Women with a Story to Tell: The Shunammite Woman.

 In recent stories, the women have been in conversation with a prophet. Prophets are preachers who have been sent by God to Israel or Judah (or us) with a message and a mission. Often rejected in their own time, some become highly respected after death. Jesus noted the irony of people in First Century Galilee and Judea building tombs for prophets that their ancestors killed. The Bible includes stories and even books of a whole slew of prophets.

 It is interesting that women are so involved in these stories, and not just as wallpaper. People often think of the Old Testament as patriarchal to the point that women are completely ignored. That is a problem, but there are many exceptions. This one is unusual because the story is not about a poor widow but rather about a wealthy, and fairly independent, wife.   

“One day Elisha was passing through Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to have a meal. So, whenever he passed that way, he would stop there for a meal. She said to her husband, “Look, I am sure that this man who regularly passes our way is a holy man of God. Let us make a small roof chamber with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that he can stay there whenever he comes to us” (II Kings 4: 8-10). 

 The last wealthy woman that we met was not so hospitable. She was Jezebel, a princess from a neighboring kingdom, not a Jew. Along with her trousseau she brought her own priests and encouraged in Israel the worship of the false god, Ba’al. Of course, she was at odds with YHWH’s prophets, particularly Elijah and Elisha, and she hunted down and killed other prophets. 

This wealthy woman, with no name but with the epithet ‘the Shunammite’ because she was from Shunem, volunteered to support Elisha, the prophet of YHWH. Given that many people opposed the prophets, it is commendable that she instead wanted to provide a safe house for the prophet when he was travelling. The town of Shunem was at the head of the Jezreel Valley, north of the city of Samaria, in the territory of Issachar (Joshua 19:18).

Apparently, Elisha worked like an itinerant preacher, perhaps similar to circuit-riding preachers of the early Methodist movement. The Kishon River flows through the valley to the Mediterranean Sea, and the promontory on the south side of the mouth of the river is Mt. Carmel, a common destination for Elisha (II Kings 2: 25).    

“One day when he came there, he went up to the chamber and lay down there. He said to his servant Gehazi, “Call the Shunammite woman.” When he had called her, she stood before him. He said to him, “Say to her: Since you have taken all this trouble for us, what may be done for you? Would you have a word spoken on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?” She answered, “I live among my own people” (II Kings 4: 11-13). 

 There is a linear conversation going on here; Elisha talks with Gehazi who goes outside and talks with the Shunamite woman. Gehazi calls the woman, as instructed, and the woman comes to meet him. Gehazi speaks the words that Elisha gave him and then goes back in and reports the conversation. The upshot is that this woman lives local, amongst neighbors and relatives, so she has no need that might be fulfilled by the king or commander. 

 Elisha questions Gehazi further to find some kindness he might give to the woman who takes care of them in this guest house. Gehazi has learned something that might help. 

“He said, “What then may be done for her?” Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.” He said, “Call her.” When he had called her, she stood at the door. He said, “At this season, in due time, you shall embrace a son.” She replied, “No, my lord, O man of God; do not deceive your servant” (II Kings 4: 14-16). 

 This time, Gehazi calls the woman to come to the door of the guest room and speak directly to the prophet. When Elisha announces that she will have a son, her response is similar to responses you hear today, “No, really? You're kidding, right?”

 It is admirable that this woman did not enter into this relationship with the man of God in order to extract something from him or from God. She used her wealth strictly to bless God, not as a gift trying to get God to reciprocate. That’s an important lesson about relationships in general, and our relationship with God in particular. 

 Some people see the world only through a transactional lens. They ask themselves, ‘If I do this, can I get something in return?’ They are always on the lookout to make a deal. 

 However, no one makes a deal with God. No one sets the terms for God's engagement. And that is true of fruitful relationships with others. Someone who wants to find a true friend does not begin with asking what the other person has to offer. Two people about to enter into a marriage likely will not experience true love if they are holding out for a deal. 

 People who operate with that view of the world live far from God and their supposed friendships often don’t last very long. Jesus said, “So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God” (Luke 12: 21). The Shunammite woman was rich toward God.   

“The woman conceived and bore a son at that season, in due time, as Elisha had declared to her” (II Kings 4: 17).