REFLECTIONS

Woman from Shunem

Most people thought of him as a prophet, and referred to him as the man of God. His name was Elisha, and while known for his extraordinary deeds, at least one person turned to him in a time of need—the woman from Shunem.

She lived in that quiet little village with her husband, described as well to do. She seemed to welcome people into her home, at least Elisha felt welcome there when he passed through the area. His visits became so frequent and pleasant that the Shunammite woman asked her husband if they might build a room for him on the roof of their home.

Noting the trouble the Shunammite woman had gone to, Elisha asked his servant what they might do for her. The servant, Gehazi, observed that she had no son and that the prospects were poor because her husband was old. So, Elisha called her in and prophesied, “About this time next year you will hold a son in your arms.”

Thrilled as she must have been at the thought, she pleaded, “Don’t mislead me.” Elisha had not, and true to the prophesy, the Shunammite woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son right on time. And the son grew. But one day, he fell ill and died.

Distraught, the woman placed him on Elisha’s bed, and summoned her servant to bring her donkey. Then she to set out in search of the man of God. When she found him on Mt. Carmel, she wept of her loss. Elisha directed Gehazi to go on ahead of them, but to speak to no one. He gave him his staff with instructions to place it on the boy’s face.

Then Elisha accompanied the woman back to Shunem. When they arrived, the son had not yet awakened. So, he stepped into the room, closed the door, paced the floor and prayed to the Lord. He then crawled onto the bed and lay on the boy’s body, eye to eye, and mouth to mouth. The boy’s body became warm. Elisha then walked about the room, then he got on the bed and lay upon him again. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.

“Call the Shunammite woman,” he asked his servant. When she came and saw her son alive, she fell at Elisha’s feet, bowed to him, then took her son and went out.

The woman from Shunem turned to the man of God in a time of need. But look at the parallels to another familiar story. The Son of God was welcomed the into a home and provided a place in an upper room. The Son’s birth was unlikely, yet just as the prophets said. The Son grew; but died an early death. His body was prepared for resurrection. The woman traveled on a donkey. God gave life to the Son.

So, what blessings might we find if the Son of God is welcomed into our lives?

You are the light of the world,

Richard +

www.reflectingthesavior.org.

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