The Shunamite Woman

When the prophet Elisha went to the town of Shunem he passed the house of a well-to-do Israelite woman.  One day she saw him as he passed and invited him in for a meal.  Thereafter when he came to her town, she would offer him a meal.  Eventually sensing that Elisha was a man of God, she appealed to her husband to be able to provide a room for Elisha as a place to stay when he came to Shunem.  Elisha accepted the woman’s hospitality. He was grateful and told his servant Gehazi to summon the woman so he could repay her kindness. When she came, Elisha offered to make an appeal for her to the king, but she said she had no need for a dispensation.  Afterwards, Elisha appealed to Gehazi asking what he could do to show his appreciation for her hospitality. Gehazi reminded Elisha that the woman’s husband was old, and they still did not have children.  Elisha summoned the woman again and promised that within the year she would be pregnant. She did not believe him.

Within the year the woman bore a son. She loved him and he grew.  One day her son complained of a headache. He came to his mother, sat on her lap, and died.  She placed him on Elisha’s bed. She sent for her husband and asked him to give her a donkey so she could go to Elisha.  She went immediately to Elisha and told him of her son’s death.  Elisha gave Gehazi his staff and told him to go to the woman’s house and put the staff on her son. He did so, but the son was not revived. When Elisha arrived, he prayed to God 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 he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm.” (2 Kings 4:34). The child’s life was restored.

Later an impending famine brought Elisha into the Shunamite woman’s life again. He told her to leave her home to avoid the famine. She went to the land of the Philistines for seven years. When she returned her house and land were gone. After telling the king Elisha had restored the woman’s son’s life, Gehazi appealed to the king to restore the woman’s property, which the king did.

Biblical Principles

• When the Shunamite woman gave Elisha a room in her house she made a place for God. (2 Kings 4:9)
• Although she did not believe Elisha’s prophesy that she would bear a child, she accepted God’s gift and honored the giving by loving and raising her son. (2 Kings 4:16-17)
• When her son died, her first thought was not to bury him, but to go to Elisha the man of God. (2 Kings 4:25)
• What would have happened to her home and her land had she not known Elisha and his servant had not interceded with the King. (2 Kings 8:5)
• Her faith in God’s servant Elisha saved her from the famine and restored her home and property. (2 Kings 8:6)

For Women Today

The Shunamite woman’s story illustrates the importance and power of making a place in our life and home for God. We need to surround ourselves with people who believe in God and who live godly lives. The Shunamite woman shows us that God’s promises are real. His promises will be manifested if we believe in Him and make a place for Him in our hearts.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble. (Proverbs 13:20)