A gedolah, a great woman. Dont slow down unless I tell you to., As she approached the man of God at Mount Carmel, Elisha saw her in the distance. The last lesson from the Shunammite woman is to be prepared to leave everything behind. ); (Delivered Sunday, May 6, 2007 at Bethany Bible Church. Wisely, she recognized both his great acts and his needs, and said to her husband: I am sure it is a holy man of God who comes here regularly. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, She made each holiday in the year like Norman Rockwell memory. In fact, the first description we read of the Shunamite woman (so-called because she is from the town of Shunem) is that she is an ishah gedolah a great woman. What an interesting character we have. So he called her. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Answer (1 of 4): The shunammite woman. She was brave, persistent, caring, and full of faith-and maybe a little bit loud or insolent or gasp! Her response to Elisha showed how amazing the idea of becoming a mother was to her: No, my lord! she cried. It was fun correcting him The child had died in her arms. Shun-am-mite. Land Based Fishing Berowra Waters, Ben Begley Wikipedia , Cliff Floyd Wife , Madonna Sorry Dancers , Oklahoma Firefighter Pension Calculator , Performance Management Of Pilots At Southwest Airlines , Nyc Doe 30 And Above Credits Clep , Batman: Arkham Knight Riddler Trophies Stagg Airship , Why Are . The mother carried her son downstairs after he came back to life, so we can guess he was a child, not an adult. II Kings chapter 4, where we find her story, is also the haftarah portion which corresponds to parshat Vayera which tells of the miraculous birth of Abraham and Sarahs son Isaac as well as the binding of Isaac. Verse 26. There are times in life when our grief is so great and our sorrow so deep, that we must only unburden our soul before our Maker. The lessons from Part 1: See the need and take action. She also goes straight the King in a later chapter to regain all her land and possessions after she had left for a time after Elishas warning of a famine. 2 Kings 4:8 One day Elisha went to Shunem, and a prominent woman who lived there persuaded him to have a meal. We know perfectly well COVID came from, we've known this for years. Gehazi pointed out that the woman had no children and her husband was old. is it well with the child? There are many women referenced throughout The Bible that are great examples of the characteristics all believers should have. Is all well with the child? And she answered, All is well.. I dont know the process involved in having someones land transferred from the king to an individual, but I want to ask, what are the odds? And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. Referencing her, Jesus said, Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it (Luke 17:32-37 NIV). And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight, I love her characters. forms: { If you read on down, about 2 Kings 4:23, the Bible says, while the Shunammite woman's son lay dead, she goes on her way, saying, "it will be well.". All was not well. Leaving her dead child laid out on Elishas bed in her home, she mounted a donkey, headed to find Elisha, and demanded that he personally attend the child. The Shunammite woman asked for a donkey that she might run to the man of God. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are taken from The Holy . We have the same opportunity to trust God as the Shunammite woman did. But Gehazi was unable to raise the child from the dead. Verses 25-28 tell us what happened when she met Elisha. Someone (I forget who) once said there are no coincidences in the Bible. We can spend our entire lives striving for more and miss the joy of being satisfied with what we have. It was Elishas idea for her to become a mother, not hers. In the midst of our despair and out of the deep places of sorrow, may we too fall at the feet of the one who turns our mourning into dancing and lovingly clothes us with gladness. Even so, it is well with my soul. After doing that for a while, she suggested to her husband that they build a room for Elisha to stay in whenever he came by. Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, It is well, it is well were the only words she said as she ran to the prophet Elisha. She took her family and settled in the land of the Philistines for seven years. Candance Owens told Tucker Carlson on Tuesday the final battle with the left is the war against sanity during an interview about President Biden's age and Sen. John Fetterman's mental issues. In Hebrew, it is one word, shalom, which means peace, health, welfare, security, safety, wholeness, and completion. It is well, it is well said the Shunamite woman 2 Kings4:8-37, : It is well, it is well said the Shunamite woman 2 Kings4:8-37. Elisha had told the woman whose son he had brought back to life, Take your family and move to some other place, for the Lord has called for a famine on Israel that will last for seven years.. Elisha is passing through Shunem, when he brought into the house of a couple there. Her only son just died in her arms, yet she spoke not a word about it. So Elisha went to the woman and prophesied that in a years time she would have a son. Tabor and given to the descendants of Issachar, who was Jacobs son through Bilhah, Rachelsservant. We dont even know her name. His very name means valley of sight, and there would be other times when he