Seven Sneezes of Life

Then 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. 2Kings 4:35

Of all the miracles in the life of Elisha, this one touches me very deeply. Who counted the child's sneezes? Who recorded that Elisha walked to and fro? It is as if we are watching the scene, that we are there. And the mother's reaction as she received her dead child, alive again. The narrative of that day is very briefly, but very intimately, told to us.

As we read the Old Testament we can try to apply all kinds of theological significance to each event, and of course it is there. However much God teaches us about the deep things we are to understand, there is another side to these stories. There is the very closeness we feel when we realize that these are not symbolic people, actors in a morality play.

We are in contact with our Creator's heart. He cares for each detail of our lives. His word not only teaches us the miracle of resurrection, but that He even counts a child's sneezes. How many of us, in crisis, have walked to and fro?

Reading this I feel close to this long ago man of God and to his Creator.