Setting Your Focus on the Source of Power

Fifth Sunday of Epiphany
Light of Christ Anglican Church
Rev. Michael J. Moffitt, February 4, 2024

SCRIPTURE 2 Kings 4:8–37

Today we celebrate the Fifth Sunday of Epiphany. For those who are followers of Jesus Christ this season is a reminder of the stories within the Gospels where Jesus is seen as the manifestation of the Messiah to the Gentiles, not just the Jews.

In its secular meaning, an epiphany is a sudden and striking revelation. Something becomes known to us that we didn’t expect or realize before it happened.

For Christians Epiphany serves as a reminder that God remembers his promises and the coming of the Messiah is the evidence. Jesus arrived in a way that no one expected and lived his life here on earth in humility and self-sacrifice, something unheard of for a king. During the three years of his life here on earth, Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, redefined what love looked like when he went to the cross to pay the price for our sins. No one saw that coming.

I recently read a quote from writer and historian, H.G. Wells,

I am an historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center of history. Jesus Christ is easily the most dominant figure in all history.

Throughout the Bible there are many stories of God moving in ways that revealed his power and authority. Sometimes God revealed himself in surprising ways, like a voice from within a burning bush, as the Angel of the Lord, within fire, smoke, thunder, and lightning, or a still small voice.

One of the more common ways that God spoke directly, and in demonstrations of power, is through his prophets.

One great example is found in our Old Testament lesson reading from 2 Kings 4:8–37. In our bulletin I left out verses 22–31 but we will read those in a moment because it is primarily from those verses that I want to speak this morning. As always a little background to the story will be helpful.

Chapter 4 begins with the story of a widow of one of the sons of the prophets who came to Elisha for help. Her husband had died and left her in considerable debt. The creditors were coming to take her children as slaves in lieu of the debt. All she had left was a small jar of oil.

Elisha told her to borrow many large vessels from her neighbors and then pour oil from her small jar until they all were full. Then she was to go and sell the oil to pay her debt and have enough to live on. The small jar does not run out until every vessel is full. This is an important story as a prelude to our story this morning.

Our story begins with Elisha going to Shunem. A wealthy woman there recognizes that he is a man of God and invites him to come into her house and join her family for a meal. She not only does this once but has him eat at her house whenever the prophet comes through their town. She had her husband add a small furnished room on the roof of the house for the prophet to stay in while in their town.

What was it about Elisha that made her recognize him as a man of God? He was very different from the prophets of Baal, or others who pretended to live pious lives but were often degenerate. This was a time when a righteous man was not often found. It could be that word had spread concerning how Elisha had assisted the widow.

Possibly, people assumed that the prophet himself was wealthy. If he could perform those kinds of things, there would be no end to what he could do for his own needs and more. But to the woman’s observation Elisha appeared to live modestly. Because of this the wealthy woman wanted to be a blessing to this godly man of humility.

Elisha decides to try and understand the motivation of the woman and asks her what she would like him to do for her. Is she receiving him in honor as a prophet or is she seeking to benefit from the fact that he is a prophet?

So he offers to speak to the king on her behalf or to the commander of the army if she needed protection. Elisha, though not very popular with King Jehoram, had helped the king defeat the enemies of Israel and therefore would have the right to ask for the king’s favor. Elisha could have arranged for the Shunammite woman and her family to come up in the world socially and possibly eat at the king's table or benefit from the power and authority of the king.

She responds with humility that she is content with what she has and prefers to live among her own people and requires nothing additional.

Elisha’s servant informs him that she is barren and has no son. This is not only a matter of shame in that culture but would also mean that if her husband were to die she would have no son to care for her and could end up in poverty like the widow in the first part of chapter 4.

Elisha hears from God and goes to the woman to inform her that she will have a son by that same time next year. Her response shows the sensitivity and shame of being barren. She asks Elisha not to raise her hopes of something that could never happen, but she conceives and the next year she does indeed give birth to a son.

When the child grew to the age where he was able to accompany his father in the fields, perhaps to play or help, he cries out, “My head, my head.” Perhaps he was suffering from the intense heat of that area, so the father carries him into the house and gives him to his mother and then returns to the field thinking that the child will be fine. Instead he dies while being cradled on his mother’s lap.

