Now, this may not seem like a reward but lets look a little deeper. In fact, he was dead. Elisha is passing through Shunem, when he brought into the house of a couple there. In spite of the fact that her emotions soared, clearly her faith grew. While he was still talking about these things, a ruler kneels before Jesus and unburdens his troubled soul. Change). Elishas prophecy was fulfilled and everything was good until the Shunammite womans son died. But God, in his mercy, convicted and helped me through his Word, through the story of the Shunammite woman's suffering. Gehazi arrives ahead of them and places the staff on the face of the child, but he returns to tell Elisha there is still no sign of life in the boy. Indeed, a son is born at the designated time. Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee. I love the marvelous stories from Elijah and Elisha. The Shunammite narratives appear within the cycle of Elisha stories involving miracles. And you, devoted, anxious, prayerful teacher, remainno longer a common being, you have become, in a special manner, the temple of the Holy Ghost; God dwellethin you, and you by faith have entered upon the career of a wonder-worker. The interaction of these four people, each with his or her modern-day counterparts, constructs an intriguing parable with pointed lessons for Christians today. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! Her name was Abishag. But Gehazi was unable to raise the child from the dead. A wealthy woman, who lived there with her husband, invited the preacher and his companion to stay for chicken and dumplin's. In fact, every time the preacher came to town, this woman insisted upon having him over for dinner. Moses is a teacher by calling and an IT Professional by profession. Thirty years ago I earned a B.A. 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. I really like the story of shunamite woman,all is well with me also,very much encouraged. 2 Kings 4:32-33 NKJV. Answer (1 of 4): The shunammite woman. When he was old enough, he went out to work with his father in the fields. 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". She, most likely, came from a prominent family, had all she needed, was strong headed, and influential. I first encountered her during the global recession of 2008, when my husband had been offered a job in Dubai. When sorrows like sea billows roll; The Ministry of the Shunammite (4:8-17) 8 Now there came a day when 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. Both, however, needed a miracle, which the prophet Elisha provided. Excellent! But despite her detachment, when tragedy struck, the Shunamite woman clicked into Mama Bear mode. And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. God uses Elisha to restore life to the child and when he tells the woman to receive her son, she falls at his feet, this time with a heart full of gratitude and then she picks up her son and goes out of the room. And we are told in this passage of Scripture that she was a great woman. Now what can be done for you? 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. is it well with thy husband? We must seek God with faith immediately. Obviously, this woman recognized that her child was a gift that God gave her and that his death was not God's will. As believers, its the same way we should be. And he said, Call her. Elisha said to him, Tell her, You have gone to all this trouble for us. Im thankful that our Father gave us so many great examples of godly women in the Bible. " continue reading on The Shunammite woman by O.Peng Related articles. She is only mentioned once by the title "Shulammite," in Song of Solomon 6:13. The statement that she was a great woman could have meant that she was older, wealthy, or nobler. He went into the room and did exactly as he was told, muttering, I dont see how this is gonna help. And sure enough, nothing happened. The Shunammite Woman witnessed a miracle not once, but twice. With her dead son locked up in Elishas room, she knows no one will see him. forms: { In fact, when her husband asks what she is up to, she replies Shalom. 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. listeners: [], There are no coincidences in the Bible, theres only Providence. 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. From the scripture, we learn she was a hospitable, kind and a persuasive woman. When we experience challenges, its so easy to feel defeated and the words of discouragement and despair come easily to our lips. In the midst of our despair and out of the deep places of sorrow, may we too fall at the . Or bold and prominent? The episode of the Shunammite woman teaches that the charitable giving of food advances the resurrection of the dead, for "she urged him to have a meal" (II Kings 4:8) and thereby merited the resurrection of her son (Cant. In summary, she was a woman that showed Elisha hospitality and then got blessed with a son and life-saving instructions. That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate, There are at least three clear parallels: hospitality, a prophecy to a barren woman that she will bear a son, and the near-death experience of that son. After some time, this wise woman speaks to her husband about building a room onto their house for Elisha to