November 4, 2023: Haftorah - II Kings 4:1-37
This week's Haftorah reading is from II Kings 4:1-37. Join Dr. Jeffery Myers as he zeros in on the story of the Shunammite woman as she stood at the “doorway” between possibilities and impossibilities. So many times, we too arrive at the doorway of opportunity of our blessing, victory, healing, and deliverance! The outcome is dependent upon the exercising of our faith in what ADONAI says is true!
Follow along in the AUDIO PODCAST, by clicking on the play button below, and reading along with the notes, as you listen to today's Haftorah Portion:
Lion of Judah Speaks: Haftorah Portion – II Kings 4:1-37
We find in II Kings 4, the story of the Shunammite woman. A wealthy woman who opened her home to the prophet Elisha to stay for meals when he passed her house. She had a heart to serve the man of Adonai. Her commitment to Elohim and His prophet was so strong that she went out of her way to build a place for him to stay. She created an “upper room”, with a “bed”, “a table”, and a “chair” plus a “lampstand.”
Elisha wanted to do something for the lady so he called her to the “upper room.” She stood at the “doorway” between possibilities and impossibilities. As she stood in the doorway in verse 15, he said to her in verse 16, “About this time next year you shall embrace a son.” It was unbelievable what the prophet Elisha said to her and she wanted to believe it but at the same time she has been disappointment many times before. She told him not to lie to her but she conceived and bore a son when the “appointed time” had come…Elohim does not lie!
This woman of faith stood at the doorway of opportunity. She could have rejected the opportunity as she looked at past failures and disappointments…she could either believe and receive or disbelieve and reject…she chose to believe! So many times, we arrive at the doorway of opportunity of our blessing, victory, healing, and deliverance and all we have do is exercise our faith and believe what Adonai says is true! The doorway is one of victory or disappointment depending on how we decide to believe.
Whose report will you believe? Adonai brings us to many doorways…opportunities to stretch our faith and trust in His Word. We either stand and receive His Word or we shut the door on what Elohim desires for our lives. Even in this war that is happening…we must have faith and trust in Adonai. He is either faithful or He is not! It is easier to trust when everything is going well but that actually takes no trust at all. If all hell breaks loose, we need to rely on Adonai…He is our strength and the keeper of our soul!
Adonai wanted to move on this Shunammite woman, to grant her what she dreamed for years but had decided to “give up” or “settle” because she saw no means of receiving. However, Adonai is Adonai and He calls her (calls us) to the doorway of opportunity! Thank you, Yeshua!
There were three things that stand out that put in motion a response from Elohim to create a door of opportunity and eventually a son. These three things are applicable to us as well.
The Shunammite woman had a perception- she perceived that Elisha was a man of Adonai. Elisha was the door to a move of Adonai. She decided to make preparation for that move. Her faith was in operation from the very beginning as she laid a foundation for her miracle. What is our perception of what Yah is doing today? Do you perceive that we are on the edge of one of the greatest moves of Yah the world has ever seen, even though it seems the world is falling apart and the people are colder and more Torahless than ever?
Do you perceive that Adonai is preparing you to be an active participant of this great outpouring? Even as sins runs rampant and lawlessness abounds…can you see the doorway He has created or is creating? If you know that Adonai is moving, what preparations have you made in your life to receive it and maintain it?
Elisha passed by the woman’s house once but she wanted it to continue…she wasn’t satisfied with just once, so she “prepared him a place.” Leonard Ravenhill said, “The opportunity of a lifetime must be seized in the lifetime of the opportunity.” So, let’s seize the day, seize the moment. Don’t let it pass you by!
She made a room and furnished it with a cot, a table, a chair, and a lampstand. Each of these have a symbolic revelational understanding and application to our own faith. The cot is symbolic of our rest in Elohim for all He has prepared for us. The table is the place of fellowship prepared for divine visitation. The chair represents the authority of Elohim in our lives. The lamp signifies the illumination of Elohim’s revelation of Himself to us.
The Shunammite woman gave Elisha a chair; demonstrating her dependency was on Adonai and she gave Adonai her seat of authority. Chair comes from the Hebrew word “kiccha” (kis-say) defining a throne, the seat of deity; royal power and dignity. A chair holds or supports. It’s important we realize what supports us and who and what has authority in our life.
Let me ask this question; Who is sitting on your throne; is it self; is it sin; or is it Yeshua HaMashiach? Someone is sitting on the throne of your life. It is who you yield to, who you allow authority and power and access, who you have exalted in your life as the most important. Whoever is on the chair is the one you will serve!
In the beginning there was only one will, the will of Adonai but after the rebellion of man there were two wills that have increased in number as sin abounds. Satan has wanted to be like the Most High and since our rebellion we also desire to be like the Most High! Isaiah 53:6 tells us, “We all like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, everyone, to his own way; and Adonai has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”
What authority is sitting on your chair? Whoever or whatever controls your life; drugs, alcohol, habits, sickness, disease, job, religion, Satan, self or Adonai is dependent on whom you have placed on your chair. Yeshua was given all power and authority in heaven and earth. Why? John 6:38, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My will, but the Will of Him who sent Me.”
The power in your life is demonstrated by who is sitting on your chair. Yeshua’s Messiahship was demonstrated by His authority and power that was given to Him. The Shunammite woman gave her chair to the prophet of Yah. Who are you giving your authority to? Is it the world, Satan or is it self? In Daniel 7 it says Yeshua was given dominion and glory and a Kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve and obey Him.
He is the One Who was and Who is and Who is to come because He has taken His great power and reigned according to Revelations 11. Revelation 12:11 states, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the Word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”
A revival is a determination of Elohim’s authority- if He is on the chair – There is Revival! If He is not then there is no revival!
Shabbat Shalom Mishpocha,
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On this Sabbath day create a chair for Yeshua to sit that He may pour Himself out on you! Take back the authority you have given the enemy and give it to Yeshua. He will rule your life with joy, goodness and love…He has come to give you life and to give it to you more abundantly but the devil wants to steal, kill and destroy…kick him off your throne…let Yeshua reign! See you at the altar!
Shalom Aleichem