From 2 Kings 4-6
Elijah has been taken up into heaven and Elisha his young protege has taken over as Israel’s prophet. He has already proven himself to be his prophet through some initial miracles and happenings. In today’s passage the LORD provides for him unexpectedly through a foreigner.
This post is part of my bible in a year series.
Passage and Comments
8 One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food. (2 Ki 4:8)
Shunem is a village of Issachar’s tribe (Jos 19:18) strategically located in the Jezreel Valley. Shunem (modern Sulem) is about three-and-a-half miles north of Jezreel, situated on the outer hills of Mt Moreh. (Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (p. 1959). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.)
What is notable about this place is that a wealthy woman recognised Elisha and wanted to provide for him. To make sure he was well fed.
God’s servants need to be provided for.
Elisha liked the idea of a free feed. So whenever he passed he went there. Perhaps he passed by there more often as a result.
She has an old husband (2 Ki 4.14). Perhaps she has to look after him. The husband did not initiate helping Elisha. The woman did. The husband didn’t stop her either.
9 And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. 10 Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there.” (2 Ki 4:9-10)
She wants to do more than simply feed Elisha. She wants to provide him with shelter. A place where he can rest, study and pray. She is under no compulsion to do this. This is spontaneous giving.
11 One day he came there, and he turned into the chamber and rested there. 12 And he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite.” When he had called her, she stood before him. 13 And he said to him, “Say now to her, ‘See, you have taken all this trouble for us; what is to be done for you? Would you have a word spoken on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’ ” She answered, “I dwell among my own people.” (2 Ki 4:11-13)
Elisha makes use of the chamber she has provided for him. Elisha calls for her, not her husband. When she comes, strangely he doesn’t speak to her directly. Rather he speaks through his servant. I suspect she doesn’t have to wait for Gehazi to repeat his request.
I assume that in the event of hostilities between Israel and her people she could be killed. Elisha is offering her protection like Rahab enjoyed at Jericho. This probably meant she would have to relocate under the protection of Israel’s army and leave her own people. She declines his offer because she wants to stay with her own people.
She doesn’t seem to want anything in return for her service.
She must have left his presence then, because they will have to call out to her again. Elisha and Gehazi consult with one another about how to show gratitude.
14 And he said, “What then is to be done for her?” Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.” 15 He said, “Call her.” And when he had called her, she stood in the doorway. 16 And he said, “At this season, about this time next year, you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord, O man of God; do not lie to your servant.” (2 Ki 4.14-16)
They realise she does not have a son. No one to continue her line. Perhaps because her husband is too old.
We know God can enable old people to have children (Gen 18.10).
They call her back in, but when they tell her she doesn’t believe. She thinks they are lying to her. Pulling her leg. She wants to have a son. But she does not believe she and her husband can bear children anymore.
17 But the woman conceived, and she bore a son about that time the following spring, as Elisha had said to her. (2 Ki 4.17)
The LORD grants her desire at the word of his prophet.
Story of Israel
The LORD is creator and all things have been made by him. As creator he has power over his own creator. He can bend and shape it to his will. He can perform miracles. The people of Israel were exposed to the LORD’s power. The Psalmist says;
14 You are the God who works wonders;
you have made known your might among the peoples. (Ps 77:14)
He manifested his power providing food and water (Ex 17.7), healing (Nu 21.6-9), raising the dead (1 Ki 17.17-24), enabling people to give birth (Gen 18.10-14), saving people from death (Da 6.27) and parting water (Ex 14.15-16; 2 Ki 2.7-8). His greatest miracles seem to be associated with salvation. But even so, many in Israel struggled to believe in the LORD. To trust he can perform miracles when they could not.
The woman’s struggle to believe she would have a son echoes Israels. Israel’s struggle echoes my own.
At times we all struggle to believe in miracles.
Story of Jesus
The passage points us to the story in the gospel where Jesus heals a boy afflicted with a demon.
14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him.
16 And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.”
19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” 20 And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth.
21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” (Mk 9:14–22)
The man pushes responsibility onto Jesus. He says ‘if you can’, implying he doubts whether Jesus can actually help the boy. Jesus doesn’t accept what the man insinuated.
23 And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”
25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” (Mk 9:23–29)
The gospel teaches us that Jesus has compassion and he can do anything. He healed the boy and cast the demon out.
But he pushes responsibility back onto us and our faith.
We need to ask for more faith in prayer. To believe and hope, that Jesus will have compassion on us and that he can do anything. Yes, even in us. Especially in us.
Copyright © Joshua Washington and thescripturesays, 2015. All Rights Reserved.
