September 15 - Shunammite's Son

September 15 - Shunammite's Son
2 Kings 4:8-37

The prophet Elisha traveled a lot and one day he was in a village named Shunem.  Now, because prophets traveled so much, they would probably carry news from all over.  One of the women in Shunem, who had a bit of money, invited him to come for a meal.  He visited the woman and her husband often and finally the woman decided that it would be a good idea to provide regular lodging for him.  She knew that he was a man of God and this was the right thing to do.  I can only imagine that Elisha looked forward to a regular place to stay that was all his own.  He didn’t have to look for a room in town, his room was always available.

One day, it occurred to him that he ought to ask this woman what it was he could do for her since she had done so much for him.  He had his servant ask if she needed any help with the king, but she replied that everything was fine, she lived in safety and was well off.

Elisha and his servant, Gehazi, continued to talk about what it was they could do for her.  “Well,” said Gehazi, “she has no son and her husband is old.” (2 Kings 4:14)

There would come a day when her husband died and then the woman would be a widow, with no male in her life to protect her interests.  Everything would be lost to her, all her wealth, her property … everything.  Unless she had a son.

Elisha promised her a son.  She didn’t believe him, but it happened.  What a glorious story.  It’s not over, though.  The boy grew up and one day he went out to the fields to see his father, but as soon as he got there, he grabbed his head and cried out in pain.  Servants took the boy to his mother, he sat in her lap and then died.  She took him to Elisha’s room, placed him on the bed and set out for Mount Carmel where Elisha was staying.  He saw her coming and sent servants to her.  She assured them everything was fine, but when she got to Elisha, she fell to the ground and grabbed his feet.

“I didn’t ask you for a son, but I got one.  I told you to not raise my hopes.”  Elisha sent Gehazi ahead with his staff and cloak, telling him to lay the staff on the boy’s face.  Nothing happened.  When Elisha got there, he went in to the room, shut the door on everyone else and began praying.  Elisha stretched himself out on top of the boy twice and warmth returned to the body, the child sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.

There is so much about this story that can be said, but one of the things I love is that not only did God bring hope to the Shunnamite woman by giving her a son, but his interaction with her didn’t end that day.  When it seemed that all would fall apart at the boy’s death, God was right there.  Hope was restored.  Sometimes we give up on each other too quickly. We do whatever it takes in a frenzy of helpfulness, but move on and figure that was enough.  With God, it is never enough.  He gives us life and then he is there over and over and over again when we face crises and feel as if all hope is gone.