The story of Elisha and the Shunamite woman's son in 2 Kings 4:8-37 is a story of great belief, faith, trust, obedience, and the grace and mercy of God. It displayed the faith, instincts, and trust a mother had not only in regards to God, but in the man of God.
Beginning with verse 8 you see the instincts of the woman on full display, she had noticed Elisha and was able to develop a small friendship, reeled him in with food. Furthermore, in verse 9 she says to her husband, "let's prepare a small upper room for him, as I know this is a holy man of God who passes by regularly." One day Elisha stops in and stays the night and wanting to thank her for her hospitality, he calls for her. She comes in per his request delivered by his servant Gehazi and asks, "What can I do for you? She replies, I dwell among my own people."
Elisha, wonders what is to do be done for this woman? His servant Gehazi reveals that the woman has no children and her husband is old. They once again call the woman in and this time Elisha tells her, "About this time next year you shall embrace a son." The woman in disbelief exclaims, "do not lie to your maidservant!" She could not believe a miracle of such magnitude could come about. However, as Elisha had promised, a year later that time she bore a child. Now as the boy was of age he went into the field to work with his daddy and later became ill. Like many fathers he didn't stop what he was doing, but told a servant, take him to mama. Sometimes a father does know best. The young child laid with his mother until noon and died. What happened next displays the faith this mother possessed. Instead of laying the boy in his own bed, she lays him in the bed of Elisha. Elisha the prophet, who had stayed in her house, who promised her a child, and whose promise came to pass. This mother knew that her baby would be revived.
The Shunamite woman rode the donkey, some five to six hours it's believed, to meet the prophet Elisha at Mount Carmel. Elisha noticed her afar off and told Gehazi to meet her and ask, "Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?" Despite the distress, she did later reveal to Elisha on the inside, her faith was on full display and she knew, all would be well. When she encountered Elisha she fell to his feet and he knew then that she was in deep distress, but did not know about what. He could not propho-lie, but only wait until she revealed the issue. Verse 28 she states, "Did I ask a son of my lord? Did I not say, Do not deceive me?" Upset and wrecked with pain and now her life more empty than it had been before her son was born, she needed some help. She was upset with Elisha and blamed him, yet knew he was the one she had to come to for her son's healing. Elisha sent Gehazi ahead of them with his staff, a symbol that he was coming and only God could do what would be necessary, to place upon the boy's face. When Gehazi got there, the boy was still dead and went back to meet Elisha, and told him.
Nevertheless, God always shows up. Now Elisha went into the room and saw the boy laying on his bed, closed the door behind him and Gehazi, and prayed to the Lord. Verse 34 states, "And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm." Elisha did this once more and what happened next was nobody, but God. Verse 35 says, "then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes." Seven which is the number of completion occurs at the most surreal time, the time of the boy's resurrection. Elisha the man who had stayed and laid in that very room, who'd promised the woman a son, and who she knew was a true holy man of God performed a great deed. The mother went in soon there after, picked up her child, and left.
The thought, "Nobody can get through for you like mama," was on my mind the last couple of days. When God led me to this scripture it was like an ah-ha moment and I could not help, but read it with excitement. I'm blessed to say I have a praying, mother, grandmother's, and great-grandmother's in my life. Men don't take women of God for granted and women, don't take each other for granted. The power of a praying woman and one who knows God for herself and not just of Him, is like none other.
