The Shunammite Woman's Encounter

Was meditating on 2 Kings 4:8-37 on the story of the Shunammite woman and her encounter with Elisha. It was interesting to note :

About the Shunammite Woman :

A) She honored the Man Of God to a point of even keeping a room for him each time he came by their way. Verse 8-10. Can we go the extra mile for our Spiritual Leaders and for the Man of God in our midst? How do we treat them?

B) She yielded herself to the Man of God when he offered to ask God for a personal request for her.. Verse 11-13 Do we listen and obey our Spiritual Leaders as they are committed to intercede and stand in the gap for us? And when God uses them to speak to us, do we dare believe?

C) She was real and had doubts and fears when she was told that she would have a son the following year but yet she believed. Verse 16-17. Can we trust God completely when a promise is given to us, even in the midst of our uncertainties, fears and unbelief?

D) Her obedience to go through the entire pregnancy was remarkable and she brought the child up and cared for him. Verse 18-20. How do we demonstrate a mother’s love, kindness and tenderness for our children and our families? Do we love and care for them because they are God’s gift to us? Have we taken them for granted?

E) She was a woman of Faith, Courage and Strength because when her son died, she responded with a believing and positive attitude that God would raise him up. Verse 20-21. Can we be strong in times of adversity, testing and challenges?

F) She protected her husband from being stumbled and inconvenienced and just did what needed to be done without ‘bothering’ him. Verse 22. Are your husbands in a place where he is highly esteemed, protected and kept with only ‘good news’ so that his faith would be secure? Are we assuring and can our husbands depend on us to handle the home matters independently?

G) She was a wise and steady woman who handled the matter of her dead son well. Verse 24. Are we faithful, steady and steadfast in the things that we do so that we could glorify God – even if circumstance and situations are unfavorable?

H) She was a persistent & desperate woman of prayer and faith (in her own closet) when she grabbed the feet of Elisha and begged for her son’s life to be returned. Verse 27. Are we persistent in our prayer to cry, wail and knock hard on the doors of heaven (behind closed doors) even when we have not seen results? Do we believe that God can demonstrate signs and wonders in our midst because He desires to bless?

I) She continued to believe even when at the 1^st instance Gehazi did not manage to revive the child. Verse 30. Is our faith unwavering and unchanging? Do we believe that God is a Miracle-working God? Can we keep pressing in to pray until we see something happening? A 2^nd, 3^rd or even 4^th time?

J) When Elisha finally revived the boy and returned him to his mother, she was grateful and fell at his feet and bowed to the ground. Verse 37. Do we have a thankful, grateful and magnanimous heart? Do we honor our Spiritual Leaders for their time, effort and kindness when God brings healing, deliverance and blessing in our midst because they are willing vessels?

Our Leadership :

K) The Man of God surrounded himself with an observant servant who knew the need of the Shunammite woman because he knew his Master’s heart. Verse 14 Do we surround ourselves with men/ women of God who know and minister alongside us? We, as leaders, sometimes have blind spots (even Elisha) and may need reminders from our co-laborers. Can we learn humility and grow together in the ministry – unity is strength?

May the Lord grant us the faith, favor and fondness like that of the Shunammite woman!