2 Kings 4:8-17--Elisha and the Shunammite Woman

2 Kings 4:8-17
English Standard Version

Elisha and the Shunammite Woman
8 One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food. 9 And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. 10 Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there.”

​11 One day he came there, and he turned into the chamber and rested there. 12 And he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite.” When he had called her, she stood before him. 13 And he said to him, “Say now to her, ‘See, you have taken all this trouble for us; what is to be done for you? Would you have a word spoken on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’” She answered, “I dwell among my own people.” 14 And he said, “What then is to be done for her?” Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.” 15 He said, “Call her.” And when he had called her, she stood in the doorway. 16 And he said, “At this season, about this time next year, you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord, O man of God; do not lie to your servant.” 17 But the woman conceived, and she bore a son about that time the following spring, as Elisha had said to her.

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Elisha moved on to Shunem where a wealthy Shun--a place in the territory of Issachar near the city of Jezreel (just north of it) and on the southwestern side of Mount Moreh.  It was at Shunem that a wealthy woman there urged Elisha to eat some food and she would let him stay in her guest room and feed him anytime that he was passing by (or even in the area as he knew he could always stay with her).  Because she knew he was a holy man of God (not one of the many false prophets claiming to be of God, but not(, she spoke to her husband about making a small room for Elisha on their room (common to put a guest room like this on the roof) to stay in--probably that he had his own access to--and they wanted to furnish that apartment for him with a bed, table, chair and lamp so that it would be his room to use whenever he needed it whether he was coming or going.

One day when Elisha came by, he went to his chamber to rest, and he had his servant Gehazi call the Shunammite woman to come stand before him.  Gehazi was to pass along Elisha's thanks and ask her what kind of favor the prophet could do in return.  She comes, and Elisha first suggests that he might speak to the king or the commander of the army on her behalf to pull some political strings on her behalf, but she answered saying, "I dwell among my own people." (Probably meaning that she had enough influence herself because she was wealthy and lived in relative peace and had all that she needed).

After she had left him, Gehazi commented to Elisha that the Shunammite woman's husband was advanced in years (would die soon) and they had no son to be an heir.  Elisha asks Gehazi to summon her one more time, so she came and stood in the doorway.  Elisha prophesied over her that by this season next year, she would embrace a son.  She told Elisha to be careful not to lie to her just to tell her what she wanted to hear, but she did indeed conceive a son (not the first time that we've seen the LORD miraculously give a son to an older or barren couple, and certainly not the last).  She did indeed hold a baby boy in her arms the following spring when Elisha returned to her, just as he had said.

The LORD had a special relationship with Elijah and Elisha that I'm not sure we should try to claim for ourselves.  Elisha especially seemed concerned with returning favors in a way where it was obvious to anyone that was kind to him that he wanted to make sure that they knew the LORD saw them and would take care of them.  The LORD still does this today, even for those who act in secret, and I am sure that there are still people around today that the LORD listens to in this way that he listened to Elisha where they can ask anything in His name and He will give it to them (that's a promise that He gives to all of us), but there are so few of us today who actually do ask in His Name and expect to really receive anything in return.  It also is a dangerous thing to act as a prophet and promise something to someone when you are not 100% sure that it is the will of the LORD and that He will do it.  Promising something and thinking you will force God to do what you want Him to do is not what prophecy is.  If you promise something by prophecy and it does not come to pass, then the Bible says that you are a false prophet and that you have spoken foolishly and that since you have impugned the name of the LORD in doing so, it is a sin (even if it was an unintentional sin) worthy of death.  Do not take lightly telling others what will and will not happen in their lives and saying that you know dates and times and seasons or that you can speak blessings or curses over people.  While the LORD promises everyone that if we ask in His name, He will give us every good and perfect gift, but if we are not absolutely sure, we should not bring His name into it and should ask Him privately in prayer (still believing that He will do it, if it is according to His will, and He may even have something better than we imagined in mind).  I'm sure the gift of prophecy still exists and that there are those alive today who use it correctly to speak the Word of the LORD (especially the words of the Bible) to people with authority to call them to repent and to tell them how to repent and live in such a way where they can be blessed and not curses.  They also speak truth about both the mercy of God and the wrath of God and the Day of the LORD that is coming very soon when those who are in Christ will experience God's love, grace, and mercy, but those outside of Christ will experience His wrath and justice.  Never be afraid to speak Scripture (correctly interpreted and in context) into a person's life to call them to repentance and obedience, for this is always the will of the LORD and you need not worry about speaking a false message if you deliver the Word of God that has been passed down to us from generation to generation.  Also, never be afraid to pray Scripture to the LORD (again, rightly interpreted and in context) as part of your prayer life to tell God that you know who He is and what He has promised and that you expect Him to follow through on His promises (just like Moses, David, and so many others did) because the LORD loves to see His children expectantly waiting for Him to act--then He will act "suddenly" so that everyone will know that He is the one who did it, and it will be to the praise of His glory.  I cannot guarantee you that I know exactly what He will do in every situation, but I know He will always act in accordance with His Word, His nature, and His will, and He will do it for His good pleasure and for the good of those who are called by His Name.