A Great Woman
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| In loving memory of my father Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023 |
Recently we have shared with you five different messages pertaining to women and the great prophetic significance of women in Scripture. In this message we will continue that theme as we read in 2 Kings 4:8-37 of a great woman. As we read these verses, try to focus, not simply on the historical facts, but on how the spiritual principles apply to you and me today.
8 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.
Shunem was a small village in the tribe of Issachar, about 20 miles from Mt. Carmel, where Elisha spent much of his time. Shunem was in the route to and from Elisha's visits to Mt. Carmel. Twenty miles in those days, either by foot, ass, or camel, was a long day's trek. Therefore Elisha was undoubtedly tired and hungry after his 20-mile trip. Scripture does not tell us how the two met, but like most encounters it was a Divine connection. "Great" can be translated as "noble," "older," or "prominent." A good question is, "What made this woman great?" Note that the name of this woman is never given. Perhaps this great woman was a precursor of the sons of Issachar (1 Chronicles 12) who had an understanding of the times and knew what Israel ought to do. In any event, this forthtelling of the Shunammite woman's wisdom and faith speaks volumes of what we ought to understand and walk in today. "Eat bread" is a figure of speech which means to partake of a meal with others. "Bread" is put for all kinds of food, including fish. It is a common Hebrew idiom even today. The great woman "constrained" Elisha to have a meal with her and her husband. Hebrews 13:2, "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."
9 And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.
The woman recognized (discerned) that Elisha was a man set apart for the Lord's work in a very special sense. Nowhere else in the Old Testament is the term "holy" applied to a prophet. So the woman received a word of knowledge concerning their relationship with Elisha. This is another Scriptural example that women are more sensitive than men to the spiritual realm.
10 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.
Note that the woman expressed her belief to her husband as to what they should do for Elisha. She did not make a unilateral decision as did Eve before the fall. That was a word of wisdom. By her hospitality the woman was able to assist in sustaining the proclamation of the word of the Lord through Elisha. When we make room for the Lord's anointed, the Lord makes room for us. Jesus said, (Matthew 10:41), "He that receiveth you receiveth Me, and he that receiveth Me receiveth Him that sent Me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward." The Kingdom of God is righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (but not necessarily joy in the soul). Note the rather sparse furnishings in the little chamber. But a little in the sight of the Lord is more than sufficient. The woman then spoke a word of prophecy when she said, "he shall turn in thither."
11 And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there.12 And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him.
"Gehazi" means "denier" or "valley of vision." Although Gehazi was the servant of Elisha, Gehazi was a servant in name only. In reality Gehazi was a servant of "self." His vision was in a valley instead of on the mountain top.
13 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.
The woman felt secure and content in the community of her own family and tribe, and she had no need or desire for favors from high government officials in the world. Paul said (Philippians 4:11), "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." Today, far too many Christians know only how to abound. We tend to rebuke the devil when we are abased. How sad! In Hebrews 13:5, "Be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." The Lord plus what else is sufficient for us? The Shunammite woman said that the Lord was sufficient for her. She was a true servant of the Lord with no thought of any return for herself. If all of us Christians had that same attitude, Jesus would return tomorrow!
14 And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.15 And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door.
In those days, to have no child and an old husband was cause for great disappointment because it meant the family name would cease and their land and possessions would pass on to others. It was also a great threat for this young wife's future in that she faced the likelihood of many years as a widow with no provider or protector. Despite all of the natural-level insecurities she faced, the woman trusted the Lord.
16 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.
The woman's response did not show a lack of confidence in the word of Elisha; rather it revealed the depth of her desire for a son and her fear of disappointment. In those days, the women of God desired a son. Hannah (1 Samuel 1) greatly desired a son but the Lord had shut up her womb. Today some Christians would rebuke the devil if they had no children. My maternal grandmother was a real intercessor, just like Hannah. She always wanted a son but she had three daughters, no sons. I was the first grandson. On the day I was born, she wrote in her Bible, "Lord, make him your minister." Six years later she wrote in her diary on my sixth birthday, "Lord, make him Your messenger."
17 And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.
The birth of her son confirmed the word of Elisha and was evidence of God's gracious intervention on her behalf. Psalm 84:11, "No good thing will He withhold from them who walk uprightly."
18 And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers.19 And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother.20 And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.
The child, given as an example of the amazing grace of God, was suddenly taken from the woman as a severe test of her faith. Her subsequent actions demonstrate the strength of her faith in the face of great tribulation.
21 And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out.
Note that the woman never told her husband or anyone else that their son was dead. Thus the woman avoided the possibility of negative remarks from anyone. The enemy will use any and all means possible to put doubt, fear, and mistrust into our soul. But with God all things are possible.
22 And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again.23 And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well.
Again, the woman, in a subtle way, asks her husband's permission. In Verse 23 her husband, still unaware of their son's death, asks why she wants to go to Elisha on a day that is neither new moon nor Sabbath ... meaning that Elisha was undoubtedly busy pursuing the work of God. Her response to her husband was ... everything is well ... trust me. Peace in time of crisis is a sure sign of maturity in Christ.
24 Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee.