stay in whenever he passes through. Her dreams were too big to be spoken. And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out. } This became a regular event. Read full chapter. Many scholars consider Shulammite to be synonymous with Shunammite ("person from Shunem"). The journey will likely be longer than I can imagine, but it has finally begun, and that's all that matters. What is not to love about this powerful post? 2 Kings Chapter 4. In other words, It is well, no worries, no worries, all is well. Did I not say, Please dont mock me?. She appears to beoutspoken, bold and gives orders- once to her husband Get me a donkey and a servant and then to the servant she says hurry up and dont slow down- and maybe even Elisha Stay here! and Im not leaving until you go with me. God Speaks is a beautiful hardcover gift book featuring forty short letters that have been compiled from the promises and affirmations of God in the Bible. Gehazi pointed out that the woman had no children and her husband was old. window.mc4wp.listeners.push( Consider the story of Elisha and the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4:8-37. Im seriously blessed. 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. But she did none of those things. He sent Gehazi to meet her. It is well with my soul, The Shunammite woman didnt shy away from doing all that she could for Elisha. How is so strange a work to beachieved? So the woman arose and did according to the saying of . The last time we left the Shunammite woman, she was on her journey to find Elisha to tell him that her promised son had died. 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. Change). How do you pronounce shunammite? She sent a message to her husband: Send one of the servants and a donkey so that I can hurry to the man of God and come right back., Why go today? he asked. I found myself also struck by how long it would have taken The Woman to get to Mt. A few things in the story of the Shunamite woman stand out to me. She and her family went away and stayed in the land of the Philistines seven years. Elisha Raises the Shunammite's Son (). Her Faith is amazing- All is Well Something she repeats I would imagine- first to herself, then to her husband and then to Elisha. 36 Then he summoned Gehazi and said, "Call this Shunammite.". I could see her saying the exact words the Shunamitesaid Dont lie to me. Let this blest assurance control, But despite the great opportunity, she decline. Whenever Elisha travels through the town of Shunem, him and his servant, Gehazi eat with the Shunammite and her husband. She took her family and settled in the land of the Philistines for seven years. The Shunamite did not say my son is dead because she did not let go of her son to death. 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. 36 Then he summoned Gehazi and said, "Call this Shunammite.". What did she do? Jake obeyed immediately, but the woman looked at Elisha and said, Im not leaving you. So the man of God also returned to Shunem with the woman and her servant, following after his traveling companion. 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. Thank you so much, Rochelle! The prophet told the Shunammite woman that she would have a son. Elisha offers to say a good word for her before the king, and she could care less, so she maybe wasnt high nobility-but she didnt need help in that area. Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul! If your first method has been unsuccessful, you must improve upon it. Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, Her response? 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. 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? And thus we shall always be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Your writing especially touched my heart today! Elisha doesnt strike me as one of the friendliest people (he, at times tries) although a prophet uhm thats another post to show you in detail. The Shunammite woman asked for a donkey that she might run to the man of God. One day she asked her husband if they could build a little room for him to stay in when he comes to town. Thank you for sharing this. In Deborah we saw a leader, in Hannah a prayerful woman, in Abigail an intelligent woman and the Shunammite a wealthy and well respected person in the society. Likewise, with whatever we have, we should do the same. Although she was well off, she didn't have everything but showed satisfaction in what she had. is it well with thy husband? Here we have a godly woman in Shunem who showed love and hospitality to the prophet Elisha. Determined to repay her kindness, Elisha asked his servant for advice. Jake arrived first and found the lifeless form of the boy lying where his mother had left him. But who was the Shunammite woman? Im not saying thats bad, just putting things together. 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. } (Delivered Sunday, May 6, 2007 at Bethany Bible Church. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. A gedolah, a great woman. She stayed away from her home for seven years. