2 Kings 4:18-37

< Back to 2 Kings Index


TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

A Boy Returns to Life Through Elisha’s Ministry

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Bad things do happen to good people.

  2. Faith presses on.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Don't be like the Shunamite man.

  2. Be like the Shunamite woman.

QUESTIONS

  1. What caused the death of the boy?

  2. What did the Shunamite woman do when she knew her boy was dead?

  3. What did the Shunamite man do?

  4. What did Elisha do when he heard about the boy's death?

  5. Is God out of control when bad things happen to good people? Explain.

  6. What was the key doctrinal point in this story that can be applied to our lives today?

  7. What did the phrase mean, "It is well," (2 Kings 26)?

  8. Why are we admonished not to be like the Shunamite man?

  9. Why are we counseled to be like the Shunamite woman?

ANSWERS

  1. We don't know what caused his death, other than for God to show His power through His servant Elisha.

  2. She laid the boy on Elisha's bed, then went to Elisha.

  3. When the boy told him of his headache, he sent him to his mother. When the woman told her husband that she wanted to go to the man of God, he questioned her.

  4. Elisha sent his servant, Gehazi, to meet the woman, and then he told his servant to go quickly and lay his staff on the boy. Then Elisha went, and first of all, he prayed, then he stretched himself upon the boy. Elisha sent his servant, Gehazi, to meet the woman, and then he told his servant to go quickly and lay his staff on the boy. Then Elisha went, and first of all, he prayed, then he stretched himself upon the boy.

  5. No, God is not out of control. Sometimes God permits bad things to happen to good people to show His power and the truth of Romans 8:28 God can take bad things, all things, and work them together for the good of the believer.

  6. It means that whatever the outcome, all is well because God is in control. Like the Shunamite woman, we need to show a willingness to accept God's will, whatever the outcome.

  7. It means that whatever the outcome, all is well because God is in control. Like the Shunamite woman, we need to show a willingness to accept God's will, whatever the outcome.

  8. He was more concerned with the business at hand than for the Lord's work. He was not spiritually sensitive to the needs of his family. He went along with his wife, but he was not the spiritual head of the household.

  9. She was a good woman, doing what she could for people. She was a woman of good character, but most importantly, she was sensitive for the needs of the Lord's servants, and did what she could to meet these needs

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Can you say, "It is well," in all circumstances? Recall times when you did not say or believe it was well. Recall times when you trusted God for whatever the outcome.

CHALLENGE

  1. In what respects are you like the Shunamite man? (See Q/A #8).

  2. In what respects are you like the Shunamite woman? (See Q/A #9). Will you determine to be more like her?

KEY VERSES

  • "...she went to the man of God..." 2 Kings 4:25

  • "It is well." 2 Kings 4:26

2 Kings, Old Testament, TalksRon Reid2 KINGS 4:18-37