She carries him up to the room of the man of God and places her child on the bed of Elisha and closes the door. It’s what happens next that for me is the most amazing part of the story. Let me read to you 2 Kings 4:22–31,

Then she called to her husband and said, “Send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may quickly go to the man of God and come back again.” And he said, “Why will you go to him today? It is neither new moon nor Sabbath.” She said, “All is well.”  Then she saddled the donkey, and she said to her servant, “Urge the animal on; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you.” 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.”

The Shunammite woman did not let her husband or the servant that the child had died, but instead asked for a donkey and the servant to go with her to see the man of God. Even though her husband was confused because it wasn’t time for Sabbath worship or the new moon festival, but she assured him “all is well” and headed for Mount Carmel. When Elisha saw her approaching he recognizes her and sends his servant Gehazi to find out if something is wrong. Like her husband, Elisha could see no reason for her to be coming to him. She assured Gehazi that “All is well” but she needed to speak with Elisha personally.

It’s when she approached Elisha and fell down and wrapped her arms around his feet that the truth could come out. In the ancient Middle Eastern culture when someone wrapped their arms around the feet or knees of someone it was a sign of intense distress and was saying, “You’re not going anywhere until you help me.”

I believe that she was unwilling to tell her husband, their servant, or Gehazi the truth because she knew that they could only grieve with her but could never provide the comfort that she was seeking. Like her, they were powerless to solve the problem that confronted her.

She didn’t feel that she had the time for explanations to her husband or anyone else because the promise of a son had been made and delivered but now he was dead. She would only confront the one who made the promise because she knew that he alone would be able to make it right again. The prophet of God could make intercession to God on her behalf, and she was not going to settle for anything less.

She had not asked for the son but had received him with unsurpassed joy. Her shame had been removed and her future was more assured because she was given the gift of this son. She had been content to live in quiet humility, accepting her barrenness, never thinking that anything could be done about it.

This prophet had promised her this great blessing that now lay dead on the bed of the prophet back at her home and this was not something that she would accept.

I love this story as an example of great faith. In the midst of the shock of the sudden and unexpected death of her precious child she declares that “All is well” and then goes about moving in faith towards the only solution to the tragedy.

In this story God wasn’t simply dealing with the life and faith of the Shunammite woman, he was teaching and dealing with the faith of Elisha his prophet as well. I can only imagine the concern that welled up within his own mind. Elisha seemed mystified that this kind woman who had been a great blessing to him was in a crisis that was hidden from him.

I love the fact that Elisha had the humility to admit that he had no idea what was going on because God had not shown him yet. Even though the woman does not tell him directly that the child is dead, Elisha could tell from her distress that the situation was dire and demanded that he act quickly. So, he sent his servant to take his staff and lay it on the face of the child.

Usually Elisha didn’t directly deal with a problem but gave instructions as to what needed to be done. In the story of the widow in the beginning of chapter 4, Elisha told her to go and gather vessels and by faith pour the oil from her small pitcher into each one, thereby teaching her to trust the word of God through the prophet.

The Shunammite woman was putting her faith in the word of the prophet instead of God, the only giver of life, but in her defense, it had been the prophet who foretold the miraculous birth of her son.

Sometimes the man/woman of God is the face of God and his prophetic voice until people come to know him personally.

Elisha goes into the room, closes the door, and cries out to the Lord. He stretches himself out full length upon the body of the child, twice and life is restored. The child is given back to his mother who bows at Elisha’s feet in thanks and honor, then departs.

It is worth noting that Elijah and Elisha were both types and symbols in their prophetic office of what Jesus would be as the Great Prophet like Moses.

You will notice that when the prophets raised the dead they cried out to God, but Jesus, as God, commanded the dead to be raised.

I love the stories of Elijah and Elisha in the Books of 1 and 2 Kings. Prophets played a very major role in the history of Israel. The historian wonderfully captured the message and ministry of the prophets as those who proclaimed God’s word and revealed his power and authority in demonstrable ways. They always passionately and uncompromisingly insisted on total and undivided allegiance to the Lord, and strongly opposed any alliance or political posture that would put in jeopardy the distinctive relationship that Israel had with God.

This insistence on covenant faithfulness often put the prophets in opposition to the kings and queens who were willing to compromise politically and religiously with Israel’s neighbors.

