2 Kings 4:25-29: a reflection

25So she went, and came to the man of God to Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her afar off, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Behold, there is the Shunammite. 26Please run now to meet her, and ask her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with your child?’” She answered, “It is well.” 27When she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. Gehazi came near to thrust her away; but the man of God said, “Leave her alone, for her soul is troubled within her; and the LORD has hidden it from me, and has not told me.” 28Then she said, “Did I ask you for a son, my lord? Didn’t I say, ‘Do not deceive me’?” 29Then he said to Gehazi, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand, and go your way. If you meet any man, don’t greet him; and if anyone greets you, don’t answer him again. Then lay my staff on the child’s face.”

When the Shunammite woman's son dies, the child God had given her through the prophet's word, she does not sit in her grief, but goes straight to the man of God, and when she reaches him, she catches hold of his feet and will not be turned away. When Gehazi comes to push her aside, Elisha stops him: Leave her alone, for her soul is troubled within her. In her grief, she brings her trouble directly to God's prophet, clinging to him, refusing to be brushed off or turned away, pouring out her troubled soul.

Notice what the Shunammite does in her grief: she goes directly to the man of God and clings, refusing to be turned away. She does not suffer in silence or resign herself; she goes to where God's word and power are, catches hold, and will not let go. When Gehazi tries to brush her aside, she holds on, her troubled soul pouring itself out. She brings her grief directly to God, through his prophet, and clings there, refusing to be turned away until she is heard. Her grief drives her to God, not away from him; she clings to him in her trouble.

That is worth taking to heart, for in our own grief, we can bring our trouble directly to God and cling to him, refusing to be turned away. Grief can make us withdraw, suffer in silence, or turn away from God; but the Shunammite ran to God's prophet in her grief, clung to him, and would not be brushed aside. We can bring our troubled souls directly to God, clinging to him, refusing to let go until we are heard. When you are in grief, do not withdraw or suffer in silence; bring your trouble directly to God and cling to him, refusing to be turned away, as the Shunammite clung to Elisha's feet. Bring your grief straight to God and cling to him, pouring out your troubled soul and refusing to be turned away, as the Shunammite caught hold of the prophet's feet in her distress; for our grief should drive us to God, not away from him, and we can cling to him in our trouble until we are heard.

Lord, when the Shunammite woman's son dies, the child you had given her through the prophet's word, she does not sit in her grief, but goes straight to the man of God, and when she reaches him, she catches hold of his feet and will not be turned away. When Gehazi comes to push her aside, Elisha stops him: leave her alone, for her soul is troubled within her. In her grief, she brings her trouble directly to your prophet, clinging to him, refusing to be brushed off, pouring out her troubled soul. Show me what the Shunammite does in her grief: she goes directly to the man of God and clings, refusing to be turned away. She does not suffer in silence or resign herself; she goes to where your word and power are, catches hold, and will not let go. She brings her grief directly to you, through your prophet, and clings there, refusing to be turned away until she is heard. Her grief drives her to you, not away from you. Take that to my heart, for in my own grief, I can bring my trouble directly to you and cling to you, refusing to be turned away. Grief can make me withdraw, suffer in silence, or turn away from you; but the Shunammite ran to your prophet in her grief and would not be brushed aside. When I am in grief, keep me from withdrawing or suffering in silence; help me bring my trouble directly to you and cling to you, Lord, refusing to be turned away, as the Shunammite clung to Elisha's feet.