Key Thoughts and Scriptures:
The Shunammite woman’s story is told in 2 Kings 4:8-37 NIV and 2 Kings 8:1-6 NIV.
Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
- The Shunammite woman was not an Isrealite, but her interactions with the Israelites living around her gave her an opportunity to hear about the Lord their God.
- She knew she was missing the most important thing – relationship with God.
- Although none of the Israelites invited Elisha over, the woman from Shunem made it a point to seek Elisha out and urge him to come.
- Elisha was a miracle worker, but she didn’t ask him FOR anything.
The first key to blessing – make room for the presence of God.
- This unnamed foreign woman made room for the presence of God in her home.
- Since the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2) – all believers in Jesus have the Holy Spirit residing in us.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
- Once we do that, the Holy Spirit is free to reside in us.
Ephesians 1:11 NLT Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.
- You must also give Him free reign in your life.
John 16:13 NLT When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth…
- The question is — are you allowing the Holy Spirit who resides in you to guide you into truth? Are you regularly reading or listening to God’s Word and allowing Him to speak through it to you?
- Without the plumbline of truth found in God’s Word, we all will be tricked by faulty philosophies and beliefs that lead us away from truth and into satans’ territory.
John 10:10 NKJV The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
- Making room for the presence of God, the Holy Spirit, to be active in your life – leading you into truth – is one key to blessing and a full life.
God is like that — He just wants to bless us. And when we invite Him in to lead us – His blessings overflow in our lives.
Romans 8:31-32 NIV What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
- The Shunammite woman was blown away by the promise made to her – having a son was more than she could have hoped for. But God knew her deep desire and chose to bless her abundantly.
- When her son died, she surely felt pain, anger and sorrow – but she did not let them paralyze her.
1 Kings 17 NIV Elijah and the Widow at Zarephath
- The Shunammite woman said, “Everything is alright.” Now that is faith.
Another key to blessing – she cast her cares and anxiety on the Lord.
I Peter 5:7 NIV Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
- Even in her pain she had set her heart to seek the Lord.
2 Kings 4:35 NIV …The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.
- The number 7 in the Bible is used to signify completeness and perfection.
- The Lord wanted her to know everything was going to be okay so she would not be plagued by fear of this happening again.
- The Shunammite woman was always in God’s thoughts – she had made room for the presence of God in her life – and He had protected her.
2 Kings 8:1-2 NIV 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. She and her family went away and stayed in the land of the Philistines seven years.
- God spared her the seven years of hardship that Israel faced.
- That does not mean that those who pursue God will never face or experience hardship.
- She chose wisely – she listened to the Lord’s instruction and found safety elsewhere.
- Because she had obeyed God in leaving, He paved the way for her to have it all restored plus more!
God did exceedingly, abundantly above all she could ask or imagine – because she invited God’s presence into her life and home; and sought Him alone in her time of trouble.
- The Shunammite woman sought the Lord in good times and bad – and God responded with blessing.
- As Christians – which we become out of God’s grace and not by our position or because of our works — we just have to seek Him, follow Him, and give our cares to Him.
Psalm 5:12 NLT For you bless the godly, O Lord; you surround them with your shield of love.
Psalm 5:12 NIV Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
- God loves you as much as He loves the unnamed Shunammite woman.
- As you pursue Him and pour out your cares to Him – He will amaze you with His love and blessing.
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