One day Elisha went to the town of Shunem. A wealthy woman lived there, and she urged him to come to her home for a meal. After that, whenever he passed that way, he would stop there for something to eat. She said to her husband, “I am sure this man who stops in from time to time is a holy man of God. Let’s build a small room for him on the roof and furnish it with a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp. Then he will have a place to stay whenever he comes by. 2 Kings 4:8-10 NLT
Many of these stories in both the Old and New Testament are people driven. Real people with real lives, names, history and problems. Sometimes, we are told these folks names, sometimes, as in this story, we are only told a few key facts. Jeremiah, the most likely author of 1st & 2nd Kings, tells us about a wealthy woman from Shunem. Later, we find out she is married but has no children. Where is Shumen? I had no idea. That’s like asking me “Where is the country of Djibouti!” It turns out that the location of this story is interesting and you can Google it.
What is more significant is this unnamed woman’s extraordinary experience with an emotionally detached Prophet (spokesperson of God) Elisha. Elisha often sends his assistant, Gehazi, to do most of the talking! This story, like the widow story just before it, is a woman empowerment story. This great woman as KJV translates, means she was a woman of great wealth. It is her idea to urge Elisha to stop in for a bite to eat, then in what’s known as radical hospitality, she tells her husband, this man is a “holy man” let’s (translated, I am going to do this) build him an upstairs ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit)! Elisha is moved by this remarkable blessing, to not just feed him but give him a personal quarters to have a place to rest, pray, and be on his way. He wants to bless her in return.
Elijah tells Gehazi to offer the normal, networking advantages that one would offer a friend, ”Can we put in a good word for you to the king or to the commander of the army?” But she’s doing just fine on her own, she does not need the king for special treatment, nor some kind of protection from the king’s guard. Elisha still wants to bless this woman. So, Elisha asked Gehazi, “What can we do for her?” Gehazi replied, “She doesn’t have a son, and her husband is an old man.” Sure, there’s some assumptions made here, this married woman with no children can mean a lot of things. But one of the most glaring needs, who will care for her when she’s too old to care for herself? We already know her husband’s pretty old.
Elisha told her himself, next year when he returns, she will be holding a son! Her reply is honest and so sweet, “No, my Lord!” she cried. “O man of God, don’t deceive me and get my hopes up like that.” Sure enough, a year later she had her son! As her son of promise grew older, he had a horrible episode while working in the field with his father. A servant took the young man home to die in his mother’s arms at noon.
It is here we find this woman’s assertive faith and determination to go and find Elisha and tell him that he was responsible for her son being given as a blessing! God granted the miracle to give life, so now in her mind, Elisha should be responsible to bring him back to life! Elisha tried to just send Gehazi, but she would not accept that, saying “As surely as the Lord lives and you yourself live, I won’t go home unless you go with me.” So Elisha returned with her.
In the moments of radical empathy, compassion and faith, Elisha prayed and God brought the boy back to life! Yes, these stories are about the amazing miracles of God, but they are also about the powerful, determination of women who had an unshakable faith in God.
Prayer
Dad,
I have come to learn through your word AND experience that simply asking for folks to pray as a last resort is an improper understanding of who you are, but also the serious undervaluing of the power of a mother’s or grandmother’s prayer. I now believe it should be our first priority! Do I have a huge need in my life? Then I should look for women of faith to not just join with me, but take the lead in assertive determination to reach heaven! Thank you for women of great faith. And, thank you for hearing their prayers!