Bible Study - Elisha (3) - GOD'S Hand in Meeting Others' Needs - 2 Kings 4:8-37 - May 11, 2025

 

Bible Study – Elisha (3) – GOD’S Hand in Meeting Others’ Needs – 2 Kings 4:8-37 - May 11, 2025 - To GOD BE THE GLORY

GOD blesses as we serve others.

Our scripture: 2 Kings 4:8-37

The Shunammite Woman’s Hospitality

⁸ One day Elisha went to Shunem. A prominent woman who lived there persuaded him to eat some food. So, whenever he passed by, he stopped there to eat. ⁹ Then she said to her husband, “I know that the one who often passes by here is a holy man of God, ¹⁰ so let’s make a small, walled-in upper room and put a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp there for him. Whenever he comes, he can stay there.”

This shows this dear lady’s heart.

The Shunammite Woman’s Son

¹¹ One day he came there and stopped at the upstairs room to lie down. ¹² He ordered his attendant Gehazi, “Call this Shunammite woman.” So, he called her, and she stood before him.

¹³ Then he said to Gehazi, “Say to her, ‘Look, you’ve gone to all this trouble for us. What can we do for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’”

This gives us a clue to whom Elisha and Gehazi ministered.

Who are the “we”? Elisha, Gehazi and GOD!

She answered, “I am living among my own people.”

My own people will take care of my physical needs and protect us.

¹⁴ So he asked, “Then what should be done for her?”

GOD often uses others to help us discern HIS guidance.

Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.”

Gehazi spoke and often, when we seek the answer to a question and the solution is revealed, we know instantly – THAT IS IT! When that is the case, then we need to respond.

Notice, Elisha’s immediate response to Gehazi’s suggestion. We know in Matthew 18:20: ²⁰ For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.” The solution revealed the time to act.

¹⁵ “Call her,” Elisha said. So Gehazi called her, and she stood in the doorway. ¹⁶ Elisha said, “At this time next year you will have a son in your arms.”

Then she said, “No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your servant.”

We know from her reply that she desired a child, and did not want to be disappointed. We know that her husband was old.

They were a prominent couple and did not have an heir.

¹⁷ The woman conceived and gave birth to a son at the same time the following year, as Elisha had promised her.

GOD provides for our needs.

The Shunammite’s Son Raised

¹⁸ The child grew, and one day went out to his father and the harvesters. ¹⁹ Suddenly he complained to his father, “My head! My head!”

We know that their son has grown. We do not know the son’s age when this happened. But we know he was old enough to go out by himself, to his dad and the harvesters. We know that something bad was taking place in his head.

His father told his servant, “Carry him to his mother.” ²⁰ So he picked him up and took him to his mother. The child sat on her lap until noon and then died. ²¹ She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, shut him in, and left.

The boy’s father told his servant, “Carry him to his mother.”

Here, we must keep in mind that the boy’s father was old, and it was likely that the quickest way to get their son to his mother was to get a physically fit servant to take his son to his mother.

As she held their son, in her lap, he died. The fact that she was holding her son in her lap gives us a rough indication of his size.

His mother immediately took their son and placed him on Elisha’s bed. She took immediate action to get help for their son and that was to lay her son on Elisha’s bed. This was an act of faith in GOD and again gives us the possible size of her son in that she took him up and placed their son on Elisha’s bed. Then this dear lady didn’t stop there, so continued to take steps of faith for GOD to restore her son of promise.

²² She summoned her husband and said, “Please send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, so I can hurry to the man of God and come back again.”

²³ But he said, “Why go to him today? It’s not a New Moon or a Sabbath.” Typical times for worship.

She replied, “It’s all right.” The fact that she did not tell her husband that their son was dead, is an indication of her faith that GOD would revive her son of promise. “Trust me!” She knew in her heart what she had to do. GOD would restore their only son.

Going to Elisha was like going to GOD. Plus, she would remind him of what she told Elisha “not to lie to her” when Elisha told her she would have a son even though her husband was old.

²⁴ Then she saddled the donkey and said to her servant, “Go fast; don’t slow the pace for me unless I tell you.” ²⁵ So she came to the man of God at Mount Carmel.

When the man of God, Elisha, saw her at a distance, he said to his attendant Gehazi, “Look, there’s the Shunammite woman. ²⁶ Run out to meet her and ask, ‘Are you all, right? Is your husband all right? Is your son all right?’”

And she answered, “It’s all right.”

What did she mean “It’s all right”? Was it because she had arrived at the man of GOD, Elisha, her anchor who told her that she would give birth to a son? Did the fact that GOD performed a miracle in her life by giving her a son that she knew GOD could resurrect her son from the dead? This precious woman went to Elisha in faith. Who is our go to person in a crisis? Is it JESUS?

Elisha knew there was a problem when he saw the Shunammite woman riding on a donkey and her servant moving rapidly in his direction. Elisha began speculating and praying. Elisha sensed something because his first questions focused on her family.

