The Shunammite Woman: The Woman Who Held Fast To A Positive Confession

Will we do the same? That light would shine on our ways?

We’re introduced to this faith-filled woman in 2 Kings 4:8 as “a notable woman” and tradition has called her “the Shunammite women” after the town of Shunem she resided in. At any rate, this woman has eyes to see and bears witness in her spirit “to recognize those who labor among you and esteem them very highly for love sake” long before the Apostle Paul penned these words in 12 Thessalonians 5:12. And accordingly she persuades her husband that she might prepare and provide an upper room for “the holy man of God.” Her husband agrees and “as often as he passes by” Elisha has a place to stay which affords his basic needs are met. It is in this manner she honors the prophet Elisha.

“And it happened one day” that Elisha wants to return the favor of all the care she has provided - A portrayal of the truth: “He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward” (Matthew 1-0:41) as a prophet’s reward is not limited to one manifestation. Therefore, Elisha asks her “what can I do for you?” She insists she’s fine, she hasn’t been looking for personal gain, she simply wants to honor the man of God, as it was in her hands to do so. But Elisha persists and asks his servant “what then is to be done for her?” It is here that Gehazi brings the matter to light that she has no son, and her husband is old. Elisha accordingly wastes no time and calls for her and declares, “About this time next year you shall embrace a son.” “Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant” is her immediate response; in other words, “don’t play with me” as she’s already faced hope deferred and has no desire to open that door again.

The prophet has spoken however, and she conceives and bears a son according to the appointed time. “And the child grew” is all we’re told of the child until it’s recorded on that fateful day, “now it happened one day that he went out to his father, to the reapers. And he said to his father, ‘my head, my head!’” And if you’re well versed with the story, you know the father commanded his servant, “Carry him home to his mother” and when the command was carried out, this child “sat on her knees till noon, and then died.”

Now here’s where the story gets intriguing. Here’s where this women exemplifies and extraordinary level of faith and courage in an extreme situation – the worst situation that can befall any parent. She doesn’t erupt into hysterics, she doesn’t bewail the fact that her son is dead, and she doesn’t adopt the posture I would imagine for one whose only child has just died. In fact, I find her heart posture extraordinary. Because what she does next is nothing less than a “full-on” expression of faith as she moves into action in an extraordinarily self-controlled manner. She takes her son to the upper room – the same place where the prophet spoke the boy’s life into existence. She places her boy on Elisha’s bed, closes the door, and calls for her husband to send one of the young men and a donkey so that she can “run to the man of God and come back.” When he husband asks “why?” she simply replies “it is well.”

This is an extraordinary confession of faith, both mind-boggling and heart-stirring. This mighty woman of God refuses to speak a single negative word. In the midst of the worst horror that could befall any parent, she simply declares “it is well.” And she repeats these words when Elijah sees her approaching and sends his servant Gehazi to inquire of her family’s well-being. She maintains her confession and refuses to give a negative report. Instead, she holds fast to a supernatural faith, and limits herself to the three words she’s already spoken, “it is well.”

This is an astounding level of self-control; the Shunammite woman will say no more until she has a face-to-face with the man of God who prophesied her son’s birth. Then and only then will she pour out her heart. She’s had ample time to choose her words and what she will say to Elisha, and she does indeed have choice words when she she falls at his feet: “Did I ask for a son of my lord?” she begins, “Did I not say, ‘do not deceive me?’” in a mix of desperation and perhaps also righteous anger, as she is resolved to have a resolution to the matter.

And although Elisha tries to pass of the task at hand to his servant Gehazi, this mighty woman of God will have none of it – “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” And so he arose and followed her. “I will not leave you” - another “I will” confession of her mouth, but this one of a different flavor. She is resolved to get what she needs from the man of God, very much like the resolve Elisha exercised in staying by Elijah’s side when he was intent on receiving the (conditional) double-portion he’d asked for. In like manner, the Shunammite woman is determined to get what she desires – a better resolution for her son than her current reality. She simply will not abide her current reality, her faith will not allow for it. She has experienced the hand of God upon her life, her very womb, and she fully expects the hand of God to enter into her situation. She is a woman of faith whose example is a mighty one, particularly in the way she chooses the words she will speak.

Accordingly, she leads the way to where her child lies, in the very upper room in which he was conceived through the words of the prophet. Gehazi has gone ahead, but he is unsuccessful in his attempt to revive the child even though he took the very staff Elisha handed to him and placed it upon the child. It is not his assignment to revive this, it is Elisha’s. So Elisha goes into his secret place and closes the door behind Him, and oh what things God will accomplish in the secret place! Elisha stretches himself upon the child, imparting to him the resurrection life he carries (and this life Elisha carries - even in his bones after he dies - will later resurrect a man thrown into the grave in which he was buried (2 Kings 13:2-21). Accordingly therefore, the child’s body begins to warm, receptive to the resurrection life Elisha carries. Elisha must persevere however, just as his mentor Elijah had to do when he prayed for rain seven times; and when he stretches himself upon the child a second time, the child revives fully with a seven-fold sneeze. (Seven – the number of completion!)

And when our mighty woman of God is summoned she beholds her son, alive. It is the fruition of her words insistently and perhaps also stubbornly spoken, as faith must sometimes speak. “It is well” is now fully manifested, and for this she falls at the feet of the prophet. She believed, and now she has received. Glory to God! He sees the desires of our hearts! And what this Shunammite woman models for us is the power of our confession; the power of our faith held aloft for God to behold. For by our words we are either justified or condemned (Matthew 12:37) and the choice is always ours to speak. What will be your confession today? Will you choose the words that speak and impart life? And will you choose the words that cause light to shine on your ways? - The very light our Creator created on day one of creation when He proclaimed “Light, be!” The is one of the lessons learned from the Shunammite women. For those who have ears to hear.

Meditative Scripture:

“You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; so light will shine on your ways.” Job 22:28