What is the meaning of 2 Kings 4:28? Then she said, • The Shunammite woman has raced from Shunem to Mount Carmel after laying her lifeless son on Elisha’s bed (2 Kings 4:21, 24). • Until this moment she has spoken only “It is well” to her husband and to Gehazi (vv. 23, 26), bottling up her anguish until she can pour it out before the man of God. • Her choice to speak to Elisha, rather than to anyone else, displays confidence that God works through His appointed servant (cf. Exodus 33:11; James 5:16). • Like the psalmists who cry out honestly (Psalm 62:8), she models reverent yet unfiltered prayer. • Hebrews 4:16 encourages the same bold approach: “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Did I ask you for a son, my lord? • The woman reminds Elisha that the child was not her request (2 Kings 4:16); the promise originated with the prophet and, ultimately, with God. • By stressing “Did I ask…?” she underlines that the gift—and therefore the responsibility for its welfare—lies with the Lord who gave it (cf. Genesis 22:1–2; Job 1:21). • Contrast Hannah, who did petition for a child (1 Samuel 1:11); the Shunammite had been content, yet God blessed her unexpectedly. • Her words carry no contempt but a plea: “Since You gave this son, You must now act to preserve him.” • Romans 11:29 reinforces her logic: “For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.” Didn’t I say, ‘Do not deceive me?’ • She quotes her earlier caution when Elisha first promised the boy (2 Kings 4:16), revealing fear of heartbreak even while rejoicing in the promise. • Now that the child has died, her worst fear seems realized; she presses for resolution, not resignation. • This is the language of faith-filled lament: honest about pain yet convinced God will set things right (Psalm 25:3; Isaiah 49:23). • By invoking “Do not deceive me,” she implicitly affirms that God’s Word, delivered through His prophet, cannot fail (Numbers 23:19; Isaiah 55:11). • Her appeal sets the stage for the miracle of resurrection that follows (2 Kings 4:32–35), proving that God’s promises are true even when circumstances appear hopeless. summary 2 Kings 4:28 captures a mother’s raw, faith-driven outcry. She approaches God’s prophet, reminds him that the son was God’s unsolicited gift, and pleads that the promise not end in grief. Her words blend honest lament with steadfast trust, demonstrating that the Lord who grants life also has power to restore it. The verse teaches believers to bring every hurt to God, to hold Him to His unfailing Word, and to expect His saving action even when everything seems lost. |
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