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if God can never lie long unfulfilled: when he has prepared the heart to pray, his own ear is open to hear. He has not called himself “I am what I am," for nothing. Abraham staggered not at the promise through unbelief, no more does the daughter of Abraham here: it is blessed pleading “Did not I say, do not deceive me?" "May trust? May I venture? He has given me the faithful word of God to rely on; here my faith testeth." And a son came in due season.
Now she looks to God, the author of the mercy, and applies to the prophet, who was the revealer of it. He sends Gehazi with his staff, but this will not content her, except Elisha goes himself: she knows that he was great with God; she will therefore save his prayers and presence “As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee," ver. 30. All this argues the strong desires of her heart after the return of the child's life, though still she says, "All is well”
While, we bear chastenings, we may pray, and pray hard that God would take them off. “If it be possible," (says innocent aggrieved nature in the man Christ,) let this cup pass from me," Matthew xxvi. 26. Opening our mouth against God is our sin, but it is our duty to open our mouths and our hearts to him. In the former sense, says David, "I was dumb, I opened not my mouth, because thou
