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2 Kings 4:8-37, 8:1-6

INTRODUCTION: Our message series is called Famous Mothers in the Bible and we are working our way forward through the Bible and looking at various famous mothers along the way. Last week we looked at the widow of Zarephath, and this week we come to another unnamed woman – the Shunammite woman. As we mentioned last week, these two women form a pair as there are a number of interesting parallels and contrasts between the two. The widow of Zarephath was an example of hospitality for us, whereas today’s mother, the Shunammite woman, is an example of determined faith. (Pray for the message.)

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Do you consider yourself a determined person? Are you steadfast in your faith or do you find you give up too easily? Godly determination and resolve are positive qualities that God calls us to emulate in our lives.

God himself is steadfast and determined. The Bible proclaims repeatedly: “His steadfast love endures forever.” In fact, Psalm 136 repeats it twenty-six times in twenty-six verses! Jesus was determined. The gospel of Luke tells us: “As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51) I like the way the Amplified Bible translates it: “He steadfastly and determinedly set his face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51, Amplified Bible). The Holy Spirit is also steadfast and determined. Jesus said about the Holy Spirit: “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever” (John 14:16). The Holy Spirit is steadfast in his love for you and determined to be with you forever.

And so now we come to the Shunammite woman in our passage today who was a determined mother, and she serves as an example for us to be steadfast, determined, persistent, persevering, unwavering, unswerving, completely committed and dedicated in our faith. Godly determination is a good thing, so we should determine to be determined! Let’s take a look at the Shunammite woman together now and see what we can learn from her story and example.

I. Determined to help others for God (4:8-17)

When we first meet the Shunammite woman, we immediately see that she is a woman who is determined to help others for God.

   A. She helped Elisha out of reverence for God (8-10)

We know this because she not only helped Elisha, but she specifically helped Elisha out of reverence for God. Look at verses 8-10 with me now:

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. 9 She said to her husband, “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. 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.” (2 Kings 4:8-10)

So, Elisha strikes up a relationship with this woman and her family. First she urges him to stay for a meal. This becomes a recurring act of hospitality, and eventually the woman convinces her husband that they should put together a room for Elisha where he can stay when he comes. This is where we discover her motivation for helping Elisha. She does this because he is a holy man of God, and so she is helping him out of reverence for God.

   B. She didn’t ask for anything in return (11-13)

Another way we know that this woman was determined to help others for God is because she didn’t ask for anything in return. That’s why we know that her motives were pure. She was doing it for God. We see this in verses 11-13:

One day when Elisha came, he went up to his room and lay down there. 12 He said to his servant Gehazi, “Call the Shunammite.” So he called her, and she stood before him. 13 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.” (2 Kings 4:11-13)

Elisha is grateful for her hospitality and asks her what he can do for her. Perhaps he can put in a good word for her with the ruling authorities. She replies, “I have a home among my own people.” In other words, she is happy and content with what she has. She is happy to help others for God, and so she doesn’t want or need anything in return.

   C. God chose to bless her anyways (14-17)

But God chooses to bless her anyways. Look at verses 14-17:

“What can be done for her?” Elisha asked. Gehazi said, “Well, she has no son and her husband is old.” 15 Then Elisha said, “Call her.” So he called her, and she stood in the doorway. 16 “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!” 17 But the woman became pregnant, and the next year about that same time she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her. (2 Kings 4:14-17)

Elisha still wants to help her in some way. When he learns that she doesn’t have a son and that her husband is old, he calls the woman and tells her by this time next year she will hold a son in her arms. The woman tells him, “No, please don’t get my hopes up,” but she becomes pregnant and about that same time the next year God blesses her with the birth of a son.

II. Determined to obtain help from God (4:18-30)

The Shunammite woman was not only determined to help others for God, but she was also determined to obtain help from God. This is another important example for us to look at and follow. She was determined to obtain help from God.

   A. She didn’t stop trusting God when her son died (18-21)

One of the ways we know this is because she didn’t stop trusting God when her son died. Look at verses 18-21 with me next:

The child grew, and one day he went out to his father, who was with the reapers. 19 “My head! My head!” he said to his father. His father told a servant, “Carry him to his mother.” 20 After the servant had lifted him up and carried him to his mother, the boy sat on her lap until noon, and then he died. 21 She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, then shut the door and went out. (2 Kings 4:18-21)

So, this is similar to what we saw last week with the widow of Zarephath – the Shunammite woman’s son grows ill and dies. But rather than blame God or turn away from God, she is determined to obtain help from God. Notice where she puts her son after he dies. She goes up to Elisha’s room, and she lays her son in Elisha’s bed, exactly like Elijah did with the widow of Zarephath’s son. Perhaps she had heard of what Elijah did for this other mother. Either way, this is a sign of trust in God that he can help her in her time of need.

Too often people stop trusting God when things go wrong. We turn away from God at the precise time when we need him the most! The Shunammite women didn’t make that mistake. The worst thing imaginable has happened to her. Her son has died. But she didn’t stop trusting God.

