II KINGS 4: 8-37
THE SHUNEMITE’S DELIGHT
I. HER DESCRIPTION: *
A.Devotedness. B.Deportment.
C.Despair
II. HER DELIGHT: **
A. Disaster.
B. Decision.
C. Declarations.
III. THE DISCERNMENTS ***
A. Displaced.
B. Directed.
C. Dividend.
Little is known about this woman except that which is recorded in the Sacred Book. She is nameless; her husband is nameless, even her boy is nameless. The only names that are recorded here are Elisha and Gehazi. Yet, even though three of the five are nameless, the story revealed that of a desperate mother and what she did to save her boy.
This world would be better off if we had more moms like this mother who decided that when things go wrong she would seek out God’s man and His plan for the specific situation. The heart of this mother was indeed set on following God’s dictates in every situation and because of that, the lad in the story was able to come back to life and no doubt live for a few more years rejoicing that mom cared enough for him not to let him continue in death. As the years passed, this lad had a tale to tell about mom and her dedication to God and to his well-being. Mom, on the other hand, had a story that would rival anything Hollywood could or would produce.
I see three things about this story that stand out for good observations regarding this lady and being a good mother. The first thing I note regards HER DESCRIPTION. This is very important for what is to come as the story unfolds. The second thing I note relates to HER DELIGHT as she becomes a mother and the cares that come with this awesome task. The last part I note has to do with THE DISCERNMENTS that are involved here-both with the prophet, his helper and the lady herself. When all are added together, God reveals a miracle that is beyond comprehension, they show us that to follow Him is still the best thing to do in this life.
* HER DESCRIPTION: The writer of the Word gives us some very pointed information regarding this lady and to miss them will hinder the truth that is intended for all of us to comprehend.
The first thing I note in verses 8 to 12 have to do with her Devotedness. There is something about her devotion to God and to His prophet that is exemplary. The Bible says that she was a “great” woman and indeed she was. Just how “great” she was is uncertain but she was certainly “great” in her faith.
The record shows that the prophet, Elisha, visited Shunem where somehow they met and she constrained him to stop and dine with her and her family. The encounter must have been successful because Elisha would later stop often and dine with these splendid people. It did not take too many visits by Elisha before the lady began to discern that her frequent guest was a holy man.
It does not say how she discovered that he was a holy man. Maybe it was in the manner of his dress. Maybe it was in the manner of his speech. Maybe it was in the manner of his deportment, but what ever it was that shown itself to her is something we Christians should ponder. What does the world say about us as we interact with people? Can the world, our hosts, the motel keepers, the restaurant servers tell that we are a Christian? What ever it was that shown through the prophet of old should serve as a clear statement to us to try and do likewise for Jesus. There was something about the prophet and her that must have struck a cord of similarity. Her devotion to God was evidenced in the way she made her house a place of rest for Elisha and for what she decided to do for him.
Next, I notice her Deportment, verse 13, towards the man of God. She not only fed him when he visited but she decided to build a separate room just for the man of God. Her actions show that she was a wealthy lady and was used to entertaining people. It would take money to do as she wanted to do and to feed him and Gehazi when they visited. Yet, her money was not her god and she decided to go the extra mile for the prophet and his servant by adding on another room just for her visitors.
Her mannerisms were such that she wanted the man of God to have some privacy for himself and she would feel good knowing that she was helping God’s cause by helping one of His prophets. God’s servants can help in so many ways.
Her Deportment was such that she anticipated needs ahead of time and was careful to provide the best for her guest. This shows that the lady had class and had money. She did not wait until someone told her of a need, she was observant and tried to anticipate needs before they arose. And, from the text, it intimates that she was content to be of service to the prophet. May we take a page out of her scrapbook and see that we all cannot be preachers nor missionaries but we can all be servants of Christ by doing what we can to help others and to be content with our role in life. She was content to remain in the background and to make the prophet’s lot a little bit better. She is to be commended for her service to the kingdom of God.
If that were all of the story then everything would end just fine. However, there was something that was constantly brewing beneath the surface and regardless of how helpful she was, there was something that was hurting her badly-she was barren. She was happy helping others and going the extra mile for God’s cause, but in her heart of hearts, she was sad-she had no children. In that culture and in that time to be childless was a shame. Her Despair, verses 14-17, over her situation was almost unbearable. All the money she had would not take away the hurt of being childless, yet she carried on with a smile and did her best. She no doubt gave up on the idea that she would ever be a mommy and accepted her role as a devoted wife and a devoted follower of God. All of that was about to change.