She was determined to go to Elisha as soon as possible. She had an intensity within her soul. With the intense, God will show Himself intensely. Paul was a very intense man; so was Moses, Stephen, and many more saints. She had continuing faith that if God could give her a son through the word of Elisha, then God could also raise her son from the dead by the word of God through Elisha.
25 So she went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite:26 Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well.
Elisha sensed that something was amiss because the woman had never come to him before. The woman replied ... it is well. That reminds me of Horatio Spafford, who wrote the words to the marvelous hymn, "It is Well With My Soul." Spafford had a lovely wife, four daughters, one son, and a successful real-estate business in Chicago. Their young son died of pneumonia in 1871 and Spafford's real-estate holdings were destroyed by the great Chicago fire. A few years later Spafford planned to go, along with his wife and four daughters, to England to help Dwight L. Moody in an evangelistic crusade. At the last minute Spafford was detained by urgent business but he sent his wife and four daughters on to England as planned. Halfway across the Atlantic, their ship was struck by an English vessel and sank in 12 minutes. All four of the Spafford daughters drowned but his wife was one of the few who were miraculously saved. Spafford, upon hearing the news, took the next ship to England to join his grieving wife. When Spafford came to the approximate spot where his daughters had drowned, God enabled him to write, "When sorrows like sea billows roll ... whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul." The Shunammite woman did the same thing. That is a mark of real Christian maturity.
27 And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. 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.
So Elisha sensed by the Spirit of God that the woman was sorely distressed, but he did not yet know why because the Lord had not told him.
28 Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me?
The woman struggled somewhat with the question of why the Lord would take from her that which had been Divinely given. Although spiritually mature in many ways, she was not yet perfect. Some Christians do not seem to understand how something can be Divinely given and then Divinely taken away. There are many examples of this in the Book of Hebrews.
29 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.
Elisha apparently expected the Lord to restore the boy's life when his staff was placed on him. Elisha viewed his staff as a representation of his own presence and a symbol of Divine power. But Elisha himself had to learn some things through experience. Many years ago I read an article written by a good, solid man of God. The title of his article was. "And They Two Went On." (2 Kings 2:6). That article emphasized the unity of Elijah and Elisha. However, Scripture indicates at least four or five differences between Elijah and Elisha. Not the least difference was the fact that Elijah had a mantle but Elisha never had a mantle of his own; he simply picked up Elijah's mantle. Elijah followed the Lord; Elisha followed Elijah. It is true that Elisha did twice as many miracles as did Elijah. But Elisha never had the inner character and nature of the Lord worked within him as did Elijah. We must focus on the Giver of all miracles, not the miracles themselves. This was a teaching point for Elisha.
30 And the mother of the child said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her.
The woman understood the above truth. She trusted Elisha but she did not have much confidence in the staff of Elisha. She insisted that Elisha himself come to her home to raise her dead son to life.
31 And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked.32 And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, [and] laid upon his bed.
The woman had the truth concerning Elisha's staff. Elisha learned a valuable lesson.
33 He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD.
When Elisha saw that his staff had no effect on the young boy, he undoubtedly became very intense. Verse 33 says that Elisha prayed unto the Lord. That is not nearly sufficient to describe the intensity of Elisha's actions. It was not a "Now I lay me down to sleep" prayer. Neither was it a "Lord, save all of the people in Africa" prayer or a "Lord, please heal Tom or Mary" prayer. It was a prayer of intensity. That was the first time that the Lord had raised someone from the dead through the ministry of Elisha. He had not been that way before. Just as Elijah had done in a similar situation quite some time earlier (1 Kings 17:20), Elisha first turned to the Lord in earnest prayer. Lukewarm prayers usually never get beyond the ceiling. The Lord will show Himself to us in the same manner that we show ourself to Him.
34 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.
Perhaps Elisha was familiar with the earlier similar action of Elijah (1 Kings 17). We Christians today sometimes try to copy the actions and words of those whom we believe to be mature men of God. We learn very quickly the "right" words to say. But God never copies anything or anyone. There is no substitute for hearing the voice of the Lord for ourselves. I have never made an exhaustive search of this, but it seems that Jesus rarely, if ever, healed anyone or performed a miracle in the same way twice. He only did what He saw the Father doing.
35 Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.
In Verse 34, Elisha saw a little sign of life, but he persisted and stretched himself again the second time upon the child. Because of the persistence, determination, and intensity of faith of both Elisha and the woman, the Lord had compassion and brought the boy back to life.
36 And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son.
God freely gives but we must receive ... we must accept what He gives. God requires action on our part, not simply a passive reception.
37 Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.
Here we see the final step in the fulfillment of faith ... thanksgiving ... sincere and grateful thanks in our heart for all that the Lord has done for us.
Luke 17:11-19, "And it came to pass, as He went to Jerusalem, that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as He entered into a certain village, there met Him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when He saw them, He said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving Him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And He said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole."
So we see in this Shunammite woman, this great woman, a prophetic description of the Bride of Christ ... the Bride of Christ who has made herself ready. She speaks of the very elect, the remnant, the overcomers. If the Lord could work His nature into that great woman of faith, He can certainly do the same for you and me ... provided that we see the need, confess that we cannot by our own efforts rise to the same spiritual stature that she did, and sincerely ask the Lord to break us and then make us into His image. Faithful is He who has called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus. And after we have suffered a while, He is able to make us perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle us. To Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
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