   B. She was determined to get to Elisha (22-26)

In fact, instead of running away from God in her time of need she goes running right after him. Look at verses 22-26:

She called her husband and said, “Please send me one of the servants and a donkey so I can go to the man of God quickly and return.” 23 “Why go to him today?” he asked. “It’s not the New Moon or the Sabbath.” “It’s all right,” she said. 24 She saddled the donkey and said to her servant, “Lead on; don’t slow down for me unless I tell you.” 25 So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel. When he saw her in the distance, the man of God said to his servant Gehazi, “Look! There’s the Shunammite! 26 Run to meet her and ask her, ‘Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is your child all right?’ ” “Everything is all right,” she said. (2 Kings 4:22-26)

After laying her son in Elisha’s bed as an act of faith, she is determined to get to Elisha as quickly as possible. She calls her husband and asks for a servant and a donkey so she can get to Elisha right away. He questions her and tries to put her off, but she will not be deterred. Notice she doesn’t even tell her husband that their son has died. She doesn’t want anything to get in the way of her getting to God.

She saddles the donkey and tells the servant, “Lead on; don’t slow down for me unless I tell you.” Everything here speaks of urgency and haste. Even Elisha when he sees her in the distance tells his servant Gehazi to run and meet her and find out what’s going on. Gehazi asks her: “Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is your child all right?” But she doesn’t want Gehazi. Gehazi is just the servant. She wants Elisha. She is on a mission. She is in full Mama Bear mode, and nothing is going to stop her now.
Why is she so determined to get to Elisha? Because Elisha is God’s prophet, and she knows that she needs God. She is determined to get to God, and right now Elisha is the ticket. Jesus hasn’t come yet, so right now God’s appointed prophet is the mediator. Elisha is the go-between. And so, no one else will do.

   C. She refused to leave Elisha once she got there (27-30)

She is determined to get to Elisha, and then she refuses to leave Elisha once she gets there. Look at verses 27-30:

When she reached the man of God at the mountain, she took hold of his feet. Gehazi came over to push her away, but the man of God said, “Leave her alone! She is in bitter distress, but the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me why.” 28 “Did I ask you for a son, my lord?” she said. “Didn’t I tell you, ‘Don’t raise my hopes’?” 29 Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand and run. If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not answer. Lay my staff on the boy’s face.” 30 But the child’s mother said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So he got up and followed her. (2 Kings 4:27-30)

“As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” These are the exact same words that Elisha spoke to the prophet Elijah when Elijah tried to get Elisha to leave him before being taken up to heaven. Three times Elisha spoke those words to Elijah (2 Kings 2:2, 4, 6), and now she speaks those words to him. Elisha refused to leave Elijah’s side, and now the woman refuses to leave Elisha’s side.

I wouldn’t want to be in Elisha’s sandals at this moment. This mother is not happy. She didn’t ask for a son, and she lets Elisha know it. She has lost her son, and she is not going to take no for an answer. Elisha tells Gehazi to run to the boy’s side as fast as he can. This is in sharp contrast to Jesus’ leisurely approach in the New Testament when he learned of Lazarus’ death and waited a full four days before going. But that’s Jesus. He could afford to wait. Elisha is a mighty prophet, but he is not Jesus. Gehazi races to the boy, while Elisha and the boy’s mother follow behind.

III. Determined to give God the glory (4:31-37)

The Shunammite woman was determined to help others for God. She was determined to obtain help from God. And then thirdly, she was also determined to give God the glory.

   A. She waited patiently for God to act (31-35)

First, she waited patiently for God to act. Look at verses 31-35 now:

Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or response. So Gehazi went back to meet Elisha and told him, “The boy has not awakened.” 32 When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch. 33 He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed to the Lord. 34 Then he got on the bed and lay upon the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he stretched himself out upon him, the boy’s body grew warm. 35 Elisha turned away and walked back and forth in the room and then got on the bed and stretched out upon him once more. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes. (2 Kings 4:31-35)

Notice there was no immediate answer to this woman’s prayer. First Gehazi tried but came back and reported that the boy was still dead. Then she waited some more while Elisha went in and shut the door on her and Gehazi. Elisha prayed, and then he stretched himself out on the boy, similar to what Elijah did with the widow’s son. The boy’s body grew warm, but he still did not awaken. Elisha gets up, he walks back and forth in the room, and then finally he goes back to the bed and stretches himself out on the boy a second time. This time the boy sneezes seven times, and he awakens.

That’s a whole lot of waiting. God often works in mysterious ways behind closed doors where we cannot see what he is doing, but he is working nonetheless. As is so often the case with us, God was working while the woman was waiting.

   B. She gave God the glory for returning her son (36-37)

And then she gave God the glory for returning her son. Look at verses 36-37:

Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunammite.” And he did. When she came, he said, “Take your son.” 37 She came in, fell at his feet and bowed to the ground. Then she took her son and went out. (2 Kings 4:36-37)

This is only the second time in Scripture we find someone raised from the dead. This mother’s heart must have been full of joy, and I’m sure all she wanted to do was hug and hold her son, but she was determined to give God the glory first. And so, she falls at Elisha’s feet and bows low to the ground out of reverence for God. Then she takes her son.

