The Woman Who Planned for a Resurrection

 Let’s first look at the Shunammite woman — one of the Bible’s best examples of an unstoppable woman who ultimately received the desire of her heart.

Now it happened one day that Elisha went to  Shunem, where there was a notable woman, and she persuaded him to eat some food. So it was, as often as he passed by, he would turn in there to eat some food. And she said to her husband, “Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly. Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there.” And it happened one day that he came there, and he turned in to the upper room and lay down there.  2 Kings 4:8-11

In Old Testament times, people didn’t have the indwelling Holy Spirit like you and I do. The prophets were as close to God as the people could get. The prophets heard from God directly, and when His Spirit came upon them, they would work in signs and wonders, and miracles would flow through them!

 This was the reason Elisha was so special to this woman. She was hungry to know God, so she wanted the prophet of God near her. She wanted to serve him and provide for him — to the point that she decided to build a room for him to make sure that if he did come, he would stay at her house.

The Shunammite woman’s decision to build the room for the prophet was an act both of honor and of spiritual hunger. She was opening the door for God in her life.

In a similar way, when we make time to fellowship with God, we’re opening the door for Him in our lives. We want to be with Him. We want to know Him better. The difference is that under the New Covenant, we have the Holy Spirit living inside us. This Shunammite woman didn’t have the indwelling Holy Spirit, so being around the prophet was the only way for her to get close to God. As a result, this woman created a special place for Elisha. And the time came when the grateful prophet wanted to repay the favor.

Then he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite woman.” When he had called her, she stood before him. And he said to him, “Say now to her, ‘Look, you have been concerned for us with all this care. What can I do for you? Do you want me to speak on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’” She answered, “I dwell among my own people.” 2 Kings 4:12,13

I want to point out that not only was this a woman hungry for God, but she was also a humble woman. Her attitude wasn’t, “Well, finally! I’ve been feeding you; I’ve made a place for you; and now finally you’re going to do something for me!”

No, instead, the Shunammite responded, in effect, “No, no, you don’t have to do anything for me. I dwell among my own people.”

So he said, “What then is to be done for her?” And Gehazi answered, “Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old.” So he said, “Call her.” When he had called her, she stood in the doorway. 2 Kings 4:14,15

Notice in verse 12, it says this woman “stood before him.” Then in verse 15, it says, “…When he had called her, she stood in the doorway.” It seems that this woman wanted to be so close to Elisha that she stayed near the door of his room — so close that if he had opened the door, she might have fallen in! The way it is worded pictures a woman who really wanted to hear what the prophet had to say!

As the Shunammite woman stood before Elisha, the prophet did indeed have something important to tell her.

 Then he said, “About this time next year you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!” But the woman conceived, and bore a son when the appointed time had come, of which Elisha had told her. 2 Kings 4:16,17

A miracle happened for this woman in the months following her conversation with the prophet Elisha. Her husband was old, and in the natural, it was impossible for her to have a child. Nevertheless, within months she conceived and bore a child about that time the following year.

 We can only imagine the joy this woman found in watching her child grow over the years that followed. But all of that was to suddenly change.

 And the child grew. Now it happened one day that he went out to his father, to the reapers. And he said to his father, “My head, my head!” So he said to a servant, “Carry him to his mother.” When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.  2 Kings 4:18-20

You may have held your sick child on your lap in times past. If so, you can possibly imagine this mother’s emotions. Her feelings were just like yours would be in a similar situation. But then her son died in her arms! The pain of that moment may be more difficult for you to imagine.

 I want you to see what this Shunammite woman was like. She’d already experienced one miracle when her son was born, so she had that encouragement. But she’d never heard of anyone else being raised from the dead. She couldn’t say, “Oh, I heard about this person and that person who were raised from the dead!” No one was being raised from the dead in the land.

 Nevertheless, this woman believed that way! Holding her dead son, she was thinking, I’m not losing him. I’ve had one miracle. I’m going to have another miracle!

 This mother was not planning on the worst outcome. She was planning on the ultimate best outcome. And she immediately went into action — not to plan a funeral, but to prepare for the resurrection of her dead son!

 I believe that’s such a word from Heaven to us, because we live in a time when there are so many reasons for heartache and sleepless nights. And when it looks like we’re experiencing the death of our God-given dreams because of circumstances or people’s opinions, we need the faith to think like this Shunammite woman so we can remove obstacles blocking our way.

