Hope Deferred

Can I just say that I am almost always blown away by what God shows me in His Word. I have read the Bible multiple times, but new revelation appears, such as what I'm going to talk about today. As usual, I was praying and asking God to reveal His truth to me through His Word. I kept hearing the word 'Kings' so I decided to open my Bible to Kings. I opened to 2 Kings where Elijah was about to be taken up in a chariot of fire and Elisha was going to receive his mantle. This occurred and Elisha began his ministry.

Elisha's third miracle was centered around a Shunammite woman. This woman lived with her husband in Shunem, which was a town near Jezreel. They were of the tribe of Issachar. Elisha would travel to Shunem and go to this woman's house for food. This woman talked with her husband and they decided to add a room to their upper wall. She put a bed, a table and chair, and a lamp in there so Elisha would have a place to stay when he visited. She asked for nothing in return. Her heart was to provide for the man of God. One day, while Elisha was resting in this bed, he called his servant, Gehazi, and told him to call the Shunammite woman. Look at the following scriptures in 2 Kings 4:11-17

11. Then he said to Gehazi his servant, "Call this Shunammite woman." When he had called her, she stood before him.

12. And he said to him, "Say now to her, 'Look, you have been concerned for us with all this care. What can I do for you? Do you want me to speak on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?' " She answered, "I dwell among my own people."

13. So he said, "What then is to be done for her?" And Gehazi answered, "Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old."

14. So he said, "Call her." When he had called her, she stood in the doorway.

15. Then he said, "About this time next year you shall embrace a son." And she said, "No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!"

16. But the woman conceived, and bore a son when the appointed time had come, of which Elisha had told her.

This woman did what a lot of us do today...she had given up hope of ever having what she desired. However, her barrenness did not stop her from taking care of others, especially those who ministered to the Lord. The knowledge she carried of a life doomed to never bring forth a son did not stop her heart from showing kindness. Even Elisha was not privy to her circumstance, even though he was an amazing prophet of God.

My last blog was about waiting for God to bring forth His promises, no matter how long the wait. The Bible does not tell us how old this woman was or how long she had desired a son. When the prophet proclaimed that she would give birth within a year, her response made me cringe. "No my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!" Can you feel the heartache, the agony of years gone by without an answer to her prayer and heart's desire? It rocked me because I know how she felt. How many have gone for years longing for answered prayer and not receiving, even when we know what we are asking for is God approved?

I'm being very open and transparent with you. God has been speaking to me about not giving up hope and keeping our trust in His promises. The answer to her prayers was almost too much for this Shunammite woman to hear. I don't know the length of time that she had prayed, but it was enough for her to lose hope of ever having a son. Friends, we have to keep praying and believing that God will fulfill His promises. Losing hope isn't an option. Faith is the substance of things hoped for. Did you hear that? If we have no hope, then faith can't work. Keep asking. Keep believing in the promises God has spoken in His Word. They will come to pass if we don't give up. Blessings.

Deb