Grace Notes // When We Were Kings Part 2
Week 9 // The Path to Restoration
Written by Keli Miller
“Elisha had told the woman whose son he had brought back to life, “Take your family and move to some other place, for the Lord has called for a famine on Israel that will last for seven years.” So the woman did as the man of God instructed.”
- 2 Kings 8:1
So the woman did. God spoke and the faithful Shumanite Woman (who we read about in chapter 4) picked up her life and did as God instructed. The text seems to imply that this was effortless obedience on the woman’s part. There seems to be little to no disagreement or hesitation. But, lets not rush past this woman’s sacrifice and loss. Let’s not overlook the period and space that follows God’s instruction. What doesn’t the text tell us? Surely, in between God’s instruction and her obedience there was wrestling, waiting, planning and maybe even a little grieving. I’d actually bet money that there was grieving, even after her obedience.
Obedience to God is costly, but we know that God restores. Knowing this will help us on the path to restoration and along the way we’ll see a few more things: recognition, relationship and resurrection.
There was recognition.
The Shumanite woman saw Elisha for who he was. Even before she was the recipient of any miracles she saw that he was a man of God. It was this original recognition that turned into a relationship. Can we recognize and see God in the people and circumstances around us? Are we able to look and identify where we have seen God’s hand? Where we have been in his presence?
There was relationship.
Elisha and the Shumanite woman shared a relationship. They had a history of experiences that allowed for the woman’s easy obedience. The instruction to leave her land didn’t come from a distant boss. It came from a close friend. This is how God’s instructions hit us. From closeness of relationship will we find space to listen and hear where God is directing us.
When we are in relationship, we make room for input. We make room to listen to the other person. So the question here is do we know God’s voice? What do the footsteps of God sound like?
There was resurrection.
There are times when God calls us away from what we know. When God asks me to leave, I like to assume that he has immediate and better provision for me, but it doesn’t always work out that way. We don’t always get immediate resurrection, sometimes we sit in death and wait. The woman left, was obedient to God and there was a famine for seven years before God’s full picture was revealed. The disciples waited three days before Jesus rose. I wonder what kind of wrestling happened during their waiting?
Ultimately, it was resurrection that led to the woman’s restoration. It was the testimony and story of her son’s resurrection that moved the king to restore her land to her.
Before restoration there is always resurrection.
And yes, there was restoration.
Kingdom restoration isn’t just returning what was lost. It is taking what was once dead and bringing new life that is better than it was before it’s death.
PRAYER
God of restoration,
Thank you for not leaving us in the grave. It would have been enough if you had just sent your son, but you have also seated us with you in heavenly places. Open our eyes to recognize your presence. We ask for soft hearts and hard feet, and not the other way around. Soften our hearts to listen to your instruction. And ready our feet to travel the miles with you. Amen.
ADDITIONAL STORIES OF RESTORATION
John 13:31-28
Luke 22:54-62
John 21:15-19