We read her story and wonder how she could claim, ‘All is well’

By Dean Collins

“All is well.” That’s what she said. Was she in shock? In denial? Was all really going well? And how and where do we find the boldness, the faith to say “all is well” when what we can see does not appear to be good at all?

She made the claim to Elisha, Elijah’s successor. He had made a bold request of Elijah before he was taken in a whirlwind to Heaven.  “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” Elijah had seen and been a part of delivering God’s blessings and judgments in Israel. The defeat of the prophets of Baal on top of Mount Carmel may have been his greatest moment, but it wasn’t his only moment with God. God also met him when he was sure he was not well. After the miracle against Baal, he had run from Jezabel. He had fallen asleep while hiding in a cave. He was hungry and depressed. He believed he was the only one serving God.

God met him in this unwell condition. Almighty God fed him, not by ravens but this time by angels. Sometimes, maybe often, all is well even when we indeed feel or believe otherwise.

Later, God poured out his Spirit on Elisha. There may not be any way to measure whether Elisha had twice as much of God’s Spirit as Elijah. I am pretty sure it doesn’t matter. When God pours out his Spirit, I am pretty confident Scripture would support that it is fully enough.

Paying her debts

We read in Scripture of his encounter with two women in need. The first was in a world of trouble. Her husband had died. Creditors had demanded payment and taken two of her children as slaves. Elisha asked, “What shall I do for you?” I am not sure his question was directed to the widow. Maybe his question was a prayer to God. Maybe he was simply thinking out loud. Maybe it was all of the above.

Quickly Elisha moved to action. Elisha had the woman inventory her resources. Oil was all she had in the cupboard. Elisha instructed her to solicit as many jars, bottles, and buckets as she could find. She complied with the request. Elisha then had her pour her oil into them; miraculously her oil was enough to fill all containers. All was well for her then as she was able to sell the oil and pay her debts.

Promising a son

But the second woman, the woman who said “all is well,” was not in economic trouble. Neither was she a widow. She was a wealthy woman who had noticed Elisha and his service to God and others. On one occasion she instructed him to come and eat in her home. Whenever he was nearby she repeated the invitation. Finally, she prepared a guest room for the prophet, telling him he could stay with her and her husband anytime. After some time, Elisha asked his servant, Gehazi, to ask the woman what could be done for her.

At first it seemed there was nothing she needed, but then Gehazi considered that this woman had no son and her husband was old. He mentioned this to Elisha, who called for the woman and told her she would have a son by the same time next year. “No, my Lord, O man of God,” she replied. “Do not lie to your servant.” But as prophesied, the next year she gave birth to a baby boy.

A few years later the little boy became sick with a terrible headache while sitting with his father. The father quickly had the boy taken to his mother. This mother called for her servants to prepare one of the donkeys for travel so she could hurry to find Elisha. Her husband, seeing her frantic pace, asked her why she was going to find the prophet when it wasn’t the Sabbath or the time of a holy holiday. The child had died on her lap, but she told her husband, “All is well.” It would appear to us as readers that all was not at all well.

Restoring to life

When Elisha saw the woman coming he sent his servant ahead to inquire of her need. The prophet asked three questions: “Is all well with you? Is all well with your husband? Is all well with the child?’” She answered, “All is well,”  even though all evidence was to the contrary.

Elisha first sent his servant with his staff, instructing him to touch the boy’s head with the staff. We assume the prophet thought this would heal the boy. It did not. Then Elisha went to the boy. The prophet’s first attempt at raising this boy back to life appeared not to work. The second attempt brought resurrection. And Elisha told his servant to call the woman and tell her to pick up her son. The Scripture says, “She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out.”

Acting by faith

All was well. What can we learn from this woman of great faith? How is it that she was able to declare repeatedly that all was well even when sickness and death were in her home? Dare we live with bold faith like the Shunammite woman demonstrated?

I think we can conclude that this woman is an example of one whose faith translated to actions. She was generous to others. She was attentive to the needs of the prophet. She was content and humble, not pushing the prophet for favors. She noticed God’s work in and through his prophet Elisha. And she was willing to go to God’s prophet in her time of great need. All was well because she knew everything rests in the hands of the Almighty.

Lord, increase our faith that we might daily surrender ourselves, our time, and our money so that we might serve those in need. We surrender our difficult situations to you and declare that in you and with you all is well. You are enough for us. Our desire is to surrender our will to you and know that is enough. May your will be done on earth, in us and through us, as it is in Heaven. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Your time with God’s Word
2 Kings‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬-‭14‬; 4‬:‭19‬-‭37 ‭ESV‬‬

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