Sermon # 31- God Rewards - God Restores Series

We read in Psalms 77:11, “I will remember your great deeds, LORD; I will recall the wonders you did in the past.”(GNB)

We recall the wonders of God from the past, so as to understand the manifold nature of our Almighty God. As we meditate on all that is recorded in the Bible, especially in the Old Testament, we perceive in depth the heart of God, and all that He desires of us as His children.

Elisha and the woman of Shunem

We read in 2 Kings 4:8, “And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.”(ASV)

As the prophet Elisha passed by the town of Shunem, there was a respectable woman, who invited the prophet to her home, and compelled him to eat bread in her house. The woman recognized Elisha as a man of God, and therefore chose to honor him. We read earlier that Elisha was one who poured water on the hands of the prophet Elijah, and ministered to Elijah. Elisha was so humble, that the Lord honored him with a double portion of the anointing that rested on Elijah. Elisha honored Elijah, and now the woman of Shunem honored Elisha.

In the New Testament we read of Mary, Martha and Lazarus who often invited Jesus to their home and showed Him love and hospitality. They were living in a time when many leaders sought to kill Jesus, and if anyone believed in Jesus they were even cast out of the synagogue. In spite of these oppositions, Mary and Martha determined to be hospitable to Jesus, simply because they knew that He was the Son of God, who was worthy of their honor.

When we honor the Lord’s anointed, the Lord will most assuredly honor us in due time.

1. The woman of Shunem showed hospitality

We read in 2 Kings 4:10, “Let's make a small room on the roof and put a bed, table, chair, and lamp stand there for him. He can stay there whenever he comes to visit us."(GW)

The woman of Shunem then went to her husband, and made a request that they build a small room on the roof of their house for the prophet Elisha, furnish it well, so he could stay with them whenever he passed by that town. The woman of Shunem ministered to Elisha with her hospitality, and she did the very best that she could, with what she had. It was also commendable that she offered this kindness and hospitality to Elisha, not expecting anything in return.

We live in a calculative world, where so often people offer something to someone, expecting to get something back in return. But, the Lord reminds us to be like this woman, who served with kindness, without anticipating anything in return.

As Elisha visited the house of the woman of Shunem often, enjoying her heartfelt generosity, he was prompted to look for some way he could bless this woman, who showed such cordiality to him.

We read in 2 Kings 4:13, he said to Gehazi, "Ask her what I can do for her in return for all the trouble she has had in providing for our needs. Maybe she would like me to go to the king or the army commander and put in a good word for her." "I have all I need here among my own people," she answered. (GNB)

Elisha was a man of God, who was truly grateful to the woman of Shunem, and wanted to bless her back in any possible way. Elisha called his servant Gehazi, and sent him to the woman to find out if there was anything that he could do, in appreciation for all that she did for him. Elisha was a man of great influence, and he wanted to know if he could put in a word for her to the king or the army commander to which the woman replied, ‘I have all I need here among my own people’. Here was a woman who was so filled with contentment and satisfaction, that she desired nothing more from Elisha.

Our God is mindful of all that we do, and when it is done as unto Him, the Lord will never forget it. We read in Hebrews 6:10, “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” (NKJV) If the Lord were to ask us if there was anything we wanted to have, I am sure that most of us would have a long list of requests. Like the woman of Shunem, we must decide to be grateful to the Lord for all that He has bestowed upon us, instead of complaining and wanting to have more and more.