He'll Leave The Light On For You Series

Elisha shows us how to remain faithful during challenging times.

Several years ago, the people at Motel 6 had this catchy tagline on their commercials: “We’ll leave the light on for you.” Tom Bodett was building houses in Homer, Alaska, and was contributing to National Public Radio’s All Things Considered. A Dallas ad agency executive heard him and hired him for the Motel 6 commercials because he sounded like the kind of guy who stays at a Motel 6!1 For around 35 years, Bodett ended up concluding his commercials with the phrase, “I’m Tom Bodett for Motel 6, and we'll leave the light on for you.” And our God always leaves His light for us even in the most troubling of times. Elisha’s life is the story of God’s bright light in the darkest of skies.

For the second Sunday in a row, I invite you to turn in your Bibles to 2 Kings 4.

Picture an aging high school quarterback if you will at his high school reunion. He’s in his sixties and gathered around him are all his former teammates and their wives. And he’s in his element, telling stories of former glory when he won the big game against their hated rivals with a last-minute touchdown pass. Now, if Elisha were to attend a high school reunion party, I think everyone would gather around him to relive THIS story. The time when the Lord used him to resurrect a much-loved son.

Second Kings 4 is a story of the resurrection of the son of the Shunammite woman by the prophet Elisha. Now, she is called the Shunammite woman because this is her town. It would be like me calling you the woman from Fort Worth.

Our story actually starts in 2 Kings 4:8, but we will pick up reading in verse 27. I’ll fill you in on what you missed along the way.

Today’s Scripture

“So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her coming, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Look, there is the Shunammite. 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.” 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.” Then she said, “Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive me?’” 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.” 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. 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.”

When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed. So he went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the Lord. hen 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. 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. 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.” She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out” (2 Kings 4:27-37).

A week ago, we witnessed Elisha care for a widow and her two sons by miraculously caring for their needs.

If you remember, creditors were about to take her sons away. Now, our friend Elisha is faced with a woman whose son has been taken away. But this time, it isn’t creditors threatening but it’s the worst news of all, death itself. Keep your focus on this woman in our story because she has remarkable faith in God. She is the one who expects to see the light of God even in dark times.