The message was brought by Rev. Eddie Foster on May 12, 2024. The background scripture is II Kings 4:1-37.
II Kings 4 is a miracle chapter. Elisha asked for a double portion of the spirit of Elija and he is accredited with double the number of miracles. There are 4 in this chapter. We want to deal with the second one. Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. One day the woman asked her husband if they could make a place for Elisha to also stay when he came to the area. We call these prophet’s chambers today. Elisha was grateful for all the woman had done and wanted to do something for her. He sent this servant to the woman with this message: Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? In her answer she was stating that she was doing ok with what she already had. And she answered, I dwell among mine own people. Elisha still wanted to do something so he asked his servant; he told the prophet that although the couple was old they had no children. Elisha called for her again. This time he gave her a promise saying: About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid. And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life. And it happened. The boy grew but one day became sick while working in the field. His father had him taken to his mother. She cradled him in her lap but he died. She took the boy to Elisha’s bed and laid him on it and went to see the prophet. When Elisha saw her coming he sent his servant to her. He was to ask her a question. Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well. That’s an odd answer. She’s well; her husband is well; her son is not: he is dead. She went on to see Elisha and told him her son was dead, reminding him she didn’t ask for the child and in fact told him “do not deceive me.” In verses 33-36 we see what Elisha did when he got to the house. He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the Lord. And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son. The boy was raised from the dead and returned to his mother. What a miracle! I want us to notice a few things about this woman.
She had a spirit of contentment. On the day Elisha asked her what he could do to repay her kindness she told him I dwell among mine own people. In other words, she was content with life. As Paul said, she had learned to be content with what she had: a good husband, family, place to live, a homeland. We can learn from that. I remember the day when homes had one TV, one phone, one car. Now there are tv’s and phones in every room and a phone in every pocket. Everyone in the family has a car. God has blessed us beyond measure, yet we see more discontent than ever. We need to learn to be content.
She was thoughtful and kind. She fed Elisha and then built a room for him to stay in. She was what we call a “second-mile” Christian. Let’s be that. Kindness begets kindness. It can tear down an angry spirit. Kindness costs us nothing, so let’s be kind.
She was a devoted mother. When he was sick, she held him till he died. When I was a child, I didn’t want dad when I was sick; I wanted mom. That’s the way it is. She’s the one who always takes care of us, no matter what. Even our court systems today know that in a divorce the child needs his mother. Unless she’s proven unfit, she will get primary custody. Women, be devoted, godly mothers.
She was perceptive. Verse 9 says: And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. Women have a perception that men don’t have. We’ve all heard of women’s intuition. It’s proven they feel things men don’t. Pilate’s wife knew what he didn’t and warned him not to do anything to Jesus. He should have listened to her. A child is fortunate when a mother ensures he/she is raised in church. Not every child will excel in sports and play in the major leagues of anything. See first that your child is saved. Everything else in life will be left behind one day. Make sure the family is right with God.
She had great faith. She sought the man of God for help when her son died. If she didn’t believe Elisha would raise him, why go looking for him. In Mark 2 there were four men who carried a man to Jesus on a bed and let him down through the roof. They knew Jesus could do something for their friend. The Bible says that because of the faith of the four men Jesus healed the man. She had that kind of faith.
Elisha’s question to her was: Is it well with thee? I ask you that same question today. Is it well with you? I’m not talking about physically. I’m talking spiritually. How is your relationship with God? Is it well with your soul? It can be. Come to Jesus and make it well.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 