What is the meaning of 2 Kings 8:5? And Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had brought the dead back to life • Gehazi, once Elisha’s servant (2 Kings 4:12), is recounting the miracle recorded in 2 Kings 4:32-37, where Elisha literally raised the Shunammite’s son. • The king—likely Joram (2 Kings 8:4)—is intrigued by Elisha’s ministry; listening to firsthand testimony underscores the historic, factual nature of the miracle. • Scripture often highlights the power of eyewitness accounts (John 9:25; Acts 4:20). Here, Gehazi’s narrative serves as a providential setup for what follows. • God orchestrates events so that testimony aligns with tangible evidence, reinforcing faith (Psalm 145:4-6). Just then the woman whose son Elisha had revived came to appeal to the king for her house and her land • “Just then” (literally “while he was still speaking,”) shows God’s perfect timing (Proverbs 16:9; Romans 8:28). • The woman had obeyed Elisha’s earlier warning to leave during a seven-year famine (2 Kings 8:1-2). Returning, she finds her property confiscated and appeals for justice. • Her initiative reflects faith and courage; she seeks restoration because she trusts the same God who restored her son (Hebrews 4:16; Luke 18:1-8). • The convergence of her arrival with Gehazi’s story is no coincidence; it is divine appointment, reminiscent of Ruth “happening” upon Boaz’s field (Ruth 2:3). So Gehazi said, “My lord the king, this is the woman, and this is the son Elisha restored to life.” • Gehazi’s identification provides immediate, irrefutable confirmation of the miracle, satisfying the Mosaic standard of at least two witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15). • The living son stands as undeniable proof of God’s power, echoing Jesus’ words that works authenticate the messenger (John 10:25, 37-38). • The king’s subsequent action—granting full restitution plus lost income (2 Kings 8:6)—demonstrates that God not only revives but also restores (Joel 2:25-26). • For the woman, this moment seals a double blessing: her child’s life and her livelihood, paralleling Job’s later restoration (Job 42:10-12). summary 2 Kings 8:5 showcases God’s sovereign orchestration of events to validate His prophet’s miracle, protect His faithful servant, and testify to His life-giving, restoring power. Gehazi’s timely testimony, the woman’s bold appeal, and the king’s swift justice converge to illustrate that the Lord who raises the dead also arranges circumstances for the vindication and provision of His people. |
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