It Is Well

There is an interesting exchange between Elisha and the Shenuemite woman. She was never named, despite having a big role in the life of Elisha the prophet. Or maybe we should say he played a big role in her life. We find it in 2 Kings 4:26
     "Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, ‘Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child?'" And she answered, "It is well."   

Elisha's servant was actually the one who took the message and returned with the response, but the two primary actors are E and SW. David Jeremiah's meditation referenced this passage and discussed D. L. Moody's life. (6/28/17) His grandson died and he penned the following to his children in their loss.
     "I know Dwight is having a good time, and we should rejoice with him. What would the mansions be without children? And he has gone to help get things ready for his parents. You know the Master said: ‘The last shall be first.' He was the last to come into our circle, and he is the first to go up there! So safe, so free from all the sorrow that we are passing through! I do thank God for such a life. It was nearly all smiles and sunshine. What a glorified body he will have, and with what joy he will await your coming! ... You will have the dear little man with you for ages and ages.... The word that keeps coming to my mind is this: ‘It is well with the child.'"1

We recently thought of Horatio Spafford and his hymn, "It Is Well." (Peace Like a River)  Spafford went to Moody and Ira Sankey after his loss of four daughters, and some biographers think that Spafford wrote the hymn after or even during this meeting.

This would certainly buttress that supposition. Moody had suffered a loss and was able to comfort him with the comfort he had received. (2 Corinthians 1:4)

Turn to the passage. The woman has just driven (one donkey power vehicle) about 30 miles to tell Elisha that her son had died. Do you think that he already knew? Sometimes he did. Regardless, he asked, "...is it well with the child?"

Her answer was, "It is well." (Sounds familiar, doesn't it? Wonder if Spafford read that in conjunction with his composing the hymn.) We can interpret this at least two ways and both will bless us. First, she, like Spafford measured the health of her soul by God. Look through the phrases of the hymn and evaluate your health. (http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/It_Is_Well_with_My_Soul/)

Regardless of what happens, it is well. Our sin is removed and we bear it no more. Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, oh my soul. This is not a pollyannaish response to bad news. It is a sober contemplation of real value, compared with temporary comfort and convenience. It is well with my soul.

But is there a second way to view her response. (Maybe both are accurate.) She knew that Elisha was a miracle worker. Chances are that she had never heard of anyone raising someone from the dead. But there is a possibility that Elisha may have told her about Elijah raising a boy from the dead, in very similar circumstances.

Whether she knew or not, she had faith. And whether or not the boy was resurrected (actually resuscitated, because he would die again) revived, she was trusting Elisha and ultimately his God. Her statement as to his being "well" reveals a depth of faith and confidence. Alive or dead, it was well with him.

It is well.

1. A. P. Fitt, The Life of D. L. Moody (Chicago: Moody Press, n.d.), 139-140