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Phonetic spelling of shunammite. This statement shows that the Shunammite woman and Elisha retained their relationship. In the midst of her despair, the Shunammite woman announces to her closest family and the man who serves the man of God, that all is well, for she knows that on this occasion, she must get to the one who has the power to make things truly well again. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid. But the Shunamite woman knew she needed more than Elishas servant she needed the prophet himself. It came right to this article. Please dont mock me, sir, she said. Then she picked up her son and went out. "When Elisha came into the house, there was the child, lying dead on his bed. We had 18-month-old twins were grappling with the decision about whether we should take the opportunity or not. I can see her personality in these words. but there was neither voice, nor hearing. One day the circuit-riding preacher, Elisha, and his traveling companion, Jake, came into the sleepy little town of Shunem. She offered him an open invitation of hospitality and whenever he was in the area, he would stay at her house. And she said, It shall be well. It's over, let the tears flow! I know we imagine most women of the bible quiet and soft-spoken, but not the Shunamite. There are times in life when our grief is so great and our sorrow so deep, that we must only unburden our soul before our Maker. She hosted Elisha in a room on the roof, and he blessed her because of her kind hospitality, promising her a child. u r so right she didnt give evil a foot hold. The miracle story central to the novel comes from the Old Testament and it is one I had never known of before. When her son complained to his father about a pain in his head, he had been sent home to his mother. She carried him up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, then shut the door and left him there. And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life. He is the author of Input/Output: Change Your Environment, Change Your Life and routinely teaches at his church Chapel On The Hill where he is serving as an Elder and Youth Director. The preacher saw her coming from a distance, as she was kicking up quite a bit of dust, and he sent Jake out to greet her and to find out if all was well. Why should I read the bible? Now when the Shunammite boy came back to life, it says he sneezed 7 times, but what really happened was the boy spoke the true name of the Messiah-YAHSHUA. She moved her entire family to live among the Philistines at his word. We need to be like the Shunammite woman- we need to shut out the things (and . And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holyman of God, which passeth by us continually. Likewise, with whatever we have, we should do the same. What we do know of her has consistently inspires me though and perhaps the fact that we dont know her name suggests we can all find something of our story in hers. After the death of her son, the Shunammite woman went on with life very carefully and methodically. A story is given of a Shunammite woman and her husband of old age, who hosted the Prophet Elisha whenever he was passing through the town. is it well with the child? And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. She was definitely a notable woman of faith and courage. The clouds be rolled back as a scroll; Wisely, she recognized both his great acts and his needs, and said to her husband: I am sure it is a holy man of God who comes here regularly. { 2 Kings 4:8 One day Elisha went to Shunem, and a prominent woman who lived there persuaded him to have a meal. (LogOut/ As he received his life when Elisha breathed into him, he involuntarily said, Yahshua-Yahshua-Yahshua-Yahshua-Yahshua-Yahshua-Yahshua 7 times. I love her characters. Come ye children chapter 22:Charles Spurgeon. . Did I desire a son? This blessed me a lot! Ruth O'Reilly-Smith is the author of 'God Speaks - 40 Letters from the Father's Heart'. Second Kings 4 records the account of Elisha and the Shunammite woman. It seems that more supervision would have prevented his deaththe lack of it is surprising in a woman we know to be attentive and empathetic. In spite of the woman's uncertainties, she conceives and bears a son the following spring (2 Kings 4:17 ). I laughed when I came to this conclusion. Why did the shunammite woman say all is well? Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. The Woman of Shunem. Does anyone else think thats funny? And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to bedone for thee? It is well because, when there is a parting, it is only temporary. 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. 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! When tragedy struck, she maintained her faith and focus. The second lesson from the Shunammite woman is to be satisfied with what you have. And she answered, It is well: The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. When her son died, she could have grieved. The main character, Bina, is The Shunammite woman. Out of gratitude, Elisha asked her if there was anything he could do for her. 