. She didnt mess around everyday was truth day with her. Elisha, instead of being dispirited when he found that the child was not awake, girded up his loins, and hastened with greater vigour to the work before him. long as ever the truth which we deliver is a matter apart from ourselves and unconnected with our innermost being, so long it will have no more effect upon a dead soul than Elishas staff had upon the dead child. After the Shunammite woman gave birth, it happened one day her son had passed. This wasnt the first time Elisha tried or did stay back by sending a messenger something Elijah didnt do. Observe carefully what Elisha did when thus foiled in his first effort. She reminds me of my Grandma Betty. Change). Speaking hope over our situations may seem like the hardest thing we can do when life is hard, but the Shunammite woman reminds us that though it is difficult, its not impossible. Like The Rich Young Ruler, the more things you have the hard it could be to let them go. She carried him upstairs put, him on Elishas bed and shut the door- in other words did she just hide him? The sister of Moses and Aaron was an important part of the sibling team that led Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness. Call me crazy, but it doesn't seem too well to me. God Rescues Through People: One Man Two Men a Group of Men. As he is going to the mans house, the woman with the discharge of blood presses in through the crowd saying to herself, If I only touch his garment, I will be made well. Her faith made her well that day and Jesus went on to raise the dead girl to life. Elisha tells the woman that within a year, she will have a son and so she does. Let me explain, when we breathe, we naturally breathe in yah and we exhale weh (Psalm 150:6 Let all that hath breathe praise ye Yahweh, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing) How do we pray without ceasing? It is not possible from a carnal minded perspective, however we all do breathe if we are alive, and if we know it or not, we are all praising the name of our creator Yahweh as we all breathe his name. She would threaten grown men twice her height and tell them she had no problem mopping the floor up with them. Hebrews 11: 1 tells us that. Indeed, she had the financial means to build an addition onto her house to accommodate the prophet Elisha, a visitor who only came a few times a year no small expense in antiquity. Hello. On both these occasions, the ruler and the sick woman knew they had to get to Jesus in order for them to experience what it means to be truly well. For her reward, God gave the woman a miracle: a son of her own. In spite of the woman's uncertainties, she conceives and bears a son the following spring (2 Kings 4:17 ). Elisha is passing through Shunem, when he brought into the house of a couple there. The Shunammite Woman's Suffering. When her husband asked her why, she simply said, "It is well.". Elisha quickly sends Gehazi to take his staff and lay it on the face of the child, but the mother of the boy refuses to leave him, and so he goes with her. Lastly, leaving her house and land at Elishas instructions showed that she wasnt attached to them. Elisha didnt know something, why? Her soul is bitter within her, and the Lord has hidden it from me., Then the woman spoke, tears streaming down her face. wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? It is well, it is well with my soul. 22:15) Abishag's role was of a lower status.She served as bed companion to David in the hope that . Lessons to be learned from the Shunammite, Spurgeon Notes: Resurrection, then, is our aim! Thus she did not accept that the death of her son was a reality that could not change. Its not a holiday, is it? He didnt even think to ask about their son. It appears as if shed been trying and eventually became content without one. She was always giving and thought of others, but watch out if you didnt serve her right, didnt open the door for her or told her that her meatballs tasted funny ohh weee not fun! Referencing her, Jesus said, Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it (Luke 17:32-37 NIV). (3, pg. Gehazi got it right the Shunammite womans greatest desire was to have a child. SH-OO-n-uh-m-ay-t. Shu-nam-mite. What an interesting character we have. Her son was obviously not "well". Still looking to reward their hostess, Gehazi and Elisha made another plan completely without her input. When the Shunammite recognized an opportunity to entertain God's prophet, she made room for him in her home and heart. It was not until Elisha had prayed and laid himself on the child twice was the boy resurrected. She carried him up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, then shut the door and left him there. His mother held him on her lap, but thenthe boydied. She was definitely a notable woman of faith and courage. Dont lie to me!Said the Shunammite. And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life. Jake wanted to pull her off of him, but the preacher said, Leave her be. So when Elisha said that she was going to have a child this sounded too good to be true. She was beyond persistent and always got what she wanted. So he called her. This story is an adaptation of 2 Kings 4:8-37. The miracle story central to the novel comes from the Old Testament and it is one I had never known of before. } No, I dont but Ill look him up. All was not well. Please, man of God, dont mislead your servant!. So the woman did as the man of God instructed. One clear step she took in faith was to speak not what her situation was but what she wanted it to be. As I read the story in 2 Kings 8:1-6, I sensed that God was telling us to leave the UK. Once one knows how to run the vision then the process of running the vision is very natural. How do you pronounce shunammite? At the Shunamite womans house, Elisha immediately entered the upstairs room his own generously provided room, and bent over the dead child on the bed his own carefully prepared bed. What must be mentioned is the author's pacing, which masterfully recreates what must have