The prophets spoke and showed what could happen when God’s people were faithful to the word of God, like in our story this morning. However, they also clearly revealed and showed what would happen when they were not faithful.

The prophets spoke the commands and promises of God while demonstrating God’s power and authority through physical manifestations but time and again the hearts of the people grew hard, and they turned aside to other gods and to the cravings of their flesh.

In our Epistle reading this morning the Apostle Paul, a mighty prophet, models the heart of the prophet in 1 Corinthians 9:16, 

For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 

The Apostle was following after the example of the prophets who could not help but speak the word of God that burned in their hearts.

In Jeremiah 20:9 the prophet cries out in complaint after once again he had been beaten because he spoke God’s word, 

If I say, ‘I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,’ there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.

The Apostle Paul, like Jeremiah, could not keep the word of God within himself no matter the cost. In verses 22–23 he shows that nothing is more important to him than the proclamation of the Gospel,

To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

He had found out that the reward of faithful obedience to the gospel far outweighed the costs.

Why would all these prophets do that? For the same reason that Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, the disciples, and apostles, and all the scores of those before and after—they had encountered the living God and fallen in love. Turning away from God was out of the question. No longer out of fear, but out of love for one who gave them new life with him.

They had an epiphany and suddenly saw him for who he really is. Have you encountered Jesus, and have you fallen in love with him? How far are you willing to go to proclaim his word and build his kingdom?

Throughout the word of God we can find examples of people who were living outside of the revealed word of God. When they encountered the Lord everything changed, it always does if their encounter is genuine. Instead of living for their own pleasure and comfort, they lived for the glory of God.

Many times the initial response to God is out of fear of his judgment, and the eternal fires of Hell. The conviction of their sin brings them to their knees in repentance. Other times the response is due to being moved by the story of God’s love for us that is best witnessed through the cross.

Both of these responses are legitimate but at some point as they grow in faith through feeding upon God’s word, coming to him in prayer, the move of the Holy Spirit, fellowship and worship, fear is replaced by an ever-deepening love of God.

We just sang “Be Thou My Vision” an old Irish Hymn. It’s a wonderful hymn expressing the writer's love for God that is not changed by circumstances. Listen to the words of the last verse again:

High King of heaven, When victory is won;
May I reach heaven’s joys, bright heavens Sun!
Heart of my heart, whatever befall,
still be my vision O Ruler of all.

If you’re like me there have been times when I read stories in the Bible or outside of the Bible where Christians, while being faithful were persecuted for their faith. In many cases they refused to stop preaching or teaching the word of God and paid a heavy price for it. In some cases they turned away to protect themselves from harm and became bitter towards themselves and in some cases God.

This past week I considered the difference between those who persevere and those who run away from the call of God because of persecution or fear of it. I know examples in both cases.

One thing they had in common was being subjected to fear. Both considered themselves faithful Christians, and both knew that persecution was possible because of it.

Now don’t misunderstand me I know that both were actually men of God, but the difference was how they approached fear. The first man focused on the evil and corruption going on all around him and when his life was in serious danger (actually a gun was pointed at his head) gave in to fear and denied Christ. He chose to run and hide to protect himself. I know this because he told me. When he told me, he was an old man, and this had happened 30–40 years before. He repented and ended up being a good Bible scholar, who carried his shame as a weight upon him. He struggled to forgive himself even though God had.

The second man who did persevere was in an almost exact situation as the first, but he didn’t give in but was prepared to die. He actually was rescued at the last minute. His situation also caused real fear, but he kept his eyes upon Jesus, and found the presence of the Holy Spirit, something he pursued daily, gave him the strength he needed to not give in to the threat of his persecutor. I think he was more afraid of what he would be like if he took his eyes off Jesus. How could he turn away from the one who had loved him unto death? That just wouldn’t do. In contrast to the first example he had such joy in the Lord.

We are living in a time where we must ask God to give us a heart like the prophets so that we can reveal the power and authority of God’s word, no matter the cost. It will not happen by accident, but we must intentionally cry out to God to bring us to the place of surrender because we hunger to be used as an expression of our love and gratefulness. The world needs to be able to see authentic godliness like the Shunammite woman saw in the prophet Elisha. Perhaps then we will return to demonstrating the power of God in our midst.

Let’s pray.