You might say, well of course she gave glory to God. God just did an amazing miracle for her. But it doesn’t always happen that way. Remember the ten lepers Jesus healed in the New Testament? Ten were healed that day, but only one returned to thank the Lord (Luke 17:17-19). Too often when God answers our prayers and we have received what we asked for, we forget to give God the praise and the glory. The Shunammite woman did not make that mistake. She was determined to give God the glory.

IV. Determined to trust and obey (8:1-6)

The story of the Shunammite woman and her son ends there, so you might think that’s where the Shunammite woman’s story ends as well. But if you jump forward to chapter eight, we get one more glimpse at this remarkable woman’s life. And once again we see her determination and resolve in action. This time we see her determined to trust and obey.

   A. She left her home and land at God’s command (1-2)

First, she leaves her home and her land at God’s command. Look at verses 1-2:

Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Go away with your family and stay for a while wherever you can, because the Lord has decreed a famine in the land that will last seven years.” 2 The woman proceeded to do as the man of God said. She and her family went away and stayed in the land of the Philistines seven years. (2 Kings 8:1-2)

And so, God through Elisha gives her a heads up. There’s a famine coming, so he tells her to take her family and to leave her home for seven years. Can you imagine if God told you to just up and leave your house and property and move to Nebraska, for seven years? There’s no one you know where you are going; there’s no time to sell your property, no one to look after it. You just get up and go and leave your home to time and chance and the inevitable squatters.

That’s what this woman did. It’s similar to when God first called Abraham. The Shunammite woman leaves her home and her land in obedience to God’s command. She believed God’s word through Elisha, and so she obeyed God’s command and went.

   B. God in his providence made sure that she received it all back and more (3-6)

But then God in his providence made sure that she received it all back and more. Look at verses 3-6 now, the final segment in our story:

At the end of the seven years she came back from the land of the Philistines and went to the king to beg for her house and land. 4 The king was talking to Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, and had said, “Tell me about all the great things Elisha has done.” 5 Just as Gehazi was telling the king how Elisha had restored the dead to life, the woman whose son Elisha had brought back to life came to beg the king for her house and land. Gehazi said, “This is the woman, my lord the king, and this is her son whom Elisha restored to life.” 6 The king asked the woman about it, and she told him. Then he assigned an official to her case and said to him, “Give back everything that belonged to her, including all the income from her land from the day she left the country until now.” (2 Kings 8:3-6)

I love this woman. She is a fighter! She is not going to let any setbacks get her down. She is determined to fight for her family. She says, “I’ll go to the king if I have to. I’ll go to the king and beg for my house and my land. And God in his providence makes sure that she receives it all back and more.

When she arrives, the king just happens to be talking with Elisha’s servant Gehazi. And the king just happens to ask Gehazi, “Tell me about all the great things Elisha did.” Now there are so many stories about Elisha that Gehazi could have shared, but he just happens to be telling the story about the Shunammite woman and her son when she arrives to ask the king for her house and her land back.

I’m sure Gehazi was startled. He tells the king, “This is her! This is the woman I was just telling you about! And this is the boy! This is her son whom Elisha raised from the dead!” The king asks her about it, she tells him her story, and he assigns a specific official to her case telling him not only to make sure that she gets her home and land back, but that she gets all the income from her land for the past seven years as well. When was the last time someone assigned a specific agent to your case to make sure that everything was taken care of for you?

Now, did all of these things just happen? Of course not! God was watching out for her. This is similar to the story of Esther in the Bible where God is not directly mentioned and yet it is so obvious that he is the one directing all these events behind the scenes. The Shunammite woman was determined. She was determined to trust God and obey, even when it cost her both her home and her land, and God in his providence made sure that she received everything back and more.

It’s like what Jesus promised us in the New Testament. He said that no one who leaves behind family and home and land will fail to receive that and more back in this life and the next (Mark 10:29-30; Luke 18:29-30).

CONCLUSION: As we said earlier, God is determined in his steadfast love for you. God is also determined to save you. God the Father determined to send his only Son into the world. Jesus was determined to go to Jerusalem to die on the cross for your sins. The Holy Spirit is determined to make you more like Jesus and to fit you for heaven. God is determined to love you, to save you and to bring you safely home to be with him forever through Jesus his Son.

God is steadfast and determined, and he calls you to be steadfast and determined as well: steadfast in prayer (Matthew 7:7-8), steadfast in resisting temptation (Matthew 26:41), steadfast in seeking and serving Jesus (Philippians 4:13-14). As Christians we have more reason to be determined than others. Of all people, we should be marked by determination and resolve rather than quitting at the first sign of trouble and throwing in the towel. We give up way too easily. We give up too easily in prayer. We give up too easily when it comes to resisting temptations. We give up too easily when it comes to persevering and growing in our faith.

A little determination goes a long way. So, determine to be determined! Because God is our God. He is sovereign. Through Jesus he has promised to watch over you, to take care of you and answer your prayers. Therefore, we can be people of faith, trusting God and persevering through the various trials that come our way.

© Ray Fowler

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