would be hindered by a lack of faith. She was hospitable yet called everything out as it was. Now, this may not seem like a reward but lets look a little deeper. But, Lord, tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait, The truth wasnt that she didnt want anything; it was that what she wanted was so big she didnt know how to share it. And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. on: function(evt, cb) { Sometimes God gives us a promise and it seems like the promise is 'dead'. Her Spiritual Perception: "And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. How she knew where to find Elisha is anyones guess. And she answered, It is well: God's gifts always accompany his presence. She didnt cry, scream or wail, she didnt even mention the sons death to her husband. I love the marvelous stories from Elijah and Elisha. This is way bigger then most realize. Elisha feels that there must be something the matter, to account for the Shunammite's coming to him so unexpectedly. And when he had called her, she stood in the door. He gives you the power to speak things that are not seen into being. i. She didnt laugh like Sarah did, but instead she said, Dont lie to me!. Dive into this 40 day journey with God during Lent, at the start of a new year or anytime you feel like connecting with your Maker in a deeper way. All was quite obviously not well however, so what is going on here? However, years later, the child mysteriously dies. )"; meaning unknown; of *Shunem), an unmarried girl who was chosen to serve as skhenet to King David. The Bible very clearly tells us that we need to walk by faith, and not by sight (2 Cor. The story unfolds among four principal characters: Elisha, God's prophet; Gehazi, his assistant; the Shunammite woman, a wealthy and pious woman; and her young son, miraculously born. The Shunamite woman follows him. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked. In spite of the fact that her emotions soared, clearly her faith grew. One day the circuit-riding preacher, Elisha, and his traveling companion, Jake, came into the sleepy little town of Shunem. "It is Well" Characteristics of a Christian. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. She is hospitable, giving, kind, very persuasive, goes out of her way for others and has faith. And the mother of the child said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. Elisha said to him, Tell her, You have gone to all this trouble for us. callback: cb My Jewish Learning is a not-for-profit and relies on your help. Since that time I've worked as a teacher, musician, cleaning lady, tax professional, and artist, but never as a writer. It is one of my favorite stories, and how she reappears in chapter 8. The story of the Shunammite Woman is based on the Old Testament scriptures 2 Kings 4:8-37 and 2 Kings 8:1-6. Isaac's wife and Jacob's mother, the second matriarch survived a difficult pregnancy and engineered the future of the Jewish people. (2 Kings 8:1-2 NIV). In 2 Kings 4:8 she is called gdl (probably "great" or "distinguished"), a term usually describing esteemed people (e.g., 2 Kings 5:1; 10:11). When Elisha sees the dead child lying on his bed, he shuts the door behind him and the boy and he prays to the Lord. Isnt it interesting that just as the Shunammite woman goes into see the king, Gehazi had just finished telling him about some of the miracles Elisha had done, specifically the time Elisha had raised a womans son from the dead. In fact, she made him a room upstairs in her house how couldanyone say no to that? One day she asked her husband if they could build a little room for him to stay in when he comes to town. And when she came to him, he said, "Pick up your son." 37 She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground. As we can see, this woman's action displays faith. Want to get to know more amazing, complicated, and relatable biblical personalities? She was a woman whowould nottake no for an answer. Because she had a special relationship with the prophet Elisha, her child was miraculously conceived and miraculously resurrected. The woman of Shunem [4] is not named, but her status is indicated. Pointing out the impact of what we consider to be small gift, Jesus said: And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded.. . I was silent, but in my mind were millions of reasons I read, Instructions on how to watch the series ( from the producer) You dont understand everything yet, you wont know its in the bible, dont say I dont recognize this from the bible or ask where did they get that from? In it they would put a bed, a table, a stool, and a lamp, and so it would have everything he needs. Who is the Shunammite Woman in the Bible? is it well with thy husband? And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told me. For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live: As teachers, we imitate the modes and methods of our glorified Master, and learn at His feet the art of winning souls. What we do know of her has consistently inspires me though and perhaps the fact that we dont know her name suggests we can all find something of our story in hers. Some say he had a sun stroke, but whatever it was, he came in saying my head hurts!my head hurts. Please, man of God, dont mislead your servant!. The Shunammite woman lays her dead child on Elisha's bed and hurries to find the prophet. So he called her. Second Kings 8 begins with these words. (LogOut/ She carried him