The Great Woman Of Shunem (2 Kings 4:8-37)

by Toms, A. F. | Category: General | May 1983

The narrative suggests she was great in rank. But she was great in many other ways, too. Her hospitality was outstanding, for every time Elisha passed her way he stopped at her home for food. Equally outstanding was her discernment, for it did not take her long to perceive that he was a holy man of God. And then in fellowship with her husband her generosity provided the room on the wall with every need supplied, for which Elisha was so grateful. "He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward," and Elisha was concerned that the prophet's reward should come to his friends in Shunem. And once again the greatness of the woman shone out. "Godliness with contentment is great gain." She was not wanting to be spoken for to the king or to the captain of the host. She was well content with what God had given. Into such hearts and homes God loves to pour His overweights of joy, and as with Sarah her great predecessor, when the time came round, she embraced a son, although her husband, like Sarah's, was old. The divine narrative passes over the months and years of their joy without comment, but it requires little imagination to picture it, as a little child's laughter brightened their home. "Oh how great is Thy goodness, which Thou has laid up for them that fear thee."

But the fear of God deep in their hearts did not make them immune from sorrow. The day came when the child died on his mother's lap, and like so many before and since, she was left to wrestle with the great "Why?" of

human suffering. An elderly sister in Burma whose pathway has been strewn with many a sorrow has the text above her dining room table, "Before I was afflicted I went astray; but now I observe Thy word," and sometimes she shares with her friends the deep experiences through which God had led her and the spiritual enrichment that has resulted. Maybe for some such wise reason God allowed this sorrow to enter the Shunem home. Certainly had it not come we would have missed a gem which shines so brightly on the sacred page. To the puzzled query of her husband as to why she was hastening to the prophet at such a time she sent the one word "Shalom," peace, or "it shall be well." And when Gehazi met her with his master's query about the well-being of herself, her husband and her child her reply was the same. It was a remarkable word of faith. How could it be well when her only child lay dead on the prophet's bed? Only as she aligned herself with those women of whom the Hebrews epistle later speaks, who by faith received their dead by a resurrection (Heb. 11:35). She had heard of Elijah raising the widow's son and she had every confidence that if the word of God through Elisha was powerful to the providing of a son in her husband's old age, it would be equally powerful in restoring that son to life. As she fell at the feet of the man of God and refused to leave him, she was expressing her confidence in the God he served, that He would show Himself strong on her behalf. And "the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be put to shame" (Romans 10:11).

But there was no power in the prophet's staff. Elisha sent his servant to lay his staff upon the child's face. But there was neither voice nor hearing. And he returned saying, "The child is not awaked." Elijah had not brought the widow's son to life by the use of his staff. Why then should Elisha think to do so? That must remain an unanswered question, unless it be to teach us the lesson that in bringing dead souls to life human effort is unavailing. It required something much more serious than that, and maybe that fact was impressed upon Elisha's own heart as he travelled the remainder of the journey to the Shunem home. For when he arrived he went in and shut the door upon himself and the dead child and prayed to the Lord. As we watch this servant bowed in the presence of the Lord and then see him stretching himself upon the child, mouth to his mouth, eyes to his eyes and hands to his hands, we learn something of the seriousness of helping dead souls to new life in Christ. The flesh of the child waxed warm as though to encourage Elisha to continue in prayer, and when he stretched himself again upon the child he sneezed seven times and opened his eyes. Do we not learn that the two things combined, earnest prayer in the secret place and a willingness on our part to become all things to all men, is the way by which we shall by all means save some? And that surely is the deep desire of all who love our Lord Jesus.

Toms, A. F. | May 1983
General