Walking Among Them: The Shunammite Woman

The object of this study is to take some time out of our busy, often chaotic days and spend some time with women who have gone before us. Not just any women, but 26 women of the Bible. We’ll “Walk Among Them” and see how their stories relate to our lives. It’s my hope that we will discover God’s presence and grace in our own lives as the lives and lessons of these women unfold before us this year.

The Shunammite Woman

Who wouldn’t want to be known thousands of years later for having a kind heart, a contented spirit and a persistent nature? The Shunammite Woman we meet in Kings is remembered for exactly those qualities, and we don’t have a clue as to her name. We meet the Shunammite Woman in 2 Kings 4:8 – 37, and continues in 2 Kings 8: 1 – 6. Spend some time reading about the Shummanite Woman as we set out to Walk Among Her.

“One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well to do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat. She said to her husband, “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us.” 2 Kings 4: 8-10

I am struck that while we are not given the name of the woman, Scripture reveals quite a bit about her in this one passage. We find out that she is “well to do,” and we know that she is married. We get a glimpse into her character right from the start. She is aware of Elisha’s faithfulness to God and recognizes that he is a man that she would like to help. She takes this request to her husband and he agreed to make a room on the roof.

During one of his visits, Elisha asks the servant Gehazi to get the woman for him and he asks her what can be done for her, since she has been so hospitable to him. He asks if he can talk to the king for her, but she has nothing that she needs the king’s help in. THEN, her servant Gehazi mentions that she has no children. It’s what everyone knows. He is simply stating the obvious. This couple is “well to do” by the standards of the day, and do not need the king’s intervention, BUT they cannot have a child.

Elisha tells her that, “About this time next year, you will hold a son in your arms.” (2 Kings 4: 16)

Imagine the woman’s surprise when she hears this….at first she is shocked, (as we ALL would be), but she became pregnant and had a son, “just as Elisha has told her.” (2 Kings 4:17)

Life as usual followed.

I imagine that there were tears of joy the day that baby arrived , and we are told in Scirpture that the “child grew.” We are not told of the exact circumstances, but in 2 Kings 4: 19, we hear of an accident. The child cries, “My head! My head!”

We know that the little boy is brought to his mom, who held him and he died on her lap.

When reading that passage, I can’t help but put myself in the place of the Shunammite Woman. Her son has likely fallen before, as little boys will, but this time it’s different, and he dies. My heart sinks each time I read that passage in Kings. How her heart must have broken in that moment. It’s what happens next that just ASTOUNDS me. The woman lies the child in the room of Elisha and goes to Mount Carmel to find him. She “saddled the donkey” and said to the servant, “Lead on; don’t you slow down for me unless I tell you.” She is a woman on a mission! When she gets to Elisha, she asks him what most of us would ask. “Did I ask you for a son, my lord?” she said. “Didn’t I tell you, ‘Don’t raise my hopes’?” (2 Kings 4:24)

Elisha gave instructions to the servant to lay his staff on the boy’s face. The woman would not leave but rather stayed with Elisha and the servant went off to do as he was told. The servant returned with bad news. He tells Elisha and the woman that when he did as he was told, the boy “was not awakened.” (2 Kings4: 31)

Then Elisha heads over to the house. He goes into the room where the dead boy was and shut the door and he prayed. Elisha stretched out across the boy as he prayed. 2 Kings 4: 33-35 tells us how the boy began to open his eyes and even sneezed! He was definitely ALIVE!

When the Shunammite Woman was called, she fell at his feet and bowed to the ground, and took her son. (2 Kings 4:37)

This woman had hope. Where did her hope come from. She very well may have heard the story of the widow in Zerephath, who found herself in a hopeless circumstance. That likely would have fueled her own faith. If GOD does it for her, than HE can and will do it for me. It was an impossible circumstance but she sought out her own miracle in the midst of an unthinkable trial.

Again, in a few short lines in Scripture we take away so much. Our God graciously allows us to see a glimpse of His faithfulness, the same faithfulness that we NEED today in our lives. The same kind of faithfulness that we find ourselves clinging to. The Shunammite Woman has no name to us, but her legacy of hospitality, faithfulness and perseverance are lessons we take from this walk.

Reflections from the Walk

With each woman that we study, I’ll have some thoughts and ideas for reflection, meditation and journaling that will be called “Reflections from the Walk.” It’s in Walking Among Them that we can learn lessons that we can take with us on our daily walks.