up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, then shut the door and left him there. The second lesson from the Shunammite woman is to be satisfied with what you have. The lesson of your non-success is notcease the work, butchange the method. Required fields are marked *. The Shunamite woman also was modest, undemanding, and seemingly self-aware. About this time next year, Elisha said, you will hold a son in your arms., No, my lord! she objected. This latter reason is supported by her further action of shutting . She sent a message to her husband: Send one of the servants and a donkey so that I can hurry to the man of God and come right back., Why go today? he asked. I could see her saying the exact words the Shunamitesaid Dont lie to me. " continue reading on The Shunammite woman by O.Peng Related articles. So whenever he would pass by, he would stop there to eat. (LogOut/ When tragedy struck, she maintained her faith and focus. She held on to God (through His servant) and what Satan had tried to steal was given back. and your husband? The way one knows such a mystical revelation is by being taught how to run the vision to make it plain upon tables that he may run that readeth it (Hab 2:1-3). The last time we left the Shunammite woman, she was on her journey to find Elisha to tell him that her promised son had died. Each of these four miraclesmultiplying the widow's oil ( II Kings 4:1-7 ), raising the Shunammite's son ( II Kings 4:8-37 ), purifying the pot of stew ( II Kings 4:38-41) and feeding a hundred men ( II Kings 4:42-44 . Since the desire for more is never ending, find happiness with what you currently have. Do not speak defeat and discouragement. So the woman arose and did according to the saying of . In the midst of her despair, the Shunammite woman announces to her closest family and the man who serves the man of God, that all is well, for she knows that on this occasion, she must get to the one who has the power to make things truly well again. And we are told in this passage of Scripture that she was a great woman. She rocked the little fellow in her lap until noon, and then he died. And fyi: Issachar is mentioned40x in the bible last in Revelation 7:7 oh and some say the Song of Songs was writtento a Shumanite-and probably Abishag. Speaking hope over our situations may seem like the hardest thing we can do when life is hard, but the Shunammite woman reminds us that though it is difficult, its not impossible. and the child?, Nevertheless, she pressed forward, and when she reached the man of God, she knelt down and took him by the feet, crying bitterly. She trusted God. Quite the contrary. She is describedas a great woman when I looked up the definition ofthis word used in Hebrew, it means bold, prominent, insolent, mighty, noble, loud or older. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazihis servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite:Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? The Shulammite woman, or Shulammite maiden, is the bride of Solomon who features in the Song of Songs. She falls at Elisha's feet and takes her living son with her out of the room. , This is a wonderful post, Angela! Please dont mock me, sir, she said. Let me explain, when we breathe, we naturally breathe in yah and we exhale weh (Psalm 150:6 Let all that hath breathe praise ye Yahweh, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing) How do we pray without ceasing? It is not possible from a carnal minded perspective, however we all do breathe if we are alive, and if we know it or not, we are all praising the name of our creator Yahweh as we all breathe his name. If you have been unsuccessful until now, you must not infer that you are not called to the work, any more than Elisha might have concluded that the child could not be restored. When sorrows like sea billows roll; Jake) revive the boy? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. When we fail in one attempt, we must not therefore give up our work. Gehazis visit just wasnt good enough for her. Also, the first man Adam received life when Yahweh simply breathed into him the breath of life (He breathed-Yah-Weh into his being). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Like the Shunammite woman, speak victory over your circumstances. Elisha didnt know something, why? Why does the Shunammite woman insist that all is well when her beloved child has just died? Some amazing stories and great truths from those amazing men, but also the characters that are in their stories also, like this Shunammite woman. We must seek God with faith immediately. The Widow's Oil. Or bold and prominent? Thank you! You are to speak out (The Lord has called you out to be Bold today), Christian view of the Color Run (Holi festival): Putting the brakes on Pagan Christianity -stop bringing the World into our churches, It is well, it is well said the Shunamite woman 2 Kings 4:8-37, KNOW YOUR ENEMY Ephesians 6 - AND HIS SCHEMES. He is our mighty deliverer and the anchor for our soul and so, we must run to him. Run out to meet her and ask her, Is everything all right with you, your husband, and your child?, Yes, the woman told Gehazi, everything is fine. (2 Kings 4:20-26 NKJV, emphasis added). Scripture says that this woman from Shunem was a wealthy woman who, seeing Elisha was a holy man of God, blessed the prophet with meals and a place to stay. Therefore, in the same way the Shunammite woman didnt treasure her house and