Hey friends! Today, we’re exploring a beautiful story from the Old Testament that showcases God’s amazing power and the faith of a remarkable woman.
We’re talking about the Shunammite woman and her son, a story found in 2 Kings 4.
Here’s the backdrop: There’s a prophet named Elisha, who’s traveling around doing God’s work. On his journeys, he often passes through a place called Shunem.
In Shunem, there lives a well-to-do woman who, along with her husband, shows great hospitality to Elisha. She invites him to eat at their home whenever he’s in town.
Eventually, she even convinces her husband to build a small room for Elisha on their roof, complete with a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so he has a place to stay whenever he visits.
Elisha is deeply touched by their kindness and wants to do something special for her in return. He finds out that she has no children and her husband is quite old.
So, Elisha calls her and tells her that by this time next year, she will hold a son in her arms.
The Shunammite woman is surprised and initially hesitant to believe, but just as Elisha said, she gives birth to a son the following year.
Years pass, and one day, the boy goes out to his father, who’s working in the fields. Suddenly, he cries out, “My head! My head!” His father tells a servant to carry the boy back to his mother.
Sadly, the boy sits on his mother’s lap until noon, and then he dies. The Shunammite woman is heartbroken but determined. She lays her son on Elisha’s bed, shuts the door, and heads straight to find Elisha.
When she reaches Elisha at Mount Carmel, she falls at his feet, overwhelmed with grief. Elisha sends his servant Gehazi ahead with his staff to lay on the boy’s face, but the woman insists that Elisha himself must come.
Elisha follows her back to Shunem.
When he arrives, he goes into the room, shuts the door, and prays to the Lord. Then he stretches himself out on the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands.
The boy’s body begins to warm, but he’s not yet alive. Elisha gets up, walks around, and then repeats the process.
This time, the boy sneezes seven times and opens his eyes. Elisha calls Gehazi and tells him to call the boy’s mother.
When she comes in, Elisha says, “Take your son.” She falls at Elisha’s feet, overwhelmed with gratitude, and then takes her son in her arms, alive and well.
This story is a powerful reminder of a few things.
- First, it highlights the importance of hospitality and kindness, as the Shunammite woman’s generosity set the stage for a miraculous blessing.
- Second, it showcases the unwavering faith of the Shunammite woman, who believed that God could bring her son back to life.
- Lastly, it demonstrates the power of prayer and God’s ability to work miracles through His faithful servants.
So, whenever you find yourself facing an impossible situation, remember the Shunammite woman’s story.
Keep your faith strong, trust in God’s power, and know that He can bring life and hope to even the most hopeless circumstances.
Happy studying, and may God’s blessings be with you!
Continue reading about the other resurrection stories in the Bible:
