“The Measure of a Mother”
2 Kings 4:8
Two kids went into their parent’s bathroom and noticed the weigh scale in the corner. "Whatever you do," cautioned one youngster to the other, "Don't step on it!"
"Why not?" asked the sibling.
"Because every time mom does, she lets out an awful scream!"
“And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.”
I. She can be measured by her ways
You know you're a mom when you're up each night until 10 PM vacuuming, dusting, wiping, washing, drying, loading, unloading, shopping, cooking, driving, flushing, ironing, sweeping, picking up, changing sheets, changing diapers, bathing, helping with homework, paying bills, budgeting, clipping coupons, folding clothes, putting to bed, dragging out of bed, brushing, chasing, buckling, feeding (them, Not you), PLUS swinging, playing baseball, bike riding, pushing trucks, cuddling dolls, rollerblading, basketball, football, catch, bubbles, sprinklers, slides, nature walks, coloring, crafts, jumping rope, PLUS raking, trimming, planting, edging, mowing, gardening, painting, and walking the dog. You get up at 5:30 AM and you have no time to eat, sleep, drink or go to the bathroom, and yet ... you still managed to gain 10 pounds.
A. Her relationships (She had married an older man and was childless but not embittered by her situation and she was from the tribe of Issachar and was therefore a worshipper of Jehovah)
B. Her realization (As Elisha traveled on his itinerant she noticed him and reasoned that he must be a man of God)
C. Her response (She and her husband decide to offer this holy man provisions and a place to rest)
II. She can be measured by her walk
A. She walked in grace (The word “great” probably refers to the fact that she and her husband may have been affluent which seems likely, nevertheless they were gracious folks who saw an opportunity to show a kindness to this man of God.)
B. She walked in generosity (The decision to invite the prophet in and make full provision of a guest room (prophet’s chamber) was taken before they extended the actual invitation. The Scriptures abound with examples of likeminded women who ministered to the needs of those in the service of God. Jesus Himself, was often times refreshed by Mary and Martha in their home at Bethany and of all the Lord’s followers it is the women who proved to be the most faithful in loyalty and service to Him. The original word from which hospitality is derived – hospes – means a guest, and also a host, one who entertains a guest. Numerous words are formed from this root word. Hospital, hospice, and even hotel are related to the word. The early church was exhorted to “Use hospitality one to another without grudging, “ 1 Peter 4:9 We are told that sometimes when we extend hospitality to strangers, we may be “entertaining angels, unawares.”
C. She walked in goodness (We have often heard the expression that someone performed an act of kindness out of “the goodness of their heart.” Little wonder that this attribute is listed as one of the “fruits that the Spirit produces” by the Apostle Paul in Gal. 5:22-23.
III. She can be measured by her words
A. She spoke words of faith (The day came when a dark cloud came over this happy home and the child (four years old by now) that God had given to her was taken from her in death but in spite of her circumstances she spoke words of faith. V. 23 “…It shall be well…” and again in v. 26 in response to the prophets inquiry she reiterates that “…It is well…”
One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, "Jump! I'll catch you." He knew the boy had to jump to save his life. All the boy could see, however, was flame, smoke, and blackness. As can be imagined, he was afraid to leave the roof. His father kept yelling: "Jump! I will catch you." But the boy protested, "Daddy, I can't see you." The father replied, "But I can see you and that's all that matters."
B. She spoke words of frustration (v. 28 gives us a glimpse into her humanity as she speaks from her heart, a heart that is broken because of the loss of this child.) But even in the midst of this great trial her faith shines through. V. 30 “As the Lord liveth…I will not leave thee.”
Faith for my deliverance is not faith in God. Faith means, whether I am visibly delivered or not, I will stick to my belief that God is love. There are some things only learned in a fiery furnace.
Oswald Chambers in Run Today's Race.
C. She spoke words of faithfulness (In chapter 8:1 Elisha commands the Shunammite woman to relocate because of a famine that would last 7 years. She obeys and leaves her home and possessions behind in obedience to the prophet’s instructions with her son and her household. By this time the son is full grown and the husband probably has died.
How we admire the obedience a dog shows to its master! Archibald Rutledge wrote that one day he met a man whose dog had just been killed in a forest fire. Heartbroken, the man explained to Rutledge how it happened. Because he worked out-of-doors, he often took his dog with him. That morning, he left the animal in a clearing and gave him a command to stay and watch his lunch bucket while he went into the forest. His faithful friend understood, for that's exactly what he did. Then a fire started in the woods, and soon the blaze spread to the spot where the dog had been left. But he didn't move. He stayed right where he was, in perfect obedience to his master's word. With tearful eyes, the dog's owner said, "I always had to be careful what I told him to do, because I knew he would do it."
Our Daily Bread.
How do you measure up? Are you using what God has blessed you with to be a blessing? When God speaks to you do you obey?
