Intro. Our passage today has five main characters.
1. The Preacher, Elisha.
2. His servant, Gehazi, the man of God in training.
3. A woman, wife and mother.
4. Her husband
5. Her son, her reward
Some historians believe this boy was the prophet Iddo. Not sure. She comes running to Elisha, and he asks - vs. 26
What a question - Is it Well? With you, with your husband, with your son?
And she answered - It is well - how could she answer this way? In this time of trouble - a wilderness in her life - It is well?!
I. She did not answer this by Her Course - a nameless woman, but one that had all life could offer. Many think if they can have certain accomplishments all will be well, but our course in life is not how we can answer this question.
A. Her Status - (great) vs. 8 (wealth, fame in her area, great in character)
B. Her Spirituality - vs. 9 She had Spiritual discernment - I perceive this is a HOLY man of God. Not just a man of God, but she recognized holiness.
C. Her Service - vs. 10 Let’s make room for the preacher. - She made a place for the things of God in her life! - Met the necessities of the preacher
1. Bed 2. Table 3. Stool 4. Candlestick
The circuit rider - Everything he needed to stop, rest, and even study!
D. Her Satisfaction - vs. 13
1. Elisha offered her promotion, or a favor in the kingdom
2. She responded - I am perfectly satisfied with my lot in life - Content!
Are you content with where God has you? Have you made a place for the things of God in your life, or are you so consumed with your course, you do not have time for a real life before God. But our course alone does not answer the question.
II. She did not answer this because of Her Companion - Our Companions effect our Spiritual lives.
A. Her Submission - she did not order the servants to build the room but went to her husband. I believe the man was Spiritual, see in a minute, but probably not as much -Wives you will not win your husband with hardness. Always do right, but remember -1Pe 3:1 "Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives"
B. Her Security - She had a husband. Unlike the widow in vs. 1-7
Her husband listened to her, and agreed in letting the preacher come by and stay.
1. He was a Spiritual husband - This would also speak of his Spirituality, he may not have been as Spiritual, but he was not in opposition. (remember Nabal) -
1 Samuel 25:10 "And Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master. 11 Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?"
How many times do husbands discourage their wife’s Spiritual desires because their’s are not as strong! We need Godly homes.
2. He was a Sensitive father - Let his son go into the field with him - spent time with his son - Sent his son to the compassion of mom and out of harms way.
He had no idea of the seriousness of this. Most believe it was a heat stroke, possibly even an aneurysm, whatever it was - he knew mom would take care of him.
C. Her Supply - He husband was not lazy, but provided for her. You find him in the fields with the servants at harvest time.
1. An Earthly Security - He Provided for His family - field at harvest time - a godly couple, serving, yet the man was not afraid of work.
2. An Evident Sensitivity - vs. 23 He was Concerned for her - when she wanted to go to Elisha, he questioned the trip and the time. He questioned if she could find him, it not being a holy day. He was concerned for her welfare. Some may ask why he did not go himself, but being harvest he was in the fields and she saying not a word of the death of the child. He would assume “All was well”.
This woman had a good home, but
Her Companion could not answer this question - She had a good marriage, but that alone would not answer this question.
Some think, if I had a better companion, or a companion at all, all would be well.
III. She could not answer this way because of Her Circumstances
A. A time of Festivity - Harvest time, the husband is with the gleaners (Boaz)
1. They would be bringing in the crops
2. They would be celebrating God’s supply.
B. A time of Fellowship - many would gather from different farms, and they would fill their barns. This was a time of year of parties and fellowship with friends
C. A time of Fatality -vs. 20 - But the circumstances were not as joyful for her. Her boy was on the prophet’s bed, with his life gone.
Many times we are guilty of allowing our joy to be attached to our circumstances. Circumstances could not answer the prophet’s question?
IV. She answered this based upon Her Confidence - vs, 26 It is Well!
Her religion was not just a part of her life, she knew what it meant to trust!
A. A Consistent Response - vs. 23 In response to her husbands concern. Never telling him of the death of his son. It shall be well! I am not sure why she did not tell her husband except - the prophet promised this child, I need an answer.
B. A Courageous Ride - others saw them as they violently drove the horses, some may have cried out, is everything ok - It shall be well. There is no telling how many times she rehearsed this on her way to Elisha. Sometimes we must proceed in courage, trusting God with the outcome.
C. A Certain Reply - It is well - could there be any other answer
1. The Answer came from the disregard of the Pain
2. The Answer came from the determination of Seeking - She wanted to get to the one who could get her to God!
3. The Answer came from the depths of Faith - No matter the outcome, it is well - She had no doubts concerning the welfare of her child, even with respect to another world” Here we see the Faith of Abraham, Job, and Martha! It is WELL! She could say, “My heart is exploding within me, I do not know what to do, and I cannot even explain it to you, but I can say “It is well”, because it is not my course in life on which I am leaning, it is not my companion, tho I love him, that I am depending on, and it is not in my circumstances that I have hope - just get me to the man of God so I can get an answer from God!”
You know the rest of the story. Elisha went and the boy was raised. But before she ever got an answer from God, tho her heart was broken - All was well!
Concl. To what are we looking to see if all is well? Is it well?
Do you have your confidence, your faith in God and God alone?
If Jesus came today, would you go to heaven? Is it well with your soul?
Christian, is Jesus supreme in your life or are you depending on your course or circumstances for fulfillment in life? IS IT WELL?
Disclaimer: A man once told me that if it is true, it is not new. If it is new, it is not true. We all know there is nothing new under the sun. With that said, I glean ideas for my sermons from God’s Word, my own thoughts and work, and many other sources. Any similarity to my sermons and others, where credit is not given, is either coincidental, or an unintentional mistake on my part. As none of us have a corner on the wisdom and teaching of God’s Word, it is my desire that any of my outlines be an encouragement, a help, and hopefully a motivation for others to preach God’s Word clearly. Please feel free to use any portion of my sermons if they can be of help to you and your ministry. It is all for His Glory.
