How Hospitality Helped Save the Farm
This story is told more often than the last one, but I think it is uncommon enough to add to this series. It is told in II Kings 4 and 8.
During the days when the great prophet Elisha was roaming Israel there lived a wise and generous woman in a place called Shunem. We don't even know her name. We do know that she was well off and had a lot of respect in her community.
I'm sure most of us have someone in our lives who have her personality. You know the kind who will chastise you if you happen to drive through her town and you don't stop by for a bite to eat? "It was 2 AM!" you try to explain. But, that is no excuse. You really should have stopped. She would have fixed you a full meal too!
And, so it was with this dear woman. When Elisha came to Shunem she greeted him and invited him over for a bite to eat.
After he left she got talking to her husband. Now her husband was quite a bit older than her, but he sure loved that little lady and respected what she had to say.
"I've been thinking about Elisha." she may have said.
"Who?"
"Oh, you know, the man who ate lunch here the other day."
"Oh, yeah. He had a servant too, what was his name?"
"Gehazi"
"Oh, yeah. Nice men."
"Yeah. I kind of got the feeling that Elisha is a really great prophet. A man of God!"
"You are probably right, honey. You do have a good perception about things like this."
"You know what we should do?"
"What?"
"Build a little room for him, so when he comes through Shunem he can have a place to rest and meditate."
"Sounds good to me!"
"I'll tell the servants tomorrow, unless you need their help on another project."
"Nope. If you need them, they are all yours! Building a room for the prophet of God is more important than any other work that needs done around here!"
It didn't take long for the room to be finished. She made sure it was perfect! The Bible makes sure to include how she put a bed and a little table and stool and lamp in his room. She thought of everything he might possibly need to help him be comfortable.
It wasn't long until Elisha showed back up in Shunem. This dear lady noticed him right away and was quick to invite him in. She had a servant wash his feet and another bring him food and drink. Then, she showed him his room.
Elisha didn't know what to say. He lay down on the bed for a siesta and looked up at the ceiling. This was so nice and refreshing. He was used to sleeping along a creek somewhere, or under a tree, when he was traveling. Some towns he went through were not too happy to see him coming. They weren't too keen on his "Hell, Fire and Brimstone" sermons! But, this couple really appreciated him.
"Hey, Gehazi! Are you asleep?"
"No, sir. What can I do for you?" the servant was quick to respond.
"Go get that Shunamite lady!"
"Yes sir!"
Soon Gehazi was back with the woman right outside the door.
"Ask her if there is anything she needs, or how I can repay her for all she has done."
Back then men of God didn't often have many material goods, or money. Elisha suggested maybe he could talk to the King on her behalf about something, or ask another government official to help ease her burden somehow.
"No thank you, sir." she answered. "We have everything we need. We live on the land that we inherited and have a lot of family around. I really have no complaints. It was my honor to build you this little room. Blessings to you."
Off she went to check on something, but Elisha continued to stare at Gehazi. The servant stood in the doorway waiting to see what his master would say.
There has to be something I can do for her.
Gehazi waited politely until his master invited him to share his thoughts.
"Well, she doesn't have any kids, sir. Her husband is really old, so maybe they can't have kids."
"Hmmm. Go get her!"
It wasn't long and they were back again.
"Tell her she's going to be snuggling a little baby this time next year." Elisha
told Gehazi.
The dear lady stood in the doorway. "No, sir! Please. Don't lie to me!" she cried, as if he touched something that was dear to her heart. Had she longed for a baby, but given up hope? Had she had babies die in her womb? Had she buried a child? Had she been disappointed month after month until she came to accept her lot in life? Perhaps all of the above.
True to the prophet's words she soon found out she was with child, and, when the season foretold came around she was holding her very own baby son!
The years went on and this little family remained as hospitable as ever. Perhaps the little guy became like a grandson to prophet Elisha. I can imagine him running into the house excitedly announcing: "Mom! The prophet is here! He is in town today!"
Often, if there was a special Sabbath meeting, or Holy Day, the little family would visit the prophet's house. So many happy memories!
One hot summer morning, when the little boy was practically grown, he ran out to the field to hang out with his Dad. He played and worked in the hot sun for several hours. Suddenly he stopped and put his head between his hands.