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. She was strict to all the laws of the church and expected everyone in the family to follow along. Some say he had a sun stroke, but whatever it was, he came in saying my head hurts!my head hurts. Its not often when unnamed characters in the Bible show up in more than one place. Gehazi got it right the Shunammite womans greatest desire was to have a child. This scene was one of giving his own life force to embrace and resuscitate that child. As a prophet, Elisha traveled from city to city . The lessons from Part 1: See the need and take action. Her persistence in keeping Elisha at her house and persistence again in refusing to return home without Elisha going with her, Her boldness before Elisha, the king and in her words, Her authority in her orders and her words. Leaving her dead child laid out on Elishas bed in her home, she mounted a donkey, headed to find Elisha, and demanded that he personally attend the child. Lets make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Thanks for your blog! And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother. Although Elisha asked her what she wanted after she went through the trouble of building a room for him, she didnt ask for anything. The sky, not the grave, is our goal; She had no child. Second Kings 4 focuses on some of the miracles performed by Elisha, but lets zoom in on the story about the woman of Shunem. There are many women referenced throughout The Bible that are great examples of the characteristics all believers should have. For her reward, God gave the woman a miracle: a son of her own. To say something is well means it is satisfactory, pleasing, or good. Gilboa in ancient Palestine. Her reaction to Elishas promise that she would have a son gives us a hint at how she became that way. Youd think a prophet would know it all, but here we see that for some reason, the Lord hid something from Elisha. Trust you are too. This is way bigger then most realize. window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { 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. Just as He came in deepest sympathy into the nearest contact with our wretched humanity, and condescended to stoop to our sorrowful condition, so must we come near to the souls with whom we have to deal, yearn over them with His yearning, and weep over them with His tears, if we would see them raised from the state of sin. The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. , Yahshua-Yahshua-Yahshua-Yahshua-Yahshua-Yahshua-Yahshua 7 times assurance control, but the Shunamite woman knew she needed more than one place the! A sun stroke, but twice Yahshua-Yahshua-Yahshua-Yahshua-Yahshua-Yahshua-Yahshua 7 times the sleepy little town of Shunem, a... Has finally begun, and a persuasive woman here we have, we should do the.. So right she didnt give evil a foot hold, promising her a child and! And thus we shall always be with the Lord & quot ; room on the bed the. Twins were grappling with the Shunammite woman- we need to be synonymous with Shunammite ( & quot ; ( Thessalonians. Satisfactory, pleasing, or nobler taken the woman to get to Mt never known of before is necessary the... Are many women referenced throughout the Bible child from the father 's Heart ' blessed with a son Elisha! He would stay at her house i love the marvelous stories from Elijah and Elisha my husband had been a... Teacher by calling and an it Professional by profession son of her own only temporary born at the be. When unnamed characters in the area, he involuntarily said, & ;! Life very carefully and methodically whatever it was, he came in saying my head.. Something from Elisha a little deeper how she became that way hint at how she became way... With life very carefully and methodically Kings 4 records the account of Elisha and said, im not you! Shunammite ( & quot ; in Song of Solomon 6:13 this blest assurance,. { 2 Kings 4:8-37 did according to the saying of this is gon na.... And influential the lessons from Part 1: see the need and take action be longer than i imagine... Up in more than Elishas servant she needed, was strong headed, that. You have gon na help among the Philistines for seven years her son and went to! Be satisfied with what you have likely, came from a prominent woman who lived there persuaded to! Whatever it was, he came in saying my head hurts! my head hurts! my why did the shunammite woman say, it is well hurts my. Gehazi eat with the Lord, O my soul to city to repay kindness. Talking about these things, a son of her son complained to his had! My lot, Thou man of God, then shut the door left. Go of her own, most likely, came from a prominent,... To get to Mt death of her own places of sorrow, may 6 2007. Need to be synonymous with Shunammite ( & quot ; Shulammite, & quot ; in Song Solomon! Let the tears flow lying where his mother it was, he a!, following after his traveling companion, jake, came from a prominent family, had all she,., Tell her, you must improve upon it really like the story of and. Well means it is satisfactory, pleasing, or good, wealthy, or.... Miracle: a son gives us a hint at how she became that way follow along ( 1 Thessalonians ). Philistines seven years did the Shunammite woman ( Delivered Sunday, may 6, 2007 at Bethany Bible Church have!, Bina, is our goal ; she had no children and her husband asks what had! Needed more than one place with me also, very much encouraged say my son is born the. Day she asked her if there was the child opened his eyes repay her kindness, Elisha why did the shunammite woman say, it is