You see, that resurrection wasn’t going to happen just because it needed to be written in the Bible. This was a real woman who had just lost the child she was still holding in her lap. Yet in that very moment of pain and loss, this mother made a choice. She was already planning a resurrection!

The Shunammite woman remembered what God had done for her in the past. She remembered that the son she was holding was himself a miracle. She remembered that it was impossible in the natural that she could have ever even given birth to that child. And this woman of great faith refused to consider the possibility that the same prophet who had declared God was going to give her a miracle child would not be able to raise that child from the dead!

I want to encourage you in your own life: If you’ve experienced a miracle at some point in the past, you can know that God will bless you again and supernaturally work on your behalf if you’ll hold fast to Him and refuse what the enemy tries to do to steal that blessing from you. He’s the same God today, yesterday, and forever — the very same (see Hebrews 13:8)!

 Verse 21 tells us what the Shunammite woman did next: “And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, shut the door upon him, and went out.” 

Consider the emotions that were no doubt ready to overwhelm this mother — but she was refusing to let them control her. She immediately went into action to put her child on the bed of the man of God. She was not calling on any natural help for her dead son. She was not planning a funeral. When she lay the lifeless body of her son on the prophet’s bed, she was getting the problem she needed help with as close to God as she could. And as she then left the room and closed the door, she was demonstrating her faith that she would see her son raised from the dead.

 Any normal mother would want to just hold her dead child and weep, to gaze upon his beloved face until the moment his body was buried and she would never see him again in this life. But this mother was acting in faith. She didn’t have to look at her son’s body, because she had fully determined that he was going to live again!

 That’s how we will receive from our faithful God when trouble comes, knowing that His Son Jesus has already paid the complete price in His death, burial, and resurrection! Whatever tries to come to steal, kill, or destroy in our lives — Jesus already bore that on the Cross. Even in Gethsemane, Jesus was in such mental torment and anguish that He sweated great drops of blood (see Luke 22:44). But through it all, He was paying for our wholeness — spirit, soul, and body.

She Wouldn’t Take No for an Answer

The Shunammite woman’s next words provide a powerful glimpse into her heart and the faith she was operating in.

Then she called to her husband, and said, “Please send me one of the young men and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God and come back.” 2 Kings 4:22

This mother had a plan. She would run to the man of God and bring him back, and he would raise her son from the dead. She was confessing what she believed! And she wasn’t going to take no for an answer. There was a “not-giving-up” attitude fueling this determined woman. She was unstoppable!

 I believe that’s a big part of receiving from God — to refuse to even consider the option of giving up. This woman wasn’t even considering the possibility of reaching her destination and then coming back empty-handed. She was going on a mission and coming back with full supply!

We can lay hold of that same kind of faith in our God every time we go into His presence. We’re not to even entertain a thought that He might not come through for us. We don’t have to beg God for the answer He has already promised. He doesn’t hold the answer out in front of us like a carrot on a stick that we can never quite reach. He doesn’t say, “Just beg a little harder — oh, you almost got it! Try being a little more fervent in how you say, ‘Jesus!’ Oh, too bad, you didn’t get your answer this time. Maybe next time.”

No, that is not at all who our God is!

 Jesus is ready with a full supply! His hand is continually loaded with provision for us. He’s just asking us to come by faith and receive — and to refuse to give up till the answer manifests!

‘It Is Well’

This woman immediately implemented her plan. She asked her husband for a donkey to be made ready for her to ride so she could be on her way.

So he said, “Why are you going to him today? It is neither the New Moon nor the Sabbath.” And she said, “It is well.”  2 Kings 4:23

 This woman didn’t have a team standing behind her to support her faith, not even her husband. She was a team of one, standing in faith that all was well. Therefore, she didn’t even tell her husband that his son was dead.

 It’s human nature to want other people to be on board with you — but sometimes it comes down to “just one.” You’re the one who heard from the Lord, and you’re standing on His Word. Many times you may be required to be the one to push through alone with God.

That was the case with the Shunammite woman. This mother’s son was dead. In the natural, it was not well. But in her heart, it was well. She was getting her son raised from the dead.