"Father! My head! My head!" he cried as he collapsed to the ground.
The concerned father ordered a servant to carry him to his mother.
Mom will know what to do. She always knew what to do! The old man was confident that she would know just how to make their little son feel better!
I don't know what all she did, but, I'm sure she tried everything she could think of. She was holding him, inside their cool house, when he suddenly stopped. He stopped looking at her. He stopped moaning. He seemed to have even stopped breathing. She wasn't even sure if she could feel a heartbeat anymore.
She didn't say a word.
She didn't cry.
She didn't scream.
She wasn't that kind of woman.
She picked up her dead little boy and carried him up to the prophet's room. She laid him on the holy man of God's bed. Then, she shut the door.
It wasn't long when she appeared in the field. Her husband stopped and wiped his brow.
"How's the boy?" he asked, concerned.
"He's going to be fine." she answered with calm determination. "Can I have one of the servants take me to the prophet's?"
"Sure. But, why are you going to Elisha's today? It isn't the New Moon, or Sabbath, or anything?"
"It'll be okay!" she assured him.
The old man shrugged. He didn't even try to understand womenfolk anymore He told one of the young men to saddle an ass for the lady and escort her to Elisha's and went back to his work, confident his wife must have a good reason to go and that all would be well.
"Ride as fast as you can." she instructed the servant as he saddled her ass for her. "Don't slow down for me unless I ask you to."
It took an hour, or two, to get to Mount Carmel, where the prophet lived.
Elisha looked down the road and recognized the woman right away.
"Gehazi! Why is that dear lady here?" Elisha asked his servant.
"I'm not sure master, I will ask."
Gehazi ran to meet her.
"Is everything okay?" Gehazi asked her.
"Fine!" she answered as she got off her ride.
"How's your husband?" Gehazi tried again.
"Fine!" she responded as she began walking briskly towards the door.
"How's that little guy of yours?" he asked.
"Fine!" she said as only a woman can when everything is definitely NOT fine!!
The lady ran into the room where Elisha stood and collapsed at his feet.
Gehazi stepped forward to escort her away from his master. This wasn't the protocall. No one just runs up to the prophet!
"It's okay. Leave her be!" Elisha told him. "Something is wrong and God hasn't told me about it."
Then she broke down.
"Oh sir! Did I ask for a son? Didn't I tell you not to trick me?" she cried.
Elisha knew right away that something tragic had happened to the little fellow.
"Hurry Gehazi!" he ordered, "Take my staff and lay it across the child!"
Gehazi obeyed at once. He too was, no doubt, fond of the boy.
Elisha and the distraught Mother were not far behind.
Gehazi got there first and ran into the familiar little room. There was the child's body, looking so still and quiet and small. He laid the staff on him, hoping for a miracle. So many miracles had been performed with that staff!
There was no response.
Was he dead, or only in a coma?
He called him, but there was no answer.
Elisha soon entered the room.
"He won't wake up." Gehazi reported.
The boy's mother stayed downstairs. Did she pray? Did she busy herself preparing dinner confident that all would be well? Or, did she sit in a chair and stare into space, in shock of what had happened, too numb to know how to react? I could imagine any of those responses from her, but what is important is what was happening in the little room upstairs.
The prophet sent even his right-hand man Gehazi out of the room. It was just him and the boy. Oh how he longed to hear his cheerful little voice again. He cried out in prayer to his God. He rubbed his little body, hoping to bring warmth back into him. He blew into his mouth trying to get him to take just one breath. He didn't stop. He didn't give up. He prayed and continued to work on the little body. Was it feeling warmer? Did he hear a heartbeat that time? Was that the boy's breath, or just his own that he had breathed into him coming back out? Once more he cried out to God. -not for himself, but for the dear little mother who was downstairs. The one who never asked for anything for herself. The one who had just lost the only thing she had ever wanted, but never even hoped for.
Elisha went downstairs and paced back and forth. No one spoke. It had never been so quiet in that house. He couldn't bear to look at the Shunammite woman. Gehazi looked at him with a silent question, but Elisha didn't answer him. He wouldn't answer. Not yet.
Back upstairs he went. He worked some more on the little body. Suddenly the boy sneezed! Seven sneezes! They were too quiet to be heard out of that room, but, to Elisha, it was the most wonderful sound he had ever heard! And then, those dear little eyes fluttered open!
