The Shunammite Woman~

I’ve read the account of the Shunammite Woman’s story many times, I’ve heard many messages and teachings. I’ve always enjoyed her story. I hope you have read it, but if you haven’t I referenced her and the text of her story in my previous blog… It takes a little living to understand this passage in a personal way. Never have I been able to relate so closely to her as I have in recent years. There’s something about loss and the pursuit of recovery that makes you search out and cling to stories like hers. But after reading and considering her story again in the last few weeks, The Holy Spirit asked me, “How many dead, dry bones will you endure?” I immediately knew God was speaking of the vision of Ezekiel 37:1-14… What a bomb to drop on me in that moment.

When I heard the question posed, I thought “why ask me this at this moment, in this season, while reading this passage?” I’m reading from this uplifting story of promise, tragedy, and triumph; how could this possibly relate to dead, dry bones? But as I read, prayed and read again, some life truths were illuminated to me… In this story we have a woman who was wealthy, influential, well respected, and hospitable. She was also wise and discerning. The prophet Elisha was extended great kindnesses by her and her husband; so much so, that he went from offering his influence with kings and other prominent leaders, to offering her the greatest influence he had: his influence with God. He prophesied to her that she was going to be a mother.

I imagine her going from contented and settled as a wife to a level of love, joy, and fulfillment she’d never known before as a mother… All of this happened to her in less than a year. However not long after, her joy was abruptly disrupted with tragedy. Her son succumbed to an unknown illness and died in her lap. I haven’t lost a child, but I have suffered tremendously painful losses. I’m sure you have, too. Imagine going from accepting what, in your mind, will never happen, to holding that promise in your hands. Then watching it die… I’ve been there; I soothed myself or listened to the words of others, “it’s better to have loved and lost than to never have loved…”, or “it must not have been the will of God”. This woman, however, wouldn’t accept it. This woman quickly and quietly took several steps in a course of action that changed her story. Let’s read a couple of them here in 2 Kings 4:20-23:

When he [her servant] took him [her son] and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, then died…She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, shut the door, and went out. Then she called to her husband; “Please send me one of the young men and one of the donkeys so I may run to the man of God and come back.” He said, “Why are you going to him today? It’s neither the New Moon nor the Sabbath.” And she said, “It is well.”

The Holy Spirit stirred my thoughts, “Surely the boy had his own room… Why did she take him to that particular room? Why do you think she didn’t confide in her husband?” I began to relate as a woman, a mother, and former wife. I said to Him, “We put things we don’t want to be found in the last place we expect someone to look. I think she chose that room because she knew no one would go up there.” Sounds like us. 🙂 “Now as for her husband…” I said to the Lord, “there would’ve been a thousand questions”. I believe she didn’t tell him because she knew what would happen if she did, and she felt she had no time to waste. He would’ve heard their son was dead, and immediately started asking questions, “how?”, “what happened?”, “who was there?” But I believe the one question she absolutely didn’t want to answer was “why are you going to Elisha now?” Reason says their child is dead, there is no help for him, and they should have been making preparations to bury him. He may have even assumed her too irate or distraught to think rationally and forbade her to go to him. She would’ve had to obey…Truth be told, under the circumstances, he wouldn’t have even been wrong. But she needed some answers, and she couldn’t accept her loss until she had taken the issue up with the one who she knew would hear God on her behalf.

I’ve watched promises manifest, I’ve seen them die. I realized as I allowed my mind to ponder things, people, and seasons in my life, that in a sense I did have a valley of bones. Dead dreams, long gone promises, relationships that ended prematurely; dead things. We all have some dead things. I said in my heart Lord, You are right. I have my own valley of dead, dry bones. But how did I get here? The dead things once had life, breath, flesh, skin, promise. Like the Shunammite’s son, they were alive, filled with hope and capacity for great things, so what happened? The Lord then asked, “Who pronounced the death of your promise…Me? Or maybe you? Your loved ones? Friends? Spiritual confidants?” Who indeed…

Consider This: We must ask ourselves how many more bones we’ll allow to be added to our “valleys” before we become indignant and fiercely guard our promises like this woman. When will we stop assuming what “must not be” the will of God, and actually ask Him? And once we ask, why won’t we trust Him and wait on Him to reveal? It’s tragic to receive from God, then when we’re met with an evil report, look to others to judge the validity of His promise. Only the Creator and Maker of a thing can declare a thing to be or NOT to be. God wants to be the “Revealer of Truth” in our lives; that includes the revelation that He is the God who has the power to resurrect dead things in our lives. He’s raised children, opened dead wombs, and He awakens dormant dreams… It was easy for me to contemplate the responses of The Shunammite Woman’s husband because I’ve lived them. I’ve sought the plausible response; and when I didn’t have understanding, I talked to God then polled my circles. This woman clearly knew she had relationship and influence with someone chosen to speak for God and she pulled out all stops to utilize that influence. But we no longer need mouthpieces. God’s promise in James 1:5 to those who lack wisdom says if we ask He will give wisdom and insight to us generously; and unlike our experiences with many, He promised to give it to us “without finding fault”. If you believe God said it, yet it doesn’t look like what He has spoken, lock it in a “room of your heart” and petition the Lord first; and allow the Holy Spirit to teach you to petition the Lord ALWAYS. God promises to reveal Himself to you.