2 Kings 8:1-5: a reflection

1Now Elisha had spoken to the woman whose son he had restored to life, saying, “Arise, and go, you and your household, and stay for a while wherever you can; for the LORD has called for a famine. It will also come on the land for seven years.” 2The woman arose, and did according to the man of God’s word. She went with her household, and lived in the land of the Philistines for seven years. 3At the end of seven years, the woman returned from the land of the Philistines. Then she went out to beg the king for her house and for her land. 4Now the king was talking with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, “Please tell me all the great things that Elisha has done.” 5As he was telling the king how he had restored to life him who was dead, behold, the woman whose son he had restored to life begged the king for her house and for her land. Gehazi said, “My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life.”

The Shunammite woman, whose son Elisha had once restored to life, had gone away during a famine at the prophet's word; and now she returns to beg the king for her house and land. And notice the timing. At the very moment she comes before the king, Gehazi is in the middle of telling him how Elisha had restored this woman's son to life. She arrives exactly as her story is being told, and the king, hearing it, restores all that was hers. The timing was so precise it could only be called God's providence.

Notice the precise timing of the woman's arrival. She came before the king at the exact moment Gehazi was recounting the very deed that concerned her, the raising of her son; and so the king, primed by the story, granted her request fully. Had she come a little earlier or later, the moment might have passed; but she arrived exactly when it would move the king in her favor. What looks like coincidence was God's providence, arranging the timing so that her cause was heard and answered.

That providential timing is worth remembering, for God arranges timing in our lives in ways we might dismiss as mere coincidence. Things fall out at just the right moment, a conversation, an encounter, an opportunity, arriving exactly when needed; and behind what looks like coincidence is often God's providence, arranging the timing. The woman arrived before the king at precisely the moment her cause would be heard; God had timed it. When things fall out at just the right moment in your life, do not dismiss it as mere coincidence; consider that God may be arranging the timing, as he arranged the Shunammite's arrival before the king. God's providence works often through timing we would otherwise overlook; learn to see his hand in the moments that fall out just right, as he timed the woman's coming to the exact moment her son's story was being told, and trust the God who arranges timing in your life as he arranged hers.

Lord, the Shunammite woman, whose son Elisha had once restored to life, had gone away during a famine at the prophet's word; and now she returned to beg the king for her house and land. And notice the timing. At the very moment she came before the king, Gehazi was in the middle of telling him how Elisha had restored this woman's son to life. She arrived exactly as her story was being told, and the king, hearing it, restored all that was hers. The timing was so precise it could only be called your providence. Show me the precise timing of her arrival. She came before the king at the exact moment Gehazi was recounting the very deed that concerned her; and so the king, primed by the story, granted her request fully. Had she come a little earlier or later, the moment might have passed; but she arrived exactly when it would move the king in her favor. What looks like coincidence was your providence, arranging the timing. Let me remember that providential timing, for you arrange timing in my life in ways I might dismiss as mere coincidence. Things fall out at just the right moment, a conversation, an encounter, an opportunity, arriving exactly when needed; and behind what looks like coincidence is often your providence. When things fall out at just the right moment in my life, keep me from dismissing it as mere coincidence; help me consider that you may be arranging the timing, Lord. Help me see your hand in the moments that fall out just right, and trust the God who arranges timing in my life as you arranged hers.