Elisha went to the door. His faithful servant was right there.
"Gehazi! Go get the Shunamite woman! Tell her to come here!"
Up the stairs she came. Was this it? Was it time to accept the fact that her son was dead? How could her heart continue to beat if his wasn't? But, she went. "All will be well!" she told herself. She took a deep breath and tapped on the door.
"I'm here, sir."
"Go pick your son up!" he softly commanded.
Then she saw him. Still. Quiet. But, very much alive. He looked at her and smiled a weak smile and ...he breathed! He breathed a big breath of oxygen in that little upper room.
For the second time that day she fell at the prophet's feet. This time she was speechless. He understood.
She stumbled to the Holy man's bed and gently picked up her precious little boy. She held him close. She couldn't see anyone else. She couldn't see the prophet standing in the room. She didn't acknowledge his servant holding the door open for her. She didn't see her husband coming into the house from the field confused about why the prophet's ass was by the gate. All she saw was her son's beautiful brown eyes. All she could hear was his breathing. 1-2-3... each breath a little stronger, a little deeper. And, that little heart beat! So steady, so strong. She sat in her chair and held him close. She sat while the prophet and his servant went outside with her husband and told him all that had happened. She didn't even offer her guests food!
It was okay. Elisha couldn't eat right then anyway.
"Let's go!" he told Gehazi and they left for home.
The father went inside and looked at that amazing and beautiful woman in the chair holding their son and tears formed in his eyes. They ran down his cheeks and down his beard.
"Do you know how much I love you?" he asked as he walked towards the chair.
"He is so loved," she whispered, presuming he was referring to the little child who was their world.
"Yes, he is loved. Oh so loved. But I was talking about you, my love."
She felt strong arms pick them both up and he just held them.
She cried. For the first time that day, she cried. Her body shook and he just held her. He cried too. They were happy tears. The little boy smiled at his parents.
"It's okay." he said, "Everything will be fine!"
His mother smiled and looked at her husband. He smiled too!
"Yes! Didn't I tell you?" she reminded him, and herself. "Everything is just fine!"
He shook his head and, for the first time he thought, maybe, he was finally starting to understand women, or, at least this one!
A few chapters later Elisha visited this woman again and told her that there was going to be a famine. So, she packed up her family and they moved to the coast for a few years.
Seven years later, the family moved back home. But, guess what? Someone else was living in their house! She took her son's hand and went directly to the King.
It just so happened that someone else was visiting with the king that day. A man named Gehazi. The king had asked him to come and tell him all the Great things God had done through Elisha. He had just finished telling about a time when Elisha raise a boy to life when who should walk in but the Shunamite lady!
The king looked up to see who was interrupting his story hour and didn't recognize her. Gehazi did though.
"Oh, King! This is the lady and her son whom Elisha raised to life!" Gehazi announced excitedly.
The King was impressed and honored to meet them.
She immediately had an audience with the King. He didn't need to be asked twice. He assigned an officer from his court to make sure she had everything she needed and complete restitution of all that was hers. Not only did she get her home back, but a full pantry too! Her family's needs were met.
How might her story have changed if it wasn't for her kindness and hospitality?
A few chapters later Elisha visited this woman again and told her that there was going to be a famine. So, she packed up her family and they moved to the coast for a few years.
Seven years later, the family moved back home. But, guess what? Someone else was living in their house! She took her son's hand and went directly to the King.
It just so happened that someone else was visiting with the king that day. A man named Gehazi. The king had asked him to come and tell him all the Great things God had done through Elisha. He had just finished telling about a time when Elisha raise a boy to life when who should walk in but the Shunamite lady!
The king looked up to see who was interrupting his story hour and didn't recognize her. Gehazi did though.
"Oh, King! This is the lady and her son whom Elisha raised to life!" Gehazi announced excitedly.
The King was impressed and honored to meet them.
She immediately had an audience with the King. He didn't need to be asked twice. He assigned an officer from his court to make sure she had everything she needed and complete restitution of all that was hers. Not only did she get her home back, but a full pantry too! Her family's needs were met.
How might her story have changed if it wasn't for her kindness and hospitality?