land, dont treasure worldly things. She appears to beoutspoken, bold and gives orders- once to her husband Get me a donkey and a servant and then to the servant she says hurry up and dont slow down- and maybe even Elisha Stay here! and Im not leaving until you go with me. This Shunammite woman must have accepted a long time ago that it was not God's plan for her to have a child. On both these occasions, the ruler and the sick woman knew they had to get to Jesus in order for them to experience what it means to be truly well. Again, all was not well. But the story of the Shunammite woman did not end when Elisha raised her son from the dead. The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. He asked his companion for a suggestion. I can see her personality in these words. We use cookies to optimise our website and our service. Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither. why did the shunammite woman say, it is wellanthony ryan patterson wife Northern Cross Vineyard. He finds the lifeless child and revives him. She responded with faith in the Promise-Giver. The miracle story central to the novel comes from the Old Testament and it is one I had never known of before. When the Shunammite recognized an opportunity to entertain God's prophet, she made room for him in her home and heart. A key difference is that unlike the other barren women in the Bible (Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Hannah, Samsons mother, and Michal), the Shunamite woman had not been praying for a child, nor did her life seem to be incomplete without one. The passage breaks down or centers around 2 key events: (a) The Shunammite woman receives a son (4:8-17) and (b) she received her son back from death (4:18-37). Why was it important to put her location -the doorway in this story when Elijah spoke to her? How powerful these sayings are. One thing is certain, that whether you live or die, if you live in Christ or die in Christ, all is well. Elisha helps a poor widow. (2 Kings 4:8). Come ye children chapter 22:Charles Spurgeon. She replies, All is well.. This page may contain affiliate links. Sometimes things happen and we definitely do not feel well, is it okay to say it is well at such times? He gave her a son. Gilboa in ancient Palestine. In conclusion, the Shunammite woman was a well-off woman that did what she could to bless others. During a visit to Shunem, Elisha was taken care of by a wealthy woman and her husband. What does the Bible say about the son of the Shunammite? If so, how sad to consider the immediate distress of 2 Kings 4:20. So when Elisha said that she was going to have a child this sounded too good to be true. All is well. It is well, it is well with my soul. The statement that she was a great woman could have meant that she was older, wealthy, or nobler. Elisha tells the woman that within a year, she will have a son and so she does. I am very much proud of the great shunammite. The Shunammite's Son Resurrected (2 Kings 4:18-37; Hebrews 11:35) This account . One day the circuit-riding preacher, Elisha, and his traveling companion, Jake, came into the sleepy little town of Shunem. listeners: [], We take doctrinal or practical truth, as Gehazidid the staff, and we lay it upon the face of the child, but we ourselvesdo not agonisefor its soul. And of course, you have included one of my all-time favorite hymns. There was a married woman from Shunemwho knew in her mind and heart that Elisha was a special man of God. The journey will likely be longer than I can imagine, but it has finally begun, and that's all that matters. Popular and loud? He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the Lord. In other words, It is well, no worries, no worries, all is well. At the Shunamite womans house, Elisha immediately entered the upstairs room his own generously provided room, and bent over the dead child on the bed his own carefully prepared bed. She believed her son would be raised from the dead and she knew Elisha could do it. I like the way you retold this familiar Bible story. There are at least three clear parallels: hospitality, a prophecy to a barren woman that she will bear a son, and the near-death experience of that son. If Jordan above me shall roll, Although she would be leaving her house and land, she did just that. Oh, voice of the Lord! She shows up again in 2 Kings 8. And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. A wealthy woman, who lived there with her husband, invited the preacher and his companion to stay for chicken and dumplin's. In fact, every time the preacher came to town, this woman insisted upon having him over for dinner. The sky, not the grave, is our goal; When Jesus was challenged by John the Baptists disciples about why his disciples were not fasting, he spoke to them of new wineskins that are needed for the new wine. Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, Go away with your family and stay for a while wherever you can, because the Lord has decreed a famine in the land that will last seven years. The woman proceeded to do as the man of God said. When all was not well the Shunammite, on two occasions said, all is well.. A completely new way of thinking was needed in order to contain the new thing God was about to do. Dreams can live again. The Tabernacle is simply an allegoric metaphor pointing to how our heavenly Father Yahweh came out of Pure Spirit into shape and form and how all of our spirits have come down out of his bosom to live on this earth plane. As he is going to the mans house, the woman with the discharge of blood presses in through the crowd saying to herself, If I only touch his garment, I will be made well. Her faith made her well that day and Jesus went on to raise the dead girl to life. did I not say, Do not deceive me? But the Hebrew word used in that sentence had many nuances. Hebrews 11: 1 tells us that. Perhaps she believed that her child would live again, and perhaps she knew that he was safe in the presence of the Redeemer. When her husband asked her why, she simply said, "It is well.". Elisha's words were not made-up man's words, they were God's words and when God promises something it always happens. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. The woman from Shunem was probably from the Issachar tribe. It is neither a new moon festival nor a Sabbath., So she saddled the donkey and said to the servant, Hurry! One was destitute; the other wealthy. Her dreams were too big to be spoken. JAGABAN ft SELINA TESTED EPISODE 15 part 2.. War without end .. She was marriedbut had no children. Everything is fine. The interaction of these four people, each with his or her modern-day counterparts, constructs an intriguing parable with pointed lessons for Christians today. Only by imitating the spirit and manner of the Lord Jesus shall we become wise to win souls. God Rescues Through People: One Man Two Men a Group of Men. The clouds be rolled back as a scroll; While most people wouldnt be able to build a room for a prophet, God sees what we have and recognizes what we give accordingly. The two could not be more different. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul. But she did none of those things. And when she came in to him, he said, "Pick up your son." 37 So she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; then she picked up her son and went out. And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. The scriptures tell us she constrained Elisha. 36 Then he summoned Gehazi and said, "Call this Shunammite.". The Shunammite Woman's Suffering. Sign up for a special email series here. And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers. It is well with my soul, When she returned to Shunem, she no longer had access to her home. The story of Elisha and the Shunammite woman is found in 2 Kings 4:8-37 and is the story of miracles. Why couldnt Gehazi (i.e. Need this fact discourage us? And he said, Call her. Excellent! Also, she refused to go back to her dead son unless Elisha came with her. Carmel she insists that he immediately accompany her to Shunem. And you, devoted, anxious, prayerful teacher, remainno longer a common being, you have become, in a special manner, the temple of the Holy Ghost; God dwellethin you, and you by faith have entered upon the career of a wonder-worker. } How do you know the sneezes are to be interpretted this way? The Ministry of the Shunammite (4:8-17) 8 Now there came a day when And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid. It reminded me of what David Ettinger does on his blog (Ettinger Writing). Because of her deep empathy for Elisha, the Shunamite woman knew precisely what words to use to shake him from his detachment: As the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you, she cried. I re-read this story sometime after returning to the UK and was amazed to realise that our family had remained out of the UK for seven years, before the Lord brought us back and established us again. In the midst of her despair, the Shunammite woman announces to her closest family and the man who serves the man of God, that 'all is well', for she knows that on this occasion, she must get to the one who has the power to make things truly well again. Oh, trump of the angel! She held on to Elisha because she had no doubts he would be able to bring her son back to life. As believers, its the same way we should be. When we fail in one attempt, we must not therefore give up our work. And when she came to him, he said, "Pick up your son." 37 She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground. Automated page speed optimizations for fast site performance. The preacher was filled with gratitude for this womans generosity and asked what he could do to repay her kindness. We know that Yahshua cast out demons by commanding them in his name. This teaches us to hold on to things loosely so they dont keep us back. The Shunammite's son dies seemingly without warning. She and her family went away and stayed in the land of the Philistines seven years. It was just what I needed. Why was it important to record the number of sneezes? But, this woman from Shunem didnt panic. She told him that she knew Elisha was a man of God. She would make sure the prophet Elisha had food, water and a place to sleep wheneverhe went through Shunem. 8 And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. In fact, he was dead. It is believed that the location of the Biblical Shunem, is located in the northern part of modern day Israel. Nope. And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man . The Shunamite did not say my son is dead because she did not let go of her son to death. God shows that to our Shunammite woman again. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. To raise the dead is our mission! Her name is not known. Watchmen! Elishas persistence in prayer and seeking the Lord in order for the boy to come back to life- he didnt give up on the first try.