Elisha said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Get ready, you and your household, and go live as a resident alien wherever you can. For the Lord has announced a seven-year famine, and it has already come to the land.”
So the woman got ready and did what the man of God said. She and her household lived as resident aliens in the land of the Philistines for seven years. When the woman returned from the land of the Philistines at the end of seven years, she went to appeal to the king for her house and field.
The king had been speaking to Gehazi, the attendant of the man of God, saying, “Tell me all the great things Elisha has done.”
While he was telling the king how Elisha restored the dead son to life, the woman whose son he had restored to life came to appeal to the king for her house and field. So Gehazi said, “My lord the king, this is the woman and this is the son Elisha restored to life.”
When the king asked the woman, she told him the story. So the king appointed a court official for her, saying, “Restore all that was hers, along with all the income from the field from the day she left the country until now.” 2 Kings 8:1-6
Faith-Filled Bonus: The Seven-Year Promise – 2 Kings 8:1-6
Years after God had miraculously restored the Shunammite woman’s son to life through the prophet Elisha, Elisha brought her another message from the Lord. He warned her that a severe famine would come upon the land for seven years and instructed her to leave her home and live wherever she could find refuge.
The woman trusted God’s warning without hesitation. She left her land and lived among the Philistines for the entire seven-year famine, even though it meant abandoning her home and livelihood.
The Word
Elisha instructed her:
“Arise, and go, you and your household, and stay wherever you can; for the Lord has called for a famine, and it will come upon the land for seven years.” — 2 Kings 8:1
Though the command required sacrifice, the woman believed God’s Word and obeyed.
The Fulfillment
At the end of the seven years, the woman returned to Israel to appeal to the king for the return of her house and land. By what appeared to be perfect timing—but was clearly God’s providence—the king was at that very moment listening to Gehazi recount the miracles Elisha had performed, including the raising of the Shunammite woman’s son.
As she entered, Gehazi exclaimed, “My lord, O king, here is the woman!”
The king immediately ordered that all her property be restored to her, along with every bit of income the land had produced during the entire seven years she had been away.
God not only preserved her life through the famine but restored everything she had lost. His Word proved true in every detail.
Reflection Questions
- Have I ever had to obey God without knowing how everything would work out?
- How does this story remind me that God’s timing is always perfect?
- What “loss” or waiting season do I need to entrust to God’s care?
- How has God shown His faithfulness to me long after I first obeyed Him?
Action Step
Think about an area where you have been faithfully following God but have not yet seen the outcome. Take time today to thank Him for His perfect timing. Ask Him to strengthen your patience and confidence, trusting that He is working behind the scenes even when you cannot see it.
Come to the Facebook group @DevoInAction (https://www.facebook.com/devoinaction) and share your thoughts about today’s devotional or post a pic of your journaling under Bonus: Peace Bears Beauty – The Quiet Bloom (Galatians 5:22) post or post on Instagram and tag me @devoinaction!
THEN, comment on someone else’s post to encourage and build them up in the Lord! Let’s not just share our art but also the heart of what God is speaking to us with one another.
Prayer:
Dear God, Thank You that Your plans are always good, even when they require me to wait or walk by faith. Help me to obey Your Word without hesitation, trusting that You see the future when I cannot. Remind me that You are working in ways I may never recognize until the right moment. Thank You for Your perfect timing and for Your faithfulness to every promise You make. Strengthen my heart to trust You in every season, knowing that You are able to restore far more than I could ever lose by following You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thanks so much for joining me on this journey! Keep your eyes open for the Advent series in December – I hope you will all join me again!
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