There were many nights and many days she sat and cried over her condition, but nothing ever happened. Many were the prayers that she must have prayed, but nothing ever happened. Many times she called out to God and no doubt thought that God would never hear nor answer her petitions, but that was about to change. She put God first and He never forgot her. What a lesson for all of us today.
Her Despair was about to turn into unimaginable delights when one day Elisha stopped by for a visit and told her she would have a baby within the year.
** HER DELIGHT: Without so much as asking the prophet or relating to him her heart’s desire, she was transformed from a lonely barren wife into a loving mother within the year of the prophet’s one visit.
Elisha was a true man of God and in his visit at one particular season, he sensed that there was something the lady should receive for her kindness to him and to his servant. Calling her to his room he inquired respectfully if there was anything he could do for her, even bringing her name up to the king for a special honor. The gracious lady demurred and Elisha was struck by the fact that there was something amiss. It was not until Gehazi informed his master about the secret wishes of her heart, that Elisha received a message from God. Thank God for humble servants who are attuned to people’s needs, like Gehazi was. Once informed, he relayed to her the message of God and what a message it was. The lady might have been rich, a good hostess, and even known unto the king, but this message from God was the best thing she had ever encountered: she would become a mommy.
Suddenly, everything looked brighter. Her husband was old and she was facing growing old herself alone and with no one to care for her, should her husband die before her. The first reaction was disbelief. Could it be true after all that her prayers were going to be answered? Could it be possible that all the tears she shed had come up before God and He was going to do a miracle for her? Wanting to hope yet not letting herself do so, she chided the man of God but found that what she had just heard was true. May we remember, that when God decides to answer prayers, He will do it in His time.
Verses 18-20 are some of the saddest in the Scriptures; HER DELIGHT had turned into a Disaster: her boy died.
The Scriptures does not tell us how old the child was when he went out to be with dad that eventful day, all the Word tells us is that “when the child was grown” or in our vernacular, when he was weaned, and was growing older every day. He wanted to be out with dad helping him do what he did. Everything was fine in the morning when the trouble started. Oh how quickly life turns!
The woman was happy beyond words and her life was now complete. The stigma of being barren was lifted and she could take her part among the other ladies in the village and in her circle of friends as they talked about their own children. Life could not be better and that day was like all other days for her and her family. Dad went to the like as before; she was busy with her chores; and, the little boy went out to be beside his dad. Suddenly, Disaster struck. The little boy grab his head and screamed in pain. All work stopped. Orders were given for the boy to be taken to his mother and there, in her arms, he died.
The arms that once held him to her as he fed, now held his lifeless body. The arms that embraced him in love now held him in death. How could it be? Shakespeare said, “It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all” but do not tell that to this boy’s mom. How could it happen? What went wrong? Why did her boy, the promised one from the Prophet, die. She had accepted her lot in life to be childless-it hurt-but she had come to terms with it, now this. Her hopes-dashed. Little did she realize that she was to be the type of Mary who centuries later would experience the similar pain.
Like this woman-like Mary, both ladies became mothers due to a prophecy from God. Both ladies would see their boys die and both ladies would see their boys come back to life. This lady could not see it through her tears then but she serves as a type of that which would one day come to all the land of Israel.
In verses 21 to 23, I then notice her Decision. She went up-that is a good hint for all of us to follow-go up, go up to God with our troubles and not go down to despair when reverses come to us. She took her boy up to the prophet’s room and not down to the mortician. Then, she did something noble, she “shut the door” and committed him to God for safe keeping, while she went on her mission. Action and timing were of the essence. She took control of the situation like a person who was used to being in control of eventful events.
She called for her husband to make ready a young donkey and a servant because she was going to find the man of God. Not fully understanding the situation, and not knowing the boy had just died and had been laid on the prophet’s bed, the dad asked why she was going now. Some people just do not grasp serious situations and she had no time to try to explain to him why, she was going and that was all there was to it.
I notice her Declarations and they are important. First of all she told her husband, “It shall be well.” her boy had just died-she knew that sad fact and yet in her darkness, she believed that God would bring him back to life, what faith!
Next, she told the young servant to go with her and not to slack in his duty. The picture given here in the Hebrew is that the lady was riding the donkey while the young servant followed behind both of them holding a stick with which he constantly was hitting the animal on the rump, urging it to go as fast as it could. These were her instructions as she rode and the servant made the donkey run. Oh, may our preachers do the job of this servant boy. May they run behind us and keep telling us to run the race that is set before us. May our fellow Christian friends run behind us encouraging us to run the race and not to slack. The picture given in the original language is a fascinating one as the three: the lady on the donkey and the servant running behind them both hurrying as fast as they all could, going in search of Man of God.
