Asking and Luck

There’s a little known story in the Bible about a woman whose life was changed by a dramatic turn of events. Some would say she was lucky. I say she knew how to use the power of asking.

We don’t know her name. She’s only referred to as the “Shunammite” — from a place called Shunem. She had hosted the prophet Elisha in her house many times and generously supported him.

Elisha learned from God that a famine was about to hit the land of Israel. Grateful for her kindness, he gave her the heads up and advised her to move with her family out of the country, somewhere where she would be safe and fully provided for.

So she did, and escaped the famine.

Seven years later, when the famine was over, she returned home — only to find someone else occupying her land. Homeless, the Shunammite tried all she could to get her property back, to no avail. Determined to fight for what was rightfully hers, she went all the way to the king to ask for justice.

This is where things get interesting.

By divine providence, while she made her way to the palace, the king took a sudden interest in Elisha’s miracles. He called in Elisha’s assistant, a young man called Gehazi, who started telling the king about all the miracles the man of God had done — including how he’d raised the Shunammite’s son from the dead. As the woman herself walked in, unaware of the conversation, Gehazi said to the king: “This is the woman, and this is her son whom Elisha brought back to life!”

The king assigned her an officer to ensure she would not only get her property back, but also all the profits her field had produced for the past seven years!

Luck? I don’t think so.

I think her decision to keep asking until she got what she wanted put her in the right place, at the right time.

Ask more, get more. It’s the power of asking.

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