Life did come back into the child’s body, and we are not allowed to think that the child had not really died. The writer tells us that the Lord listened to Elijah’s prayer and did as he requested. Elijah returned the boy to his mother and announced that her son lived.
The woman recognized the miracle; this we know because she recognized the miracle-worker. She said that she then understood that Elijah was truly a man of God. We might find this statement a little odd, since she had the witness of the miraculous, never-ending supply of flour and bread. However, that miracle pales in comparison to this raising of her son to life.
She also confessed her belief in the truth of Elijah’s words as coming from God. Before this time, it is possible that the widow thought it possible for Elijah to be something of a trickster, accomplishing the miracle by the use of some sort of magic arts. There was, however, nothing to doubt now.
22 And the LORD listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived.