Women with a Story to Tell: The Wealthy Shunammite Woman 3. Famine and Abuse.

 For not being named, this woman from Shunem stars in three different stories in Scripture. In the first story, she performed an act of generosity for a Man of God, the prophet Elisha. She was not asked to do this, at least not by Elisha who only stopped by occasionally for a meal. Instead, her spiritual instincts were well developed. She was faithful to God’s sense of hospitality, so she was moved to do more. She provided a furnished room as a place for Elisha to rest during his journeys. It was Elisha who felt the obligation to find some kindness that he might reciprocate her gift. He discovered her wish, and asked God to give her a son, which God did. 

 In the second story, the son is old enough to go with his father and hired hands at harvest-time when he is suddenly struck ill. Despite their efforts, the boy eventually dies. She makes a journey to summon the help of the prophet. When he comes, God enables Elisha to raise her son from the dead. Her faithfulness has been rewarded again, but there is a third story.

“Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, ‘Get up and go with your household and settle wherever you can, for the LORD has called for a famine, and it will come on the land for seven years’. So the woman got up and did according to the word of the man of God; she went with her household and settled in the land of the Philistines seven years” (II Kings 8: 1-2).

 This story comes four chapters later than the first two, perhaps reflecting the amount of time that has passed. An old African proverb says, “When elephants fight, the grass gets trampled.” Usually when a prophet proclaims a fast, it is because a leader or a nation has done something wrong. Perhaps that was the case here. At any rate, a famine was coming, and even common people would be hurt by it, so God sent her away.

 “At the end of the seven years, when the woman returned from the land of the Philistines, she set out to appeal to the king for her house and her land” (II Kings 8: 3). 

 A closer look suggests that her husband may have died during the seven years. First, the text says she lived in another country “with her household,” not specifically with her husband. Then she returns. 

 Another reason for suspecting that her husband has now passed away is that she has lost her rights to her house and land. How does this happen and what recourse does she have? In such a patriarchal society, she must have a man who can handle the legal claims in life. Now she is in a weak position, so she sets out herself to appeal directly to the king. If our speculation about her husband’s demise is true, now the Shunammite woman is a widow, and we know how partial God is to widows, orphans, and immigrants. We also know that society can take the opposite stance that is against God’s preferences. Society can say, “Sorry, but it’s just good business (to oppress orphans, widows, and immigrants).”

“Now the king was talking with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, saying, ‘Tell me all the great things that Elisha has done’. While he was telling the king how Elisha had restored a dead person to life, the woman whose son he had restored to life appealed to the king for her house and her land. Gehazi said, ‘My lord king, here is the woman, and here is her son whom Elisha restored to life’” (II Kings 8: 4-5).

 Is this a coincidence? First, who is this king? In Elisha’s stories, the text usually just says ‘the king’. Elisha lived sometime between 900 and 800 BC, and there were many kings during that time. The king with the longest reign, a king whom Elisha anointed, was Jehu. Jehu destroyed and replaced the house of Ahab and Jezebel. He was not in line to be the king but was a commander of the army. Perhaps that is why he is asking Gehazi to tell him about Elisha who has been prophet to the kings. 

 At any rate, as Gehazi is telling stories about Elisha, the Shunammite woman approaches the throne and Gehazi is able to introduce her to the king. Remember that Elisha offered this very service early in her story when she had built a room for him to stay in. Elisha had said, “Would you have a word spoken on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?” (II Kings 4: 13). She demurred at that time, but now that is exactly what she needs. And, Gehazi is there to help. 

“When the king questioned the woman, she told him. So the king appointed an official for her, saying, “Restore all that was hers, together with all the revenue of the fields from the day that she left the land until now” (II Kings 8: 6).

 Think about what is going on here. Too frequently, in such a society, women have no access to power and thus no voice. But trace back to the beginning as the Bible relates her story. She was introduced as a wealthy woman from Shunem (II Kings 4: 8). Often identification as a wealthy person in the Bible leads the reader to wonder about the origin and use of that wealth (for example, I Samuel 25: 2-12), but in this case her behavior tells a better story. She is godly because God’s favor rests on her. 

 How was she godly? This woman is generous in offering a meal to a passing stranger. Second, she goes the second mile and prepares a comfortable room for this occasional visitor to rest along the way. Third, when asked what she would like in return, she did not grasp at more wealth but said that she was living well among her relatives and neighbors and did not need anything more. Truly a godly woman.

 When Elisha probed deeper and discovered that she did not have a son, he offered to speak with God. She was cautious, but pleased. When that son died, she did not curse God and reject his prophet; instead, she went directly to the prophet for help. Her faith was rewarded.

 Now that she has returned from the famine years to find her house and land stolen by another, she has to walk alone to approach the king and make her appeal. Probably much to her surprise, God had already prepared the way for her. Again, her faith and faithfulness has been rewarded. 

 Now you know the story of the wealthy Shunammite Woman whose faith carried her through childlessness, famine, and oppression by the shysters in society. A story that was hidden in the folds of the Book of II Kings has now been released to encourage your faith.