1. The lessons from this nameless woman are many! What a legacy she leaves behind. To think that thousands of years later that your character STILL impacts women as an example simply astounds me. As a dear friend of mine just buried her mother, I sat thinking of the legacy we each will leave. Spend some time thinking of YOUR legacy. How do you want to be remembered? The Shunammite Woman likely never gave much thought to her legacy, she was just living how God instructed. She was obedient. In that obedience, she has a legacy that has endured centuries.

Journal some of the qualities that you would like to be remembered for. Do any include the character traits that we see in the Shunammite Woman?

Hospitality

Faithfulness

Perseverance

Graciousness

2. There are times when we will find ourselves spiritually, physically and emotionally weak. Where do you turn in times such as that? Do you turn to God first? In our modern world it’s very easy to become distracted and not turn to God first. Do you surround yourself with men and women of God? Do you have “go to people” when you are weak? Do those friends lift you up and point you to God? The Shunammite Woman knew that Elisha was a man of God, and she recognized the importance of that kind of relationship/friendship in her life.

Do you have those kinds of people in your life? If you do are you aware of their presence in difficult times? If not, ask God to reveal people that will surround you in times of trial. Ask Him to bring people into your life who will encourage you on your walk with God and will grow you in faith.

3. The Shunammite Woman is CLEARLY hospitable and we are told she is well to do. She was blessed with a secure life, and becomes an example of a woman who while blessed continues to extend herself to others. She opened her home and we need to strive to be that type of hospitable woman.

In “The Boxcar Wall,” David Roper presents this story:

I ate breakfast the other day with a man who 60 years ago sold newspapers and shined shoes on the streets of downtown Boise, Idaho. He told me about his life in those days and how much things have changed.

‘What’s changed the most?’ I asked him. ‘People,’ he said. ‘They don’t care anymore.’

As a case in point, he told me about his mother, who often fed hungry men who came to her house. Every day she prepared food for her family and then made several more meals because she knew homeless travelers would start to show up around mealtime. She had deep compassion for those who were in need. Once she asked a man how he happened to find his way to her door. ‘Your address is written on all the boxcar walls,’ he said.

That woman took advantage of the opportunity to be hospitable. She did not sit around waiting for an opportunity that she wanted; she took it as it was. She allowed God to use her heart of service where it was, just as the Shunammite Woman did. God WILL use a hospitable servant, consider praying about it and asking God to reveal to you where you are needed and how you can open up your home to someone in need and make them feel welcome.

Don’t be surprised if it comes in unlikely places. Just last week we were asked to keep a neighbor’s pet while they cared for a sick relative. We extended hospitality to “Sammy dog,” in much the same way we would extend it to another human being.

Challenge yourself to go outside YOUR comfort zone and consider being hospitable to one of the following groups:

Singles

Widows

Grieving people

Those who are suffering financially in challenging economic times

Divorced

The elderly and aging

There are many ways to extend yourself to those in need and opening up your home and/or your heart is a way to show the real love of Jesus that lives inside of each of us.

4. One character trait that stands out to me in regards to the Shunammite Woman is her persistent personality. She was persistent at the right time. She immediately went to find Elisha and would not let anyone go in her place although it would have likely been easy for her to send her servant. That shows tenacity. Think about your own spirit of persistence. Are you persistent, or do you tend to give up easily?

We are told in Scripture to that we too must guard against the enemy and that the enemy will try and steal from us as he tried to steal from the Shunammite Woman. Journal to God your heart on persistence. Ask God to reveal His word to you, and then ask Him to strengthen and equip you to stand in the face of trials. Those trials WILL come and we can either be a woman who is persistent or the type who rolls over and curls up.

As we end our walk with the Shunammite Woman we are taking many lessons that are just as applicable today as they were 2,000 years ago. Again, in stopping to “meet” this Biblical woman we find so much in her life mirrors much of what is going on in our own.

Remember these words….consider writing them creatively, (doodling) or typing them on the computer in a “new, fun font” as a reminder just how important hospitality is to God.

“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”

Hebrews 13:2

A PDF of this study is HERE

(All Scripture references are NIV)

Lori is a 5 year homeschool mom to 3. Currently a 8th grader, a 6th grader and a 4th grader. Lori insists that when she was wrestling with the decision to home school, a gentle voice guided her with the words, “you know what you should do.” Never looking back, accepting the challenges and rewards and CONSTANTLY clinging to THE ROCK…”No Storm can shake my inmost calm when to this ROCK I’m clinging.” Lori hopes to impart peace and inspiration amidst the daily chaos. Be sure to visit her blog at All You Have to Give.

 

Tags: 2 Kings Study, Elisha in the Bible, hospitality, Shunammite Woman, Walking Among Them

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