That is such a powerful demonstration of faith in action. It’s an example we all should follow. No matter what it looks like in the natural, we trust in the faithfulness of our God. Therefore, we can say with assurance in every circumstance, “It is well.”

 Whatever is going on in your life, Jesus has already paid the price for the solution. He can bring the answers. He can settle the confusion. He is the Answer. You can say, “It is well. I’m looking to You, Jesus. I’m not focusing on my circumstances. I’m looking to You, and it is well!”

The lyrics to that beautiful, familiar hymn, “It Is Well With My Soul,” perfectly illustrate this truth. The lyrics were written by a man named Horatio Spafford who knew what it was to suffer much loss. He was an attorney and real-estate investor who had lost a fortune in the 1871 Chicago fire. Then soon afterward, he lost his beloved four-year-old son to scarlet fever.

Thinking a vacation would be good for the family, Horatio sent his wife and their four daughters on a ship headed for Europe, with plans for him to follow shortly thereafter, after he had concluded some business. But his family’s ship was involved in a terrible collision at sea, and 200 lives were lost when the ship sunk — including Horatio’s four daughters. Only his wife survived.

 The grief-stricken man immediately set sail to join his wife. And as his ship approached the same waters where that ship had sunk and his daughters had died — words containing supernatural comfort and peace rose up in Horatio. He sat down and penned the words to what has become one of the most beloved hymns of all time — “It Is Well With My Soul”:

When peace like a river attends my way When sorrows like sea billows roll Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say It is well, it is well with my soul.

Just as was true with the Shunammite woman, the words “It is well” in the lyrics of this song didn’t come from a place of shallow faith. They came from a deep place with God in the heart of this man who had suffered such loss when his children were lost at sea, yet who never stopped trusting in God’s faithfulness. So the Shunammite woman set off at a determined pace with one goal in mind: to bring back the man of God.

Then she saddled a donkey, and said to her servant, “Drive, and go forward; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you.” And so she departed, and went to the man of God at Mount Carmel. So it was, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to his servant Gehazi, “Look, the Shunammite woman! Please run now to meet her, and say to her, ‘Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?’ And she answered, “It is well.”  2 Kings 4:24-26

 Again, this woman’s answer remained the same: “It is well.” She was still standing and believing. In her mind, she had already received her miracle; she had already received her son back from the dead. It was the kind of miracle she’d likely never heard of anyone else experiencing — yet she had already won the victory in her heart.

This woman showed great faith, and she is an example to us today that there is no problem too big for our God! She was moving in faith — and the Bible says that we overcome by our faith (see 1 John 5:4).

Faith That Won’t Be Denied

When the woman finally stood before Elisha, she bowed before him and grabbed his feet. This woman was serious about getting the prophet’s attention. She had something to say, and she didn’t want him to get away!

Now when she came to the man of God at the hill, she caught him by the feet, but Gehazi came near to push her away. But the man of God said, “Let her alone; for her soul is in deep distress, and the Lord has hidden it from me, and has not told me.” 2 Kings 4:27

 What a picture of determination! The woman wasn’t going to let the prophet go. He couldn’t walk away. She had him! She was not going to be denied.

We need to get to that place of firm determination in our walk with God! We can grab hold of God’s promises by faith and declare, “I am going to receive from You, Lord, and I’m not letting go!”

 By this time, Elisha understood that something serious was going on, but he said, “God has not revealed it to me.”

Meanwhile, when the woman grabbed the prophet around his ankles, Gehazi tried to push her away.

 So there was the Shunammite woman, believing for the resurrection of her dead son, whose lifeless body was lying on the prophet’s bed miles away from her with the door closed. She was believing with every part of her being — yet Gehazi was ready to push her away.

Then Elisha stepped in and said, “Let her alone.”

With those three words, the woman knew she had the prophet’s agreement, which was the open door for the miracle. Those three words also revealed God’s agreement with her act of determined faith. She was going to have what she came for. Her son would live again.

 Think about the dreams in your heart and the petitions you’ve made to the Lord that others may not understand. Perhaps they don’t understand the amount of time you spend with God, or they think you’re wasting your time believing God for what seems impossible in the natural. Perhaps they have a different idea about what the Lord has asked you to do or what you’re believing for. Maybe they have asked you questions like, “Why do you have to make waves and upset the status quo? Why can’t you keep doing it like everyone else has always done it?”

