The Shunammite Mom Series

THE CRISIS

2 Kings 4:18-20 18 When the child was grown, the day came that he went out to his father to the reapers. 19 He said to his father, “My head, my head.” And he said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.” 20 When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her lap until noon, and then died.

My Mom had 4 children, all of them fearless and often wreckless.

Mike- the least injured child- had 3 broken arms. (Had only 2 arms, though.... hmmmm)

My sisters- great athletes. Both played linebacker on the basketball team. They were aggressive and rough. Broke leg and a few knee surgeries between them.

Me?- I was the most wreckless of the 4. I was in the ER so often that Mom expected Child Welfare to take me away. Turns out they wouldn’t because they said they couldn’t afford the medical bills.

** What does a good woman do in a crisis? She goes to the Lord!

(6) She is a woman of great faith! How does that faith play out?

2 Kings 4:21 She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door behind him and went out.

Notice she laid him on the Elisha’s bed, not her own. I think this is important. She believes in God and Elisha is the prophet of God.

2 Kings 4:22-25 22 Then she called to her husband and said, “Please send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God and return.” 23 He said, “Why will you go to him today? It is neither new moon nor sabbath.” And she said, “It will be well.” 24 Then she saddled a donkey and said to her servant, “Drive and go forward; do not slow down the pace for me unless I tell you.”

25 So she went and came to the man of God to Mount Carmel.

She hitched up her fastest racing donkeys and told the servant to “step on it” and their heads snapped back and went from 0 to 60 in.... well...it was pretty fast for a donkey.

** Reminds me of my Mom’s response when I got my 6 yr old skull cracked open and was bleeding everywhere. She runs out and grabs me up to race me to the ER once again, only this time she forgot to take the car. She’s running down the street with me bleeding all over her and some neighbors catch her about a block away and take us to the ER.

** The Shunammite seeks the Lord’s help!

2 Kings 4:27-28 27 When she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. And Gehazi came near to push her away; but the man of God said, “Let her alone, for her soul is troubled within her; and the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me.” 28 Then she said, “Did I ask for a son from my lord? Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive me’?”

She comes up to Elisha and throws herself at his feet.

She is broken-hearted but she still has hope for a miracle in her heart.

She was not giving up on her son.

* She is pressing on thru the darkness of doubt for her miracle!

So, Elisha sends Gehazi to hurry on ahead and he and the woman follow. Gehazi comes back with bad news, but she remains strong in her faith and they continue on.

2 Kings 4:32-37 32 When Elisha came into the house, behold the lad was dead and laid on his bed. 33 So he entered and shut the door behind them both and prayed to the Lord. 34 And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth and his eyes on his eyes and his hands on his hands, and he stretched himself on him; and the flesh of the child became warm. 35 Then he returned and walked in the house once back and forth, and went up and stretched himself on him; and the lad sneezed seven times and the lad opened his eyes.