She came, personally, and did not just send her servant. Elisha knew something either was taking place or had taken place. GOD had not let Elisha know what she needed. She needed to reveal her need to Elisha.

²⁷ When she came up to the man of God at the mountain, she clung to his feet. Gehazi came to push her away, but the man of God said, “Leave her alone—she is in severe anguish, and the Lord has hidden it from me. He hasn’t told me.”

GOD had not let Elisha know why she was there. But Elisha knew it was urgent because she was distraught. There was a crisis, and she needed to verbalize it to Elisha. As “born-again” Christians GOD desires for us to bring to HIM all of our needs, wants, desires, etc...

When we know that something major has taken place in a person’s life and that person is coming to us or those who know GOD/JESUS, we immediately pray for GOD’S revelation, help and what we are to do to help.

²⁸ Then she said, “Did I ask my lord for a son? Didn’t I say, ‘Do not lie to me?”

Her first question was a reminder to Elisha, “Did I ask my lord, Elisha, for a son?” She had not asked for a son. Elisha and Gehazi wanted to do something special for her because Elisha and Gehazi were grateful for her hospitality. Elisha told her she would have a son, and she did.

²⁹ So Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tuck your mantle under your belt, take my staff with you, and go. If you meet anyone, don’t stop to greet him, and if a man greets you, don’t answer him. Then place my staff on the boy’s face.”

We know that GOD anointed Moses staff with HIS power and a prophet’s staff hence was considered to be anointed with GOD’S power.

Since the life, death, resurrection, ascension of JESUS to take HIS seat at the righthand of GOD, HIS FATHER and the coming of the Holy Spirit to indwell all who place their faith in JESUS, The Spirit-born person’s go to is JESUS, WHO is also GOD. A son or daughter of GOD has 24/7 access to GOD!

³⁰ The boy’s mother said to Elisha, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So, he got up and followed her.

³¹ Gehazi went ahead of them and placed the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or sign of life, so he went back to meet Elisha and told him, “The boy didn’t wake up.”

³² When Elisha got to the house, he discovered the boy lying dead on his bed. ³³ So he went in, closed the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the Lord. ³⁴ Then he went up and lay on the boy: he put mouth to mouth, eye to eye, hand to hand. While he bent down over him, the boy’s flesh became warm. ³⁵ Elisha got up, went into the house, and paced back and forth. Then he went up and bent down over him again. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.

What is the significant of “the boy sneezing seven times”? Seven, is the number of completion among the Jews. Her son was fully restored to human life by GOD!!!

³⁶ Elisha called Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunammite woman.” He called her and she came. Then Elisha said, “Pick up your son.” ³⁷ She came, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; she picked up her son and left.

So much was taking place when Elisha arrived. Elisha did what GOD instructed him to do to restore this young lad’s life. Does the fact that this young lad “sneezed seven times and opened eyes” give us a clue what had taken place. YES!!! GOD revealed HIS power over physical death and is a foreshadow of HIS only SON, JESUS, conquering physical death for all who place their faith in HIS life, physical death, physical resurrection, as witnessed by over 400 people upon earth before HE bodily ascended into Heaven to take HIS seat at the right hand of GOD, HIS FATHER to intercede for all who come to HIM in faith.

The life, death and resurrection of JESUS is proof that JESUS conquered death for all who place their faith in HIM and HIS Passion which includes HIS bodily ascension into Heaven and sending the Holy Spirit to indwell all who place their faith in HIM and experience the miracle of being “born-again” in their spirit.

JESUS conquered death!!! And is the first evidence for all who place their faith in JESUS, that they will, through the miracle of Spiritual birth, will never experience the physical death of their earth suit (body).

As revealed in scripture as recorded in 2 Corinthians 5:8

we are confident, I say, and willing to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

As a “born-again” Christian you will never experience the death of your physical body. “to be absent from the body is to be present with the LORD.”

How do I know that? If you want to know, access actsclass.blogspot.com and in the top lefthand corner there is a blank for you to search. Place the name Mrs. Green and enter.

I am a sinner saved by GOD’S Grace through the redeeming power of my faith in JESUS. This Spiritual birth gives me access to both GOD, JESUS and The Holy Spirit, WHO indwells me, same as another Spirit-born person.

If you do not know JESUS as your Savior, pray and ask HIM to forgive you for your sins and for JESUS to come into your heart,

We read in Revelation 3:20

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man (person) hears my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

JESUS stands at your heart’s door and the door can only be opened by you from the inside. You are in control and the decision is yours to make. What will it be - accept JESUS as your Savior and make HIM The LORD of your life or reject HIM? The choice is yours to make. I urge you to choose JESUS and HIM to be not only your redeemer but also to be the LORD of your life. Praise to all who said YES!!! Welcome into the Family of GOD, my brother or sister in JESUS.

I pray for all who said Yes.

What does that mean to you eternally? The Apostle Paul said it best in:

1 Corinthians 2:9

But as it is written, What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived— God has prepared these things for those who love him.

Once “Spirit-born” the absolute best is yet to come.

Blessings!!!