She was blessed with a son by the word of the Lord, released by Elisha, even without she asking Elisha by herself.
Let us meditate on these Scriptures and learn some important aspects that will help us in reaping God's blessings.
'' 2 Kings 4 : 8 - 10
One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat. She said to her husband, '' I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. Let's make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us. ''
One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat. She said to her husband, '' I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. Let's make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us. ''
In the above words of the Shunammite woman, on careful meditation, we can discern the following about her:
1. Discerning at heart, that she knew Elisha was truly a man of God.
2. Reverence for God and God's people.
3. Hospitable nature and a noble heart.
4. Selflessness - which can be seen in her thinking, when she spoke.
5. No agony or bitterness towards God or God's people, though she didn't have a son.
These are the characteristics of the Shunammite woman, that we can clearly discern from her words.
Let us read ahead :
'' 2 Kings 4 : 11 - 13
One day when Elisha came, he went up to his room and lay down there. He said to his servant Gehazi, '' Call the Shunammite. '' So he called her, and she stood before him.Elisha said to him, '' Tell her, ' You have gone to all this trouble for us.Now what can be done for you ? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army ? ' ''
She replied, '' I have a home among my own people.''
Now, Elisha, looking at her hospitality and concern for them, offered her if he could speak on her behalf to the king or the commander of the army so that she may get something in return for her hospitality.
'' 2 Kings 4 : 11 - 13
One day when Elisha came, he went up to his room and lay down there. He said to his servant Gehazi, '' Call the Shunammite. '' So he called her, and she stood before him.Elisha said to him, '' Tell her, ' You have gone to all this trouble for us.Now what can be done for you ? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army ? ' ''
She replied, '' I have a home among my own people.''
Now, Elisha, looking at her hospitality and concern for them, offered her if he could speak on her behalf to the king or the commander of the army so that she may get something in return for her hospitality.
The man of God here, certainly seems to be not aware of her situation, that she needed a son.
This woman, yet was so noble and chose to live in contentment among her people, but did not grab it as an oppurtunity to reap any benefits, which otherwise she would have, had she had a selfish motive behind offering hospitality to Elisha.
She perhaps would have got a high profile network with the king or the army commander, if she grabbed Elisha's offer.
People, this shows how selfless the woman was.
Even when the man of God was offering this, the Shunammite woman did not tell him that she desired a son.
This speaks volumes on the contentment the woman had.
She knew her husband is old, and she cannot conceive.
She has a man of God who is highly anointed and well able to perform a miracle in her life and open her womb, and she could have easily expressed to him what she desired.
People, this shows how selfless the woman was.
Even when the man of God was offering this, the Shunammite woman did not tell him that she desired a son.
This speaks volumes on the contentment the woman had.
She knew her husband is old, and she cannot conceive.
She has a man of God who is highly anointed and well able to perform a miracle in her life and open her womb, and she could have easily expressed to him what she desired.
Yet, she did not.
Even while she was planning to invite Elisha to stay at her home, all she thought was about what the man of God might require when he stays there, that is, a separate room for himself on a roof so that he wouldn't be disturbed, a bed for him to sleep, and not just that, a table and a chiar, and a lamp.
These things were sufficient for a comfortable short stay.
So the woman was thinking only about the comfort of the man of God, but doesn't seem to have any selifish motives outhere.
'' 2 Kings 4: 10 Let's make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table , a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us. ''
Her childlessness, or rather her desire for a son never influenced her 'giving' to the man of God.
These things were sufficient for a comfortable short stay.
So the woman was thinking only about the comfort of the man of God, but doesn't seem to have any selifish motives outhere.
'' 2 Kings 4: 10 Let's make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table , a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us. ''
Her childlessness, or rather her desire for a son never influenced her 'giving' to the man of God.
Whatever she did was out of her heart's nobility, her selflessness and her reverence for God and God's people.
As we notice here, the woman's motives are Spirit oriented, and not flesh.
Lets read further :
'' 2 Kings 4 : 14 '' What can be done for her? '' Elisha asked. Gehazi said, '' Well she has no son and her husband is old . '' ''
Our God is a God who knows the desires of our hearts.
Though the woman did not express her desire to Elisha, God did not let her go!
