Podcast 78, Story if Elisha, “Pt 4”

The miracles performed by Elisha continue. Again, let’s consider the circumstances of the next miracle.

2 Kings 4:8-11

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. And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither. And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there.

The term ‘greatness’ could refer to wealth or standing in the community. Certainly, she had great faith in God and in his prophets. She modified her home so that Elisha could abide there when he passed through. This touched Elisha greatly.

2 Kings 4:12-13

And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him. And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people.

Elisha is not satisfied with her answer, so he asked his servant.

2 Kings 4:14-15

And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old. And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door.

The Shunammite woman did not ask for a miracle. She required nothing of Elisha, but from the goodness of her heart she offered him food, a bed, and shelter to aid him in his travels. Because of that act, Elisha gave her the greatest desire of her heart, which she was too astonished to believe.

2 Kings 4:16-17

And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid. And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.

The act of the Shunammite woman is an object lesson to us all. Acts of kindness, without any expectation of reward, may often bring unexpected rewards. But, of course, it goes beyond that. We are all promised eternal rewards in heaven. All acts are before God all the time, and no act of kindness, as with the fall of the sparrow, goes unnoticed with the Lord. One can only imagine the thrill and joy the once childless woman felt only to have her joy shattered by the boy’s untimely death.

2 Kings 4:18-20

And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers. And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother. And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.

One can only imagine the horror the mother felt to miraculously be given a son only to have him taken from her. Of course, we cannot overlook the allusion to the miraculous birth of Christ and the grief of his mother Mary. We are meant to see the analogy. The comparison does not end with the boy’s death.