NOTE: I will have limited access to internet for the next two weeks. Be assured, however, that even if I don’t post here I am keeping up the 49 Week Bible Challenge. I encourage you to join me in this discipline. I am using the YouVersion 49 Week Bible Challenge for these devotions. Today’s readings are Luke 9:1-27; 2 Kings 4; Ezekiel 10.
2 Kings 4:25-37
When the man of God saw [the widow] coming, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Look, there is the Shunammite. 26 Run at once to meet her and say to her, ‘Is all well with you? Is all well with your husband? Is all well with the child?’” And she answered, “All is well.” 27 And when she came to the mountain to the man of God, she caught hold of his feet. And Gehazi came to push her away. But the man of God said, “Leave her alone, for she is in bitter distress, and the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me.” 28 Then she said, “Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive me?’” 29 He said to Gehazi, “Tie up your garment and take my staff in your hand and go. If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not reply. And lay my staff on the face of the child.” 30 Then the mother of the child said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So he arose and followed her. 31 Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the face of the child, but there was no sound or sign of life. Therefore he returned to meet him and told him, “The child has not awakened.”
32 When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed. 33 So he went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the LORD. 34 Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm. 35 Then he got up again and walked once back and forth in the house, and went up and stretched himself upon him. The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36 Then he summoned Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite.” So he called her. And when she came to him, he said, “Pick up your son.” 37 She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out.
My grandson gave me an executive summary of the Harry Potter storyline. There are many parallels to biblical themes of the forces of evil, the spiritual powers in the world, and even the resurrection. As I listened to him, I remarked that it is easy to understand why some people look at the Bible as a collection of fairy tales, myths, and superstitions.
The record of these encounters with Elijah might be candidates for such conclusions. A servant is to lay his staff on the dead boy as though it might heal him. Elijah’s elaborate actions – laying on top of the boy, walking around the house, laying on him again, and the child sneezing seven times all cause me to wonder what’s really going on. You might easily dismiss all this as superstitious shenanigans.
But I see a couple different themes here, and it’s not just some sort of literary finesse. The servant’s staff doesn’t do the trick. The healing will come from a much more intimate encounter with God’s servant. I notice also that Elijah prayed to the LORD. He knew that neither the staff or he himself was the source of life.
And that’s the point. God is the source of all things. Life over death. Righteousness over sin. Faith over fear. Hope in the face of despair. Some people want to pick everything apart. Some will even make a big deal out of the staff and Elijah’s act of laying on top of the boy. I’m not so inclined. I’m much more willing to admit that I don’t understand some things in the biblical narrative. There are plenty of things I do understand and which call me to faith in God who is the source of life, hope, forgiveness, love, and salvation.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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