been the pace of life at those times. thank you so much what an exposition. God has created us for community and I believe passionately in the great healing he brings through people. This blessed me a lot! And he said, Call her. Time passed, and the boy grew. Despite the longtime connection between Elisha and the Shunamite woman, the prophet was still so emotionally detached that at first he sent only Gehazi to attend to the child. I am a joyful wife and mother of three, just turned loose the last of my little chicks, and getting ready to spread my own writing wings. The Shunammite woman lifts her dead child and places him on Elishas bed, before shutting the door behind her. If so, how sad to consider the immediate distress of 2 Kings 4:20. She trusted God. She shows hospitality to the prophet Elisha and his servant, Gehazi as they pass through her village of Shunem on their way to Mt. Why does the Shunammite woman insist that all is well when her beloved child has just died? Gasping for breath from the twenty-mile trip, she answered, "It is well.". Here's the short version (see 2 Kings 4:8-37): A wealthy woman (our Shunammite) knew that Elisha was God's prophet; so she convinced her husband to make him a small room on their roof . And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. She never once lamented over her predicament, at least not out loud. He sent Gehazi to meet her. The Shunammite woman was kind and generous. This statement shows that the Shunammite woman and Elisha retained their relationship. She and her family went away and stayed in the land of the Philistines seven years. Likewise, with whatever we have, we should do the same. She responded with faith in the Promise-Giver. 2 different people running or going somewhere quickly without slowing down, they did not stop and say hello to others, nor did they allow themselves to get distracted running with a message or matter. While most people wouldnt be able to build a room for a prophet, God sees what we have and recognizes what we give accordingly. There are many women referenced throughout The Bible that are great examples of the characteristics all believers should have. That just makes me laugh. Excellent! Instead, he sent his servant, Gehazi, to offer money and protection, which she politely turned down asking nothing in return for her generosity. The preacher was filled with gratitude for this womans generosity and asked what he could do to repay her kindness. (LogOut/ When we fail in one attempt, we must not therefore give up our work. And although she experienced miraculous things, she herself was a down-to-earth role model for women in every era, and a model of the power of empathy. A gedolah, a great woman. } In this article, Ill go into detail on these three life lessons from her story: One of the first lessons that stand out about the Shunammite woman is that she used what she had to be a blessing. Many scholars consider Shulammite to be synonymous with Shunammite ("person from Shunem"). Let me tell you about my grandmother-She had a heart of goldbut was fighting tough. Reviving the child also revived Elisha to empathy and attachment. Do you follow him? As we can see, this woman's action displays faith. Second Kings 4 records the account of Elisha and the Shunammite woman. The Shunammite woman and her husband often saw Elisha, the man of God, passing their home, and eventually she prepared a room for him so he . 2. She had no child. I love her characters. Thank you for sharing this. She is really a remarkable woman of Faith.. Helo..Great teaching..i started my day with these words.It is well..so I started to look onto the scriptures..researchGreatly Blessed..Thank you..Shalom, The boy did not sneeze 7 times! Verse 26. . Gehazi lays the staff upon the face of the child but he doesn't awake. And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man . It may look impossible but bold faith sees with spiritual eyes remembering that nothing is impossible with God. and your husband? Menu. Hi Angela! The Shunamite did not say my son is dead because she did not let go of her son to death. God bless you. Isnt it interesting that just as the Shunammite woman goes into see the king, Gehazi had just finished telling him about some of the miracles Elisha had done, specifically the time Elisha had raised a womans son from the dead. Ive never been asked a question like that. Her story is found in 2 Kings 4 and 8. And the incident revived the Shunamite woman, too, to bond with her son: And the woman bent down, and picked up her child, and embraced him.. Ruth O'Reilly-Smith is the author of 'God Speaks - 40 Letters from the Father's Heart'. Elisha had told the woman whose son he had brought back to life, Take your family and move to some other place, for the Lord has called for a famine on Israel that will last for seven years.. Rabbah 2:5:3).The Rabbis relate in a playful manner to the story of the son of the Shunammite woman, in order to derive the laws relating to corpse impurity. Even so, it is well with my soul. The Shunammite Woman witnessed a miracle not once, but twice. Theme: Because of God's providence, the man or woman who trusts in God can in every circumstanceconfidently look to the future and say, "No matter what, I know it will be well". He said it 7 times because the Tabernacle of Moses had 7 general steps (1st step-the Gate, 2nd step-brazen altar of sin sacrifice, 3rd step-brazen laver, 4th step-door to the Holy Place, 5th step-the Holy Place, the 6th step-the 2nd veil, 7th step-the Most Holy Place). She falls at Elisha's feet and takes her living son with her out of the room. But the story of the Shunammite woman did not end when Elisha raised her son from the dead. And she answered, It is well: When she did return seven years later, all that shed lost was returned to her. event : evt, The Shunammite woman lays her dead child on Elisha's bed and hurries to find the prophet. During a visit to Shunem, Elisha was taken care of by a wealthy woman and her husband. Perhaps the Shunamite woman could not allow herself to be