What is the meaning of 2 Kings 4:18? And the child grew “And the child grew” (2 Kings 4:18a) paints a simple yet profound picture of normal development under God’s providence. • Just as Samuel “continued to grow in stature and in favor with the LORD and with men” (1 Samuel 2:26) and Jesus “kept increasing in wisdom and stature” (Luke 2:52), this promised son of the Shunammite woman matured day by day. • His growth confirms the faithfulness of God, who had said through Elisha, “At this time next year you will hold a son in your arms” (2 Kings 4:16). • Each stage of the boy’s life fulfills God’s gracious intent, echoing Psalm 127:3—“Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from Him”. and one day “...and one day...” (2 Kings 4:18b) signals a divinely appointed moment hidden in the ordinary. • Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us, “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven.” • Galatians 4:4 uses similar language—“When the fullness of time had come”—to describe God’s precise timing in redemptive history. • The phrase suggests that what follows is no accident; the Lord oversees the calendar of every life. he went out to his father “...he went out to his father...” (2 Kings 4:18c) underscores family connection and responsibility. • The boy’s initiative to seek his father reflects healthy family patterns set forth in Exodus 20:12 and reinforced in Ephesians 6:1–4, where children and parents engage in mutual honor and care. • The father’s presence in the field shows diligent labor, paralleling Proverbs 20:7—“The righteous man walks in his integrity; blessed are his children after him”. • This scene hints that faith is lived out amid daily work, not confined to special settings. who was with the harvesters “...who was with the harvesters” (2 Kings 4:18d) places the narrative in a season of abundance and hard work. • Harvest time often represents both blessing and urgency, as in Ruth 2:3, where Ruth gleaned behind the reapers, and in Matthew 9:37, where Jesus says, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” • The father’s hands-on leadership mirrors Psalm 128:2: “You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.” • Within that productive setting, the stage is set for the sudden crisis that follows (v. 19), reminding us that trials can arise even in seasons of blessing. summary 2 Kings 4:18, though a brief verse, traces the boy’s steady growth, the divinely timed day, his purposeful approach to his father, and the father’s diligent presence among harvesters. Together these details display God’s faithfulness, the value of family, and the intertwining of ordinary life with divine purpose—truths that prepare us for the miracle God is about to perform. |
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