*** THE DISCERNMENTS: The situation of the whole episode finally comes down to trying to find, to discern, what is needed and what to do with what is revealed. It is one thing to be a prophet of God but it is another thing to find that direct message that God wants to give to His children. I notice that as the situation unfolded in rapid sequences, Elisha held steady until he knew for sure what he should do. I notice Gehazi was ready to do what he was told to do and the lady was adamant in finding help for her boy who was home-dead.
The first part of this last third of the message, verses 25-37 reveal some Displaced directions from a human point of view. From what the text states, it appears that Elisha must have saw her coming towards him riding a donkey which was being hit by a stick by a servant boy. Who would not notice something like that? But, in that culture at that time, that was not uncommon. However, the Bible says that Elisha saw her afar off and knew immediately something was amiss. It is nice to know that God has His look outs for His people who are in dire straits. Long before the lady knew that the man of God had seen her, God was already preparing the prophet’s heart to intercede for her.
I cannot but notice the words of this godly lady’s response to Gehazi when he was sent to ask her if all was well. Her answer is something to behold. She had just laid her lifeless boy on the bed of the prophet. She had just shut the door on him and committed him to God. She had just refused to inform her husband what had happened to their child and now, after riding on a hurried-up donkey, she said, when asked if anything was the matter, her answer in verse 26 was, “It is well!” First she used the future tense when answering her husband-now it is in the present tense, “All is well.” What faith! What assurances of God’s goodness! What utter belief in this God who promised a baby when all was given up, and now she was convinced that He would not let her down! Her faith in God should serve us as a daily reminder that God can do anything. Her boy was dead-she saw the life drain from his body and she says, “It is well!” her words are not only in the present tense, but also in the future- “It is well!” She could have given up and bemoaned her situation, but with head held high, she said, “It is well.” Christian friend regardless of what you are facing, remember that with God, “It is still well.”
Elisha missed the boat this time, but would try to do something to help and sent his servant running to the boy in order to lay the prophet’s staff on the child’s lifeless body, yet the mother would not give up but clung to the man of God. She did not stop with the servant, Gehazi, but continued to get to the prophet. Oh, may we have more mothers like this one! May we have mothers who have decided that they will cling to God’s word, His church, His ministers who will tell them the truth and will not let go until their prayers are answered for their children.
In verses 32-35, I notice THE DISCERNMENTS of the prophet were now Directed by God, as He urged him to go himself to the lady’s house and intervene on behalf of a distraught mother. Elisha complied. We do not know if the prophet rode his mule like the lady rode her donkey when she came looking for him, but from the context of the Scriptures, it appears that all went in haste back to the upper room to see the boy.
The miracle began when the prophet obeyed God. He, at first, sent Gehazi to intercept the lady and to see what was wrong, but there was no miracle there. Next, there was no miracle when Elisha told Gehazi to go and lay his staff on the child. There was no miracle in the prophet trying to guess the problem. The miracle was when the man of God was urged to go himself and he did. Long before the group arrived at the house, God was already there waiting on them. The Bible states how the prophet stretched himself on the boy and then waited and did it again. The Bible also says that the boy sneezed seven times and then awoke. That was a miracle indeed, but the miracle of the resurrection of the boy, serves as a type of the Resurrection of Jesus. The miracle was in the obedience of the mother going to find God’s man and the miracle was also found in the obedience of the prophet of God.
Finally, in verses 36 and 37, I see the outcome of all the preceding verses: the Dividend, of this woman’s faith. She received her boy back from the dead. What a mom! What a mother!. She had it all; then she lost it all by losing her life’s light; then, she gained it back, all because she was faithful to God. We may have to go through some dark valleys before we get home to Heaven, but keep the mule upon which you are riding running fast and headed in the right direction and God will hear and answer your prayers in due time and He will bring you back into His light.
The entire household never forgot that day. The Bible says that she “went out” after receiving him back to her. I think she went out and had a party. The father of the prodigal son had nothing new to say that day when he uttered, “My son who was dead is now alive,” and let us kill the fatted calf in celebration. And, just as the boy left his bed and “went out,” so did Jesus as He left his bed in the dark sepulcher and “went out.” He was dead, but the power of God would not let Him lie there in death’s dark grip. Just as the resurrection of this little boy serves as a type of the resurrection of Christ, so does His resurrection serve as a type for us in the future. Someday, we will leave our tomb and “come out” of our darkened tomb to have a new body and to be with Him forever, transformed into His likeness. May we be faithful until that day comes.
This lady had many more Mother’s Days to celebrate with her family. She was a faithful mother and serves as an example for all of us to imitate her in our dedication to God.
