ESOCS Devotional 27 April 2024 – The Shunammite Woman
MEMORY VERSE: “One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So, whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food. And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there.” 2 Kings 4:8-10
TEXT: 2 KINGS 4:18-37
nd the child grew. Now it happened one day that he went out to his father, to the reapers. 19 And he said to his father, “My head, my head!”
So he said to a servant, “Carry him to his mother.” 20 When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. 21 And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, shut the door upon him, and went out. 22 Then she called to her husband, and said, “Please send me one of the young men and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God and come back.”
23 So he said, “Why are you going to him today? It is neither the New Moon nor the Sabbath.”
And she said, “It is well.” 24 Then she saddled a donkey, and said to her servant, “Drive, and go forward; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you.” 25 And so she departed, and went to the man of God at Mount Carmel.
So it was, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to his servant Gehazi, “Look, the Shunammite woman! 26 Please run now to meet her, and say to her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’ ”
And she answered, “It is well.” 27 Now when she came to the man of God at the hill, she caught him by the feet, but Gehazi came near to push her away. But the man of God said, “Let her alone; for her soul is in deep distress, and the Lord has hidden it from me, and has not told me.”
28 So she said, “Did I ask a son of my lord? Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive me’?”
29 Then he said to Gehazi, “Get yourself ready, and take my staff in your hand, and be on your way. If you meet anyone, do not greet him; and if anyone greets you, do not answer him; but lay my staff on the face of the child.”
30 And the mother of the child said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So he arose and followed her. 31 Now Gehazi went on ahead of them, and laid the staff on the face of the child; but there was neither voice nor hearing. Therefore he went back to meet him, and told him, saying, “The child has not awakened.”
32 When Elisha came into the house, there was the child, lying dead on his bed. 33 He went in therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the Lord. 34 And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm. 35 He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36 And he called Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite woman.” So he called her. And when she came in to him, he said, “Pick up your son.” 37 So she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; then she picked up her son and went out.
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As we continue reading 2 Kings, we get to learn more about Elisha and how the Lord used him in Israel. He used the office of a prophet to encourage and edify the people he met. The relationships he formed with people changed their lives and drew them closer to the Lord. This was the case with the woman from Shunem (vv. 8-10). It was apparent to everyone who met Elisha that he was a man of God, called apart for something extraordinary. Because of that, people showed him favour. The Shunammite woman was so eager to show Elisha hospitality that she built him a room just for him to rest anytime he passed through Shunem.
Christians today are quick to point out that people will hate us for our testimony, but did you know people are supposed to think well of us? We have a responsibility to behave like Jesus and express the Holy Spirit. When we do that, people will favour us. It is not until the prideful are confronted with the gospel that they will hate us. Before we just make everyone and his neighbours hate us, we are supposed to be loving people, forming relationships and modelling the love of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:42-47).
It was through walking like Jesus, expressing the fruit of the Spirit, and praising God that brought favour. And it was favour, which caused people to be added daily. We do not cause anyone to want to come to Jesus with antagonism, belittling, or finger-wagging. The people who hate us (and they will and they do) are to hate us for Christ’s sake not because we’re jerks (John 15:12-21).
Elisha had favour with people, they could clearly see he was not like the world, he was an anointed man of God. He was moved by the Shunammite woman’s kindness and wanted to return the favour (11-13). How many souls have you brought to Jesus Christ with the talent and gift He gave to you?
- Remember that out of the three servants that were given talents to invest, it was the one that did not invest his own that did not bring profit to the master. He was rejected, called an “unprofitable servant” and cast into outer darkness.
- Lord, teach me and give me the courage to invest my talent in your Kingdom business.
Further Reading: Isaiah 25:1-9; Luke 24:13-35; 1 Peter 2:1-10
ESOCS Devotional 27 April 2024
