A Boy in a Harvest Field

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2 Kings 4:18-3718And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers. 19And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother. 20And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. 21And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out. 22And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again. 23And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well. 24Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee. 25So she went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite: 26Run 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. 27And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told me. 28Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me? 29Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child. 30And the mother of the child said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her. 31And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked. 32And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. 33He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the Lord. 34And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. 35Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son. 37Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out. (2 Kings 4:18‑37)
One morning a little boy of Israel went to the harvest field, where his father and the helpers were cutting and binding the grain. to watch them at the work, as all children like to do. But suddenly he began to cry with pain, and said to his father, “My head, my head!” Hot sunshine on the head sometimes quickly causes a most serious illness, for either children or grown people, and perhaps was the cause of this child’s sudden pain.
The father at once called a helper to carry the child to his mother. She must have done all she could for him, and held him tenderly; but the little boy grew worse, and at noon time, died. We are not told the name of this boy, but his mother was the kind lady who had furnished the room for Elisha. Now she carried her child to that room, and gently laid him on the bed. At that time Elisha was at Mt. Carmel, several miles away.
The lady called to her husband to have a servant make ready for her to ride quickly to Elisha; she seems to have had such trust that the child should live again, that she did not tell the father the sorrow, but said, “it shall he well”.
Elisha saw the lady riding up the hill toward him, and he felt that it was because of some trouble, so kindly sent his helper to meet her and ask if all were well. When she came to Elisha and he learned that her child had died, he gave his staff to his helper and told him to go quickly and place it on the child to waken him. The servant went quickly, but the lady would not return except Elisha went also.
The staff of Elisha did not waken the child from his sleep of death. But when Elisha came to the room, he prayed alone to God; Ins prayer was answered; life came again to the child; his body became warm; he sneezed and opened his eyes.
Then Elisha called for the mother; she came and bowed down in thanks for this great mercy; then carried her boy outside, and we know he lived many years after this, and we read of him again. How well the mother was rewarded for her trust in the Lord!
If death is in our home, we cannot go to Elisha, yet if we believe the promises of God, we can say, “It is peace”. For, “God hath both raised up the Lord (Jesus), and will also raise us up by His own power.” 1 Cor. 6:1414And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. (1 Corinthians 6:14).
ML 05/28/1939