Text:          2 Kings 4:9 & 13

By:             Emmanuel Adeoye

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The Shunammite woman is mentioned by misdrah as one of the twenty-three truly upright and righteous woman who came forth from Israel. She was a native or inhabitant of the town of Shunem north of mount Gilboa in ancient Palestine.

Shunem in Hebrew simply means Their Change, Their Sleep

Shunem is listed as a town conquered by the Egyptian pharaoh located at the site of modern village of sulam. Shunem was about twenty miles north-west of Abel-meholah, Elisha’s home-town, and twenty-five miles or so beyond Shunem was Mount Carmel (see v. 25). The average traveler on foot could cover fifteen to twenty miles per day, so Shunem was the perfect halfway point for Elisha whenever he went to Mount Carmel to pray, meditate, and seek the Lord in a new way. Since Mount Carmel was a very special place because of Elijah’s ministry, perhaps there was also a school of the prophets there.

• A great woman (vv. 8-10). The unnamed woman was great in social standing and in wealth. But she was also great in perception, for she noticed that Elijah often passed that way on his ministry trips. She also discerned that he was a man of God, and she wanted to serve the Lord by serving His prophet. We get the impression that her husband lacked his wife’s spiritual insight, but at least he didn’t oppose her hospitality to the itinerant preacher. He permitted her to have a permanent “prophet’s chamber” built on the roof of the house and to outfit it with a lamp, a table and chair, and a bed. It was large enough to walk around in (v. 35) and apparently offered room enough for Gehazi, Elisha’s servant (v. 13). The woman also saw to it that the two men were fed. In this day of motels and hotels, hospitality to God’s people, and especially God’s servants, is becoming a neglected ministry and a lost blessing. Yet, one of the qualifications for an elder is “given to hospitality” (1 Tim 3:2; Titus 1:8), and Heb 13:2 exhorts all believers to practice this virtue (see Gen 18). We should open our hearts and homes to others and not complain about it (1 Peter 4:9).
• A great gift (vv. 11-17). The prophet and his servant were resting in the room when Elisha expressed a desire to do something special for the woman because of her kindness to them, and he asked Gehazi to call her so he could discuss the matter with her. Elisha addressed his words to Gehazi, possibly because the woman held Elisha in such high regard that she didn’t feel worthy to speak with him. But her reply was humble and brief: “I am content among my own people.” She didn’t want Elisha to intercede with the great God because she had no desire to be treated like a great person. She ministered to them because she wanted to serve the Lord. After she left the prophet’s chamber, Gehazi suggested that she might want a son. Her husband was older than she, so perhaps conception was impossible; but if God could do it for Abraham and Sarah, He could do it for them. It was likely that her husband would precede her in death, and without a family, she would be left alone. Gehazi called her a second time, and this time Elisha spoke to her personally. He gave her a promise that sounded very much like God’s words to Abraham and Sarah ( 16; Gen 17:21; 18:14). How many blessings husbands with nominal faith have received because of the dedication of their godly wives! The promise was fulfilled and the woman gave birth to a son. Grace brought life where once there had been no life.

The story of the Shunammite Woman is based on the Old Testament scriptures 2 Kings 4:8-17 and 2 Kings 8:1-6. She is described as a great woman. She shows hospitality to the prophet Elisha and his servant, Gehazi as they pass through her village of Shunem on their way to Mt. Carmel. The Bible reveals that her husband is old and they have no children. When Elisha wants to reward her for the kindness she has shown to him, she asks nothing in payment. Her answer is simply, “I dwell among mine own people.”

 Gehazi reveals to Elisha that her husband is old and she has no child. Elisha tells her she will have a son. The biblical account covers the birth of a son at the appointed time and later the son dies, apparently from a sun stroke. Elisha raises him from the dead. Gehazi reveals to Elisha that her husband is old and she has no child. Elisha tells her she will have a son. The biblical account covers the birth of a son at the appointed time and later the son dies, apparently from a sun stroke. Elisha raises him from the dead. A famine is prophesied by Elisha and he tells her to leave until the seven years of famine is over.

LESSONS TO BE LEARNT FROM THE SHUNAMMITE WOMAN

• BE ON THE WATCH
• BE PASSIONATE ABOUT IT
• THINK OUT OF THE BOX
• WAIT FOR THE REWARD

CONCLUSION

Let us endeavor to locate our angels to secure our needs and wants that brings happiness to us both physically, emotionally, spiritually, materially, otherwise.

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