Restoration

Restoration

The Woman From Shunem

Read: 2 Kings 8:1-6

The mother looked at her blooming garden and thought of all the years of work she and her husband had put into their home and yard. They had looked forward to raising their three young children here. Now, they were in danger of losing their home. The city had threatened to seize their property along with others in the area so that a developer could build upscale condominiums. At first the woman couldn’t believe what was happening; she had later learned that it was not only legal but such actions were becoming more common.

The woman from Shunem also had her property seized. When Elisha warned her about a coming famine, she took his advice and moved her family away from Israel. Seven years passed, and she returned with her son to find that her house and land had been taken over by other people. When the woman went to plead her case with the king, she and her son walked in just as Elisha’s servant was recounting the story of how the prophet had brought her boy back to life. The king ordered that her property be restored to her and that she even be compensated for any crops harvested during her absence. The woman’s disappointment turned to joy.

While the Shunemite woman left Israel in obedience to Elisha, sometimes we move away from God out of rebellion. When we choose to live the way we want to instead of obeying his instructions, we remove ourselves from his abundant provision and blessings. We may end up in a place where we don’t want to be, longing to return to the closeness we once felt with God. Although we often have to live with the consequences of our disobedience, God promises to renew our joy and peace when we repent and return to his ways. When we call on our King with the right attitude, we can always expect restoration.

Restore us, O LORD, and bring us back to you again! Give us back the joys we once had!

Lamentations 5:21