totally emotionally involved with an unexpected and un-asked for child conceived as a result of a prophecy in her later years? In parshat Vayera, Abraham welcomed road-weary strangers into his tent, with keen attention to their needs (bathing, resting, food). If your first method has been unsuccessful, you must improve upon it. We try this doctrine and that truth, this anecdote and the other illustration, this way of teaching a lesson and that manner of delivering an address; but so long as ever the truth which we deliver is a matter apart from ourselves and unconnected with our innermost being, so long it will have no more effect upon a dead soul than Elishas staff had upon the dead child. In 2 Kings 4:8-37 in the ESV translation, we see that the Shunammite woman has the gift of hospitality. The main character, Bina, is The Shunammite woman. One morning he got a terrible headache, so his dad sent him inside the house to his mother. All we know is that she was from the land of Shunem. She traveled 20 miles to Mount Carmel without letting anyone know anything was wrong with the child. At an old age, she had the strength to lift a car and I remember her last words as she fought with her doctor, always said with a Jersey shake:No one ever told me havinga littlesalt was some kind of mortal sin She was generous and hospitable, she was a wealthy and capable woman who showed great kindness to one of God's prophets. The woman from Shunem is one of the unnamed women of the Bible but her testimony of faith is one we can still learn from today. The lessons from Part 1: See the need and take action. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told me. This Shunammite woman must have accepted a long time ago that it was not God's plan for her to have a child. The story unfolds among four principal characters: Elisha, God's prophet; Gehazi, his assistant; the Shunammite woman, a wealthy and pious woman; and her young son, miraculously born. So it was, as often as he passed by, he would turn in there to eat some food. She took her family and settled in the land of the Philistines for seven years. Indeed, a son is born at the designated time. Not much is revealed of the woman, but we know according to the scripture that it was revealed unto her that Elisha was a man of God and that she and her husband had no children and He was an old man. Popular and loud? And he said unto his father, My head, my head. both. And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out. The Tabernacle is simply an allegoric metaphor pointing to how our heavenly Father Yahweh came out of Pure Spirit into shape and form and how all of our spirits have come down out of his bosom to live on this earth plane. He is our mighty deliverer and the anchor for our soul and so, we must run to him. The Deity of Christ in the Gospel of John, Follow The Abundant Heart on WordPress.com. All was quite obviously not well however, so what is going on here? Jesus also said, For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21 NIV). We all at one point wondered what it would be like to have God grant us a wish. This page may contain affiliate links. The journey will likely be longer than I can imagine, but it has finally begun, and that's all that matters. II Kings chapter 4, where we find her story, is also the haftarah portion which corresponds to parshat Vayera which tells of the miraculous birth of Abraham and Sarahs son Isaac as well as the binding of Isaac. Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the Ancient Paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old. Great hymn, too Hope you are well, God bless. And she answered, I dwell among mine own people. She is hospitable, giving, kind, very persuasive, goes out of her way for others and has faith. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. When her son died, she could have grieved. It's over, let the tears flow! Oh, voice of the Lord! Meanwhile, Elisha had sent his servant ahead to lay his staff on the child. 9 And she said to her husband, "Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly. As a representative of God, having a prophet ask you what you desire is a great opportunity. Her exact identity is unknown, although there are a couple of theories. She was a woman whowould nottake no for an answer. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ hath . Elisha, who had cursed 42 children with death by bear-mauling just because they had taunted him for being bald, was now stirred to absolute heart-to-heart empathy. The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. The Shunamite woman also was modest, undemanding, and seemingly self-aware. Its not often when unnamed characters in the Bible show up in more than one place. He asked his companion for a suggestion. How she knew where to find Elisha is anyones guess. Do everything without complaining and arguing, 2 Kings 4. Your email address will not be published. And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. ABISHAG THE SHUNAMMITE (Heb. A gedolah, a great woman. It is well because, when there is a parting, it is only temporary. And so her sharing with Elisha is a reminder that we should use our resources to be a blessing to others. Praise God! There was a married woman from Shunemwho knew in her mind and heart that Elisha was a special man of God. The prophet Elisha performs two miracles. In fact, he was dead. It is believed that the location of the Biblical Shunem, is located in the northern part of modern day Israel. You are to work miracles, to do marvels. No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life In Hebrew, it is one word, shalom, which means peace, health, welfare, security, safety, wholeness, and completion. The clouds be rolled back as a scroll; Spiritual Growth through a Healing Embrace. but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child. When she reaches the prophet, she catches hold of his feet in her distress and when his servant tries to pull her away, Elisha tells him to leave her alone. 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