our healing waiting for us when so often all we have to do is simply obey?
Such a fun reading day with many mysteries worth our pondering.
I am comforted in knowing of the mighty heavenly warriors fighting for me that I cannot see. Praise God, the victory is His, and since we are also His; the victory is ours!
Morgen
D.,
Thank you for your open heart and for sharing. I lift you and your son up in prayer. Lisa, thank you for such a beautifully worded prayer! I join my voice with yours!
Today's readings caused my to say "what!" a couple of times. As an example, I really did not know why the axe head was included... So I went to the commentaries (thank you Wendy for including this link long ago: http://www.blueletterbible.org/commentaries/). Five points struck me;
1. This is a miracle of provision
2. Iron was not cheap then, and where the man says he borrowed the axe, a better translation is "begged for, prayed for"
3. Elisha thows the stick in the water with absolute faith that God will answer
4. God does answer. Only He can make iron swim, we cannot (Spurgeon)
5. The man still has to reach into the water to pull the axe out. God acts in a typical way here, He does what only He can do and leave us to do what we can in the situation. It's a participative relationship we have with our God.
My message from all of this is:
1. Act in faith, believing God will act too.
2. Be prepared to participate in the situation, leaving God to do what He alone can do and doing our part.
3. Remember that God provides for our needs and rescues us from our situations.
Thanks everyone! Have a great day!
Karen, CA
P.S. The part that made me laugh out loud today was the footnote on Hebrews 6:25 - "Dove's dung may be a variety of wild vegetable" Really? What a name!
Morgen,
We were posting at the same time. I too love the imagery of the heavenly host surrounding Elisha. It's good to remember that they are there for us too.
Be blessed,
Karen
Again so many treasures today.
Wendy, God's timing and provision just amazes me!!! Coincidence that the Shunem woman visits the king at that precise moment? NOT! INCREDIBLE to me!!!
Lisa, Karen and others, lifting my voice with yours in prayer for D's son. God is able.
Today 2 Kings 5:13 was my focus: "'Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn't you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, 'Go and wash and be cured!'" 2 Kings 5:13
Isn't that always the way? We're always looking for the bigger and better. We always want to be part of a grand plan. Being told to 'go and wash' was too ordinary. Not only that, where was the prophet himself? Naaman was delivered this message from a mere servant. Didn't anyone recognize that he was a mighty warrior? Naaman desires a healing ceremony worthy of his stature.
Have I ever limited God by my expectations? My heart's desire is to serve God and be used by Him, but I pictured myself receiving a call to position and public recognition. To go "jump in the lake" seems ridiculous. Why, I told God I'd do anything and go anywhere, yet my days consist of the mundane and the routine. Laundry. Car pool. Cleaning bathrooms. Making meals. Refereeing quarrels. Yet, I ask you as I ask myself, if God had called me to do something very difficult, wouldn't I have done it? So I should certainly obey him when He says simply, serve your family...be a great wife...be an amazing mom...be a treasured friend...be a faithful neighbour...tackle that laundry...scrub those floors...scour those toilets...hold babies in the nursery...make a meal for that widow...write that note. I am being obedient as I honour the Lord in the "simple" things. God places great value on these things that society views with little importance. Though He speaks "simply" there is nothing 'simple' about our calling.
God is not a genie in a bottle, squeezed into our design. Naaman reluctantly obeys and God shows Himself mighty. The bottle filled with preconceptions within which Naaman has tried to tame the divine is broken.
Though we often seek to grasp at God and limit Him, for now we can only know Him in part, for He remains mysterious and unpredictable. It is my prayer that He will move and touch my life in ways my bottles of theology, doctrine, faith and belief are too small and fragile to contain. I need to meet the God who works outside my box. The God who gives simple instruction with great power. And then, in that encounter, Lord give me longing to obey.
May I not look to do extraordinary things, but ordinary things with greatness,
Joy
Karen, I have bookmarked that website you posted...thanks for doing that...and Wendy thank you for your insights. I love what everyone writes...I don't post often, but I never miss reading all of you every day.
