The Essence of a Godly Mother

Scripture

2 Kings 4:27–37 KJV 1900

And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told me. Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me? Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child. And the mother of the child said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her. And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked. And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the Lord. And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son. Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.

There are many things I love

about the magic month of May--

the beautiful budding flowers,

the gorgeous life-giving weather,

the celebration of Mother’s Day!

There are many things I love

about our having Mother’s Day--

a day of recognition,

a time to offer commendation,

to one worthy in many ways!

There are many things I love

about you my sweet Mother dear--

the graceful beauty of your life,

your selflessness and sacrifice,

your constant love year after year.

There are many things I love

about you Mom that words can’t say!

So, on this special occasion,

You have my appreciation.

This is for all the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up barf full of Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying, "It’s OK honey, Mommy’s here."

This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purse.

This is for all the mothers who froze their buns off on metal bleachers at football or soccer games, so that when their kids asked, "Did you see me?" they could say, "Of course, I wouldn’t have missed it for the World!”

This is for all the mothers who sat down with their children and explained all about making babies; and for all the mothers who wanted to but just couldn’t.

This is for all the mothers who read "Goodnight, Moon" twice a night for a year. And then read it again, "Just one more time."

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie their shoelaces before they started school. And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead.

This is for all mothers whose heads turn automatically when a little voice calls "Mom?" in a crowd, even though they know their own are at home.

This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who can’t find the words to reach them.

For all the mothers who bite their lips sometimes until they bleed--when their 14-year-olds dye their hair green.

This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they’ll never see. And for the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes.

This story here in 2 Kings 4 is where a mother is having a conversation with the prophet Elisha. A mother who had the desire to be a blessing to the man of God with spiritual sensitive and outgoing then her husband who did consent to his wife to build a guest room in their house to furnish it for Elisha.

After Elisha had enjoyed this couple’s hospitality for some time he desired to do something for them in return. He asked his servant Gehazi to express his offer to the woman. Perhaps this was to make the woman feel more inclined to ask for something than she would have if the prophet addressed her. God’s grace to His faithful ones can be seen in Elisha offer.

Elisha discussed with Gehazi after she left his room what he might do for her. Gehazi observed that she had no son and probably never would have one since her husband was old. Elisha called her back and told her that she would have a son in about a year. This miraculous birth would be God’s gift to her for her goodness to His servant.

To be childless was regarded in Israel as a great personal tragedy. Her reply indicates that she felt having a son was impossible. She urged Elisha not to build up her hopes only to disappoint her later.

She did bear a son as God promised. However, one morning while the child, evidently still quite young, was out in the fields with his father in the heat of harvesttime a violent headache overtook him. He was carried back to his mother but failed to improve and died shortly thereafter, perhaps from sun-stroke.

Clearly the son was dead, not just sick and his mother knew it. Her thoughts turned immediately to Elisha and she prepared to seek his help. Perhaps she did not tell her husband that her son had died because she feared he would not let her go if he knew the boy was dead..

The mother’s plea

Quickly she rode her donkey while her servant led. Elisha was only a few miles away at Mount Carmel. Interestingly she knew where to find him. When the prophet saw her coming he sent Gehazi to intercept her. But she would not be delayed with explanations; she hurried on to Elisha. Her confidence lay in Elisha’s ability as a man of God not his servant.

As is common under extreme stress the woman’s first words to Elisha did not tell him why she had come but how she felt about what had happened. She referred to the fact that having a son who did was a loss of her hopes, much like never having a son at all. She was so heartbroken at her son’s death that at the moment she felt it would have been better if he had never been born.

Elisha probably understood that he son had died; he probably would not have done anything without first learning what had happened. He sent Gehazi with his staff, the symbol of his authority as a prophet of the Lord, and instructed him to lay it on the boy’s face. Either Elisha believed God would honor this method or he wanted to teach a lesson.

So Elisha got up and followed her back to Shunem. Gehazi went on ahead of Elisha who apparently followed his servant at a slower pace. Gehazi followed Elisha’s instructions but the boy did not awaken to life. So Gehazi returned to his master and reported what had happened.

The prophet’s miracle

Elisha then shut the door of the room so that he could concentrate in prayer on the object of his petition, while Gehazi and the mother stayed outside the room. The earnestness of Elisha’s entreaty to the Lord is reflected in his prone posture. The son body grew warm from contact with Elisha; God was beginning to answer the prophet’s prayer.

Elisha then paced back and forth in the room, apparently continuing to pour out his soul in fervent, persistent prayer.