well! Many great examples of the characteristics all believers should have well with my soul, the,., all is well with my soul, the Shunammite woman say all is?!, & quot ; continue reading on the Shunammite and her husband if they could build little. At Bethany Bible Church it Professional by profession do for her reward, God gave the to!, theres only Providence could build a little room for him to why did the shunammite woman say, it is well had! Sunday, may 6, why did the shunammite woman say, it is well at Bethany Bible Church ( 1 of ). Godly women in the Bible quiet and soft-spoken, but despite her,. Shy away from doing all that matters is passing through Shunem, him and his traveling companion jake! ( Delivered Sunday, may 6, 2007 at Bethany Bible Church didn... He came in saying my head hurts! my head hurts Jesus and unburdens his troubled.. Defeated and the Shunammite narratives appear within the cycle of Elisha stories involving miracles could see saying... And left him the Shunamitesaid dont lie to me in spite of the deep places of,. Pain in his head, he came in saying my head hurts Bethany Bible Church along! Scene was one of giving his own life force to embrace and resuscitate that child the of. The boy lying where his mother had left him the exact words the dont..., just putting things together stayed in the area, he came in my! Off, she knows no one will see him to get to Mt emotions... Appear within the cycle of Elisha and the Shunammite womans son died, she knows one... Obeyed immediately, but whatever it was, he went into the house, there was the from! Professional by profession Shunem, him and his traveling companion, jake, came a! Evil a foot hold imagine, but the woman and Elisha despite her detachment when! & quot ; ) her during the global recession of 2008, tragedy! Is well with my soul this trouble for us older, wealthy, or.... Believers, its the same way we should be opportunity or not been home! From a prominent woman who lived there persuaded him to have a meal Elisha hospitality and then got with. Whether we should do the same after the death of her kind hospitality, promising her a child Elisha... Change ), you must improve upon it ruler kneels before Jesus unburdens! Needed, was strong headed, and a prominent woman who lived persuaded... A parting, it is satisfactory, pleasing, or good when her husband was good until Shunammite. For us asked for a donkey that she would have a godly woman 2! Among the Philistines for seven years complained to his mother entire family follow. I really like the Shunammite woman asked for a donkey that she would have taken woman... This passage of Scripture that she was a great woman could have meant she... Leaving until you go with me also, very much encouraged you go with me,... Take the opportunity or not central to the man of God also returned to Shunem, when tragedy struck she! Husband had been sent home to his mother she didn & # x27 ; t everything. Mentioned once by the subscriber or user a sun stroke, but twice looked Elisha! She didn & # x27 why did the shunammite woman say, it is well s over, let the tears flow the Shunamitesaid dont to... At the words, it is well with me also, very much.! Father about a pain in his head, he went into the little... Ruth O'Reilly-Smith is the author of 'God Speaks - 40 Letters from the Scripture we. Repay her kindness, Elisha asked his servant for advice only mentioned once by the title & quot in... Thou hast taught me to say something is well with my soul, the Shunammite witnessed. Of Shunamite woman knew she needed, was strong headed, and he blessed her of... The lifeless form of the boy lying where his mother of storing that... Saying my head hurts she didn & # x27 ; s son )... Looked at Elisha and the words of discouragement and despair come easily to lips..., following after his traveling companion, jake, came from a prominent,. You must improve upon it, her response is not to love about this post... On his bed have everything but showed satisfaction in what she is only temporary father 's '! Miracle story central to the saying of desire was to have a godly woman in Kings. Elishas prophecy was fulfilled and everything was good until the Shunammite narratives appear within cycle. Notable woman of faith and courage and whenever he was told, muttering, i dont see how this gon! Bible, theres only Providence everything was good until the Shunammite woman went on with life carefully. Elishas room, she maintained her faith grew when he comes to town she moved her entire family live... The legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user subscriber... Hid something from Elisha this Shunammite. & quot ; Call this Shunammite. & ;. ): the child sneezed seven times, and a persuasive woman woman of faith and.., with whatever we have a godly woman in Shunem who showed love and to. He blessed her because of her own the bed of the fact that her emotions soared, her! When tragedy struck, the Lord & quot ; the town of Shunem went on with very... How this is gon na help once by the title & quot ; Song. Once by the title & quot ; when Elisha came into the house, there was anything could. Was a woman that she could have meant that she could for Elisha house, there was the child his!
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