Joy, thank you for the reminder that being a housewife is still God's calling...we are no less important than the women climbing the business ladders.
And D I am adding my prayers to the others for your son. Years ago my youngest son got into some trouble. I know your heart, it is heavy and you are fearful. I want to remind you of a verse in Proverbs, "Train up a child in the way he should go and WHEN HE IS OLD HE WILL NOT DEPART FROM IT." Don't give up. Claim that verse for your very own.
Jan TN
Good afternoon my bloggy friends,
Wendy thank you for your faithfulness and leading. Today I loved this lesson. There is so much hope to be gained if we just keep our eyes on Him. He is the only one who can be true restoration. I really feel lead to pray for these specific ladies today. If I have not mentioned you, please don't think it is intentional. You are all just as close as the screen. :-)
Wendy, may the Lord continue to bless you as He ministers through you. Give you strength, wisdom and rest. Allow those around you to bless you as you shine for Him.
D,thank you for your openness. I will be praying the Lord meet your son right where he is and work in his life. May you, as his mother have enough grace and wisdom to allow the Lord to work however He needs to.
Joy and Lori still praying for you and your father's.
Nancy, remembering you in a special way. God has put Evie and you in my prayers. I don't know what it means, but I am praying for you.
Chanan,how is your recovery coming?
Deb, how's the pain in the knee?
Mary Jane,Jodie, Morgan, Karen and others know that I am praying for you right now.
Have a great rest of the day.
Diane
I'm still here, just not able to post (even though I want to!) Summer schedules to work around, and my own vacation days make my computer time more sporadic. I keep your prayer requests before me, and love to hear how God answers!
So many treasures in today's reading! My thoughts were parked right next to Joy's when I read of Naaman's anger at being told to do something so simple. Joy, you said it so well.
2 Kings 7:3-11. I got a chuckle out of the four lepers, “We will starve if we stay here, we will starve if we go back to the city with the famine; we can surrender and hope to live, but if they kill us we were going to die anyway.” I have to say, some days my mind is like that - I can talk myself in and out of something until I’m not sure what to do!
It is the ultimate realization that prompted me to action, just like the lepers, “… we were going to die anyway.” Why oh why would I want to stay in my sinful state of shame & misery when I could surrender to the Hope of the cross and truly live?
The lepers [sinners] were expecting the worst, and received the best – the enemy had fled and left a abundance of good things. The shameful, repugnant lepers needs were met by nothing more than a decision to surrender themselves.
Reminds me of the quote by Blaise Pascal (my condensed version here) “If you accept that Christianity is true, and find out it is false, you’ve lost nothing. But If you don’t accept Christianity, and it turns out to be true, you’ve lost everything.”
Surrendered and cleansed -
Susan
Such royal treatment...its such a privelege and honor to be His daughters...His love is truly Amazing!
Hi ladies,
I don't post often, to be honest, I really don't know what to add most days - I am very new to bible study but I am reading along with you day by day. Your words inspire, support and encourage. It's a blessing to be journeying with you all.
Many thanks for those who continue to raise me up in prayer. I am looking forward to considerably more quiet time as the school year winds down (I am a supply teacher) and perhaps I will get braver with posts as time goes on. Till then, I lend my voice to those who've asked for prayer today. My devotional yesterday was all about surrending our cares to God
1 Peter 5:6. Certainly our heavenly Daddy hears our cry and as Wendy so kindly pointed out He "is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine..."
xoxo Jodie
Thank you Wendy for allowing the Lord to use you. I know that there are others that receive inspiration and encouragement through your words of devotion.But a lot of times it seems that they are written just for me. I thank God for you.
D, God hears your cry.I pray that he comforts and strengthen you as he works out this situation for his glory and your good.
Joy, thank you. You always inspire me. You really have a way with words.
Like already been said, there are a lot of treasures in today's reading.I'm reminded of how much of an on-time God we serve.In due time Naaman received his healing, in due time the Shunem women found mercy and grace from the king.I get joy,joy,joy when I think about all that My God does for his children. He cares and provides for all our needs.
Praise God from whom all BLESSINGS flow.
Love you all!
Highly Favored
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