RESURRECTION OF THE WOMAN’S SON.

Time with Jesus - Monday, 12 November 2012

Hi all,

Miracles! Fact or fantasy? Those who believe in God have no problem believing they actually happened. Those who don’t, usually do so based on their belief that God is a myth. Today’s meditation looks at the resuscitation of the young son of a woman from Shunem, by God through His agent, Elisha. This was clearly a miracle. In the light of Jesus’ crucifixion and subsequent resurrection from the dead, can you see Elisha breathing “life” into the child? If so, why should it be rejected?

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Monday, 12 November 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	RESURRECTION OF THE WOMAN’S SON.
Up until the middle of the 19th century, the Bible was considered to be the “Word of God” throughout the Western world. People who denied this were very often persecuted and died. Some made claims which seemed to contradict God’s Word. Galileo is perhaps the best known man who discovered the earth rotated round the sun. Prior to this, everyone believed that everything revolved round the Earth based on Scriptures which suggested this. The fact that the meaning was misunderstood was beside the point. The comment, “Don’t confuse me with the facts. My mind is made up!” is as true today as it was in Galileo’s day. Of course there was much religious bigotry back then as there is today. Bigots come in all shapes and sizes and the reaction of the church to new ideas is still a problem. Some of this originates in the way words have changed their meaning over time. The best example is the word “gay”. Today it means homosexual, lesbian, or bisexual. My opinion is that this community have “hijacked” the word and given it the current meaning. But 100 years ago, the word “gay” meant “merry, bright in colour and carefree”. Today it means, “attracted to members of the same sex” and occasionally “debauched”. In those bygone days, men and women believed in miracles, in particular the miracles mentioned in the Bible. It was almost unthinkable to suggest that they were not true. All this changed with the introduction of rationalism into human thought. Put very simply, this meant that if something couldn’t be proved scientifically, it wasn’t true. Ultimately this led to what we see around us. Human reason has taken root in many countries. Thus if it can’t be demonstrated in the science laboratory, it is not true. There had to be a rational explanation for everything. This gave rise to “Darwinian evolutionism”. To this very day it cannot be demonstrated scientifically. It is only believed by those who refuse to believe in the God Who is “alive and active” in the universe. So much for rationalism. Believing in “evolution” which has no provable scientific substance. Today we look at one of the miracles recorded in the Old Testament. The story of Elisha restoring to life the son of the Shunamite woman. It is pointless telling me that it didn’t happen and it’s something recorded in an old outdated book. For me, the Bible is still the Word of God. It always will be. For me, it remains infallible. I may misunderstand a meaning. But that is my problem. So please don’t be surprised if I see Jesus on every page. Today we look at an Old Testament “resurrection”. Here, we see Elisha bringing back to life a youngster who had died. Elisha breathed life into a victim while reflecting the cross of Jesus. It’s a foreshadowing of our resurrection when Jesus returns. His breath is life! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			26 (Elisha said to Gehazi) Run out there to meet her (the Shunamite). Ask her, 'Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is your child all right?'" "Everything is all right," she said. 2 Kings 4:26 NIrV 13 The following is written, "I believed; therefore, I (Psalm 116:10) spoke." We have that same spirit of faith. We also believe; therefore, we also speak. 2 Corinthians 4:13 GW 9 We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed. 10 Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything. 2 Corinthians 6:9-10 NLT 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 ESV 16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV 1 The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. 2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. 3 John 1:1-2 ESV	Shunem was a border town, 5 K’s from Jezreel. – 2 Kings 4 In the land of Issachar as best as we can tell. This town was where Elisha had multiplied the oil. To save a prophet’s widow and Satan’s plans to foil. There was another woman there, wed to a wealthy man. She said, “Let’s help this prophet, the best way that we can!” And so they built a little room so he could find some rest. And when Elisha saw it, he thought she should be blessed. “What can I do to help her”, Gehazi was then asked? “How can we reward her for this charitable task?” She had no need for money. Her husband lacked for naught. But she did not have children. A child is what she sought. Her husband couldn’t help her, for he was far too old. Her chances of a baby were just about ice cold. And so Elisha said to her, “by this time next year You will have the son you seek; the one you hold so dear!” Just as Elisha stated, this woman then conceived. And she brought forth the man child for which she had believed. The little boy grew healthy; then, at plus or minus six, He went to see his father and soon was in a fix. His father and the harvesters were working in the sun. Suddenly the boy screamed out! “My head, it hurts like fun!” They took him to his mother. And in her arms he died. “I’ve got to tell Elisha!” is what the woman cried. “My son is dead”, she told him. “O what am I to do? And in my desperation I’m calling out to you”. The little boy was lying upon the prophet’s bed. And so Elisha, all alone, confirmed the child was dead. Then after praying to the Lord he knew what was required And so he lay upon the child the way the Lord desired. Mouth to mouth and eye to eye and holding the boys hands; The crucified position is what we understand. The body of the little boy then started to grow warm. The prophet then repeated and a seven-fold sneezing storm, Issued from the man child. He was no longer dead. The woman had her little boy just as Elisha said. “Resurrection life is real!” This story makes it plain. And we’ll be resurrected, when Jesus comes again! Jim Strickland  Written 12th November 2012