God did not keep his servant silent. When the woman turned down the royal offer, in her contentment, Elisha inturn asks Gehazi what he could do for her.
Then, through Gehazi Elisha learns that she doesn't have a son.
Dear people, understand something very carefully here:
When the woman was-
When the woman was-
selfless,
kept up her nobility,
revered God with all her heart,
kept her motives clean and pure though she didn't have a son,
discerning at heart and was hospitable towards God's servant very selflessly
- all these things basically mean, she was keeping up with the requirements of God .
And when the woman was keeping up with the requirements of God, God's supernatural power began to manifest...
The Spirit of God began to move on her behalf!
Spirit of God began to influence His servant to find out her desire.
Even when Elisha gave a royal offer, the woman yet, stood on her nobility, and spoke what is right.
And the Spirit of God moved Elisha until the desire of the woman was made known to him.
Let us read further:
2 Kings 4 : 15 -17 Then Elisha said, '' Call her. '' So he called her, and she stood in the doorway. '' About this time next year,'' Elisha said, '' you will hold a son in your arms.''
'' No, my Lord, '' she objected. '' Don't mislead your servant, O man of God ! '' But the woman became pregnant, and the next year about that same time she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha has told her. ''
The man of God called her back and released her heart's desire into her life !
Spirit of God began to influence His servant to find out her desire.
Even when Elisha gave a royal offer, the woman yet, stood on her nobility, and spoke what is right.
And the Spirit of God moved Elisha until the desire of the woman was made known to him.
Let us read further:
2 Kings 4 : 15 -17 Then Elisha said, '' Call her. '' So he called her, and she stood in the doorway. '' About this time next year,'' Elisha said, '' you will hold a son in your arms.''
'' No, my Lord, '' she objected. '' Don't mislead your servant, O man of God ! '' But the woman became pregnant, and the next year about that same time she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha has told her. ''
The man of God called her back and released her heart's desire into her life !
Dear people, just because the woman did not ask the man of God, did God forget her desire?
God has made His servant to call her back and has poured out the blessing into her lap, that she even objected it, because it surely was such a surprise for her...perhaps beyond her human capability to believe what was coming her way !
People, all the Shunammite woman did here was carefully keeping the requirements of God at every move she made and every word she spoke.
God has made His servant to call her back and has poured out the blessing into her lap, that she even objected it, because it surely was such a surprise for her...perhaps beyond her human capability to believe what was coming her way !
People, all the Shunammite woman did here was carefully keeping the requirements of God at every move she made and every word she spoke.
She kept herself blameless in the sight of God.
And therefore, God did the rest for her.
Dear people, we have a God who calls us His children, and who will pour out all the desires of our hearts even without we having to keep any efforts, provided we show reverence for Him and are careful in keeping His requirements.
Should you want your heart's desires be fulfilled dear ones, then, allow God.
All you need to do is only carefully observe the decrees of God and keep His requirements, and please Him with your selfless, good and noble hearts.
Then He Himself will send every blessing your way!
Let us learn from the Shunammite woman this hour and determine to uphold the requirements of our heavenly Father.. in every move we make, and every word we speak !
Dear people, we have a God who calls us His children, and who will pour out all the desires of our hearts even without we having to keep any efforts, provided we show reverence for Him and are careful in keeping His requirements.
Should you want your heart's desires be fulfilled dear ones, then, allow God.
All you need to do is only carefully observe the decrees of God and keep His requirements, and please Him with your selfless, good and noble hearts.
Then He Himself will send every blessing your way!
Let us learn from the Shunammite woman this hour and determine to uphold the requirements of our heavenly Father.. in every move we make, and every word we speak !
'' Psalm 37 : 4 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. ''
Lets Pray..
Father, grant us grace to be selfless like the Shunammite woman.
Help us not to run after the blessings, but after the one who gives them.Help us to delight ourselves in you.
Lord, cleanse our hearts from every selfish motive, and make them new as we pray, that we may revere you, all our days, having our being in you, and rejoicing in your presence, than in the things of the world.
Lord help us to overcome the flesh, and seek eagerly the Spirit's gifts, so that when you arrive in your Glory, we may be found blameless before you and that you may gladly take us to the Father's Home and crown us with life that is eternal.
In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
God Bless You.
God Bless You.
