Did she think her child would be restored to life at the Prophet's word? Perhaps so. She had received him at first in a miraculous way, and by a miracle he might be restored to her. At all events, her words and conduct illustrate the divine encouragement, "Trust Him at all times, ye people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a Refuge for us." They saw her in the distance, and Gehazi ran to meet her, with the question, "Is it well with thee, thy husband, and the child?" And she answered, "Well." She would not tell the servant her sorrow. She hastened on to his master, and in her grief she caught hold of his feet, as if to hold him fast. Elisha, though a prophet, did not know what had befallen her. Perfect knowledge belongs to God alone, and He had not revealed this matter to him yet. He heard her story, and sent Gehazi with all haste to lay his staff upon the face of the child. But the mother refused to leave Elisha, and they together followed Gehazi, who, first reaching the chamber of death, laid the Prophet's rod upon the dead, but in vain. "There was neither voice nor hearing." A solemn picture of spiritual death--no voice to cry to God; no ears to listen to His Word. Are we alive or dead? Elisha next entered the chamber alone, and, shutting the door, he prayed to the Lord; and in the end, the child was perfectly restored to life and health. And this wondrous miracle was no doubt intended to foreshadow the general resurrection of the last great day, and to show that "with God all things are possible." Here, too, we see a figure of "Him that was to come." The Shunammite prayed to God through Elisha, from whose lips she had at first received the promise; and in the name of Jesus we are to seek all blessings from heaven. "He ever lives to intercede Before His Father's face; Give Him, my soul, thy cause to plead, Nor doubt the Father's grace." Time rolled on, and other sorrows came upon the highly-favoured mother. A terrible famine raged in Samaria, and at Elisha's bidding she and her household left the land of Israel for seven years (see 2 Kings viii.); and then, peace and plenty having been restored, she returned and went to the king to ask for her house and land in Shunem. Behold here the wonder-working providence of the Lord. At the very time of her visit, Gehazi was telling the king of Elisha's miracles, especially that of raising one to life; and as the woman presented her appeal, Gehazi, recognizing her, exclaimed, "My lord, this is the mother, and this her son, whom Elisha restored to life." Deeply interested at once in her case, the king granted all her request with the utmost readiness. So "all things work together for good to them that love God," and Jesus always sympathizes with His people's sorrows, and helps and comforts them, so that "they who wait for Him shall not be ashamed." May we, in every time of trial and difficulty--