The Shunammite Woman (Part 3) 2 Kings 8:1-6

2 Kings 8:1-3 “Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, ‘Arise, and depart with your household, and sojourn wherever you can, for the Lord has called for a famine, and it will come upon the land for seven years.’ So the woman arose and did according to the word of the man of God. She went with her household and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years. And at the end of the seven years, when the woman returned from the land of the Philistines, she went to appeal to the king for her house and her land…” 2 Kings 8:1-3 – “Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, ‘Arise, and depart with your household, and sojourn wherever you can, for the Lord has called for a famine, and it will come upon the land for seven years.’ So the woman arose and did according to the word of the man of God. She went with her household and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years. And at the end of the seven years, when the woman returned from the land of the Philistines, she went to appeal to the king for her house and her land ”

2 Kings 8:4-6 “…Now the king was talking with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, ‘Tell me all the great things that Elisha has done.’ And while he was telling the king how Elisha had restored the dead to life, behold, the woman whose son he had restored to life appealed to the king for her house and her land. And Gehazi said, ‘My lord, O king, here is the woman, and here is her son whom Elisha restored to life.’ And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed an official for her, saying, ‘Restore all that was hers, together with all the produce of the fields from the day that she left the land until now.” 2 Kings 8:4-6 – “Now the king was talking with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, ‘Tell me all the great things that Elisha has done.’ And while he was telling the king how Elisha had restored the dead to life, behold, the woman whose son he had restored to life appealed to the king for her house and her land. And Gehazi said, ‘My lord, O king, here is the woman, and here is her son whom Elisha restored to life.’ And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed an official for her, saying, ‘Restore all that was hers, together with all the produce of the fields from the day that she left the land until now.”

In this final lesson on ‘The Shunammite Woman’ we will again look at some of the unique characteristics that this woman possessed and let them teach us.

She Received God’s Care From our first introduction to this woman there seems to be one constant… She wanted to do what was right. For this, she was cared for by God. Not all Shunammites were told about the coming famine! We too are guaranteed to receive God’s care when we do what is right: Matthew 6:25-33 – “seek first the kingdom…” Romans 8:6 – “to set the mind on the Spirit is…” Matthew 6:25-33 – READ Romans 8:6 – “To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”

She Valued the Word of God “So the woman arose and did according to the word of the man of God...” (vs. 2) It meant she left her ‘comfort zone’. She had already witnessed the power of God in the birth and then raising of her son! She knew that when the man of God spoke, God himself spoke. God’s word is unique in every way: Hebrews 4:12 – “living and active” Hebrews 11:3 – it created “the universe” Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 11:3 – “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”

She Understood that Faith Required Obedience It was more than just believing what Elisha had told her concerning the famine. To this woman, obedience meant prompt, swift action even in the face of doubt. Her faith responded with obedience! Staying in Shunem was not an option. Faith without action is dead: James 2:14-26 – “faith by itself…is dead” Hebrews 11:8 – “By faith Abraham obeyed…” James 2:14-26 – READ Hebrews 11:8 – “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.”

In Conclusion Let us review the lessons we have learned from the Shunammite Woman: She was hospitable She was respectful to her husband She had pure motives She wanted righteous people in her home She loved her child She learned that death is no respecter of age When tragedy struck, she sought Godly assistance

Do you understand that faith requires obedience? In Conclusion She trusted in God’s power She was bold She received God’s care She valued the word of God She understood that faith required obedience Do you understand that faith requires obedience?