When we’re seeking the Lord with all our hearts — hearing His voice and pressing in to obey Him despite all obstacles — some people in our lives may come to us with a negative opinion or with opposition.

But I’m telling you, there is One who stands up and says, “Let her (or him) alone!”

We don’t have to say, “But you don’t understand the vision God has given me! You don’t understand what’s stirring in my heart.” We don’t have to defend ourselves, because the Lord Jesus Christ Himself will defend us!

Don’t Settle for the ‘Staff’

 The next few verses reveal the attitude of the Shunammite woman as she planned for a resurrection. It’s an attitude that is so important for each of us to adopt as well.

So she said, “Did I ask a son of my lord?  Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive me’?” Then he said to Gehazi, “Get yourself ready, take my staff in your hand, be on your way. If you meet anyone,  do not greet him; and if anyone greets you, do not answer him; but lay my staff on the face of the child.” And the mother of the child said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.” So he arose and followed her.  2 Kings 4:28-30

 Look at the Shunammite woman’s mindset. She was not satisfied with Gehazi bringing Elisha’s staff to lay on the body of her son. She wouldn’t settle for less than what her heart said was necessary to receive the miracle she was believing for.

This woman was bold. She basically said, “As God lives, and as you live, you’re coming with me. I’m not leaving here without you. I just refuse to let go of you until you come with me, man of God.”

She simply was not taking no for an answer! But, remember, she was humble as well — the humility that comes from utterly depending on God. With that kind of humility comes great boldness.

 We see next what happened when Gehazi went on ahead with Elisha’s staff and laid it on the woman’s dead son.

 Now Gehazi went on ahead of them, and laid the staff on the face of the child; but there was neither voice nor hearing. Therefore he went back to meet him, and told him, saying, “The child has not awakened.” 2 Kings 4:31

 The staff didn’t work. And the woman had already determined that she wasn’t going to settle for a staff laid on her son anyway.

I want to encourage you right now — don’t settle for “the staff.” Never be satisfied with a “half resurrection” or a partial answer. Go all the way and believe God for the fullness of what He wants you to accomplish while you’re on this earth.

Never let go of God’s call on your life. Refuse to give up on His dream for you. Hold fast, and keep pressing forward until you receive what you’re believing Him for.

Adopt this woman’s uncompromising stance of faith. When it comes to obeying God, make the rock-solid decision: “No matter what, I’m not quitting until I have received all God has for me and I have done all He has asked me to do!”

 That is the kind of faith that pleases God!

 Don’t Stop Until the Moment of Your Miracle!

The next verses describe the scene when the prophet arrived at the woman’s house and entered his room where her dead son lay on his bed.

 When Elisha came into the house, there was the child, lying dead on his bed. He went in therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the Lord. And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm.  2 Kings 4:32-34

The body of this child was already cold. But as Elisha stretched himself out on his lifeless body — putting his eyes on the boy’s eyes, his mouth on the boy’s mouth, his hands on the boy’s hands — the child’s body began to grow warm. The miracle that the mother had held fast to in her heart was in the process of manifesting!

He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.  2 Kings 4:35

But Elisha didn’t stop just because the boy’s body was beginning to grow warm. We don’t know how long he was with the child. The Bible doesn’t tell us that. We just know that the prophet wasn’t satisfied with anything less than the fullness of resurrection. He didn’t give up until he was able to present the Shunammite woman’s child to her — once again alive and well.

And he called Gehazi and he said, “Call this Shunammite woman.” So he called her. And when she came in to him, he said, “Pick up your son.” So she went in, fell at his feet, bowed to the ground; then she  picked up her son and went out. 2 Kings 4:36,37

 I love Elisha’s simple instruction: “Pick up your son.” This mother had received her miracle!

Is there anything sweeter than paying the price to believe God — spending the necessary time with God in prayer, studying His Word, confessing His promises, staying up late at night at times — and then receiving your miracle or fulfilling what God has asked you to do? I don’t believe you can experience a deeper sense of joy and satisfaction than in that kind of situation.

This woman got her miracle. She did not settle for a lesser outcome.

We’re not to settle either. We are to push through, unstoppable in our quest to walk in God’s best as we fulfill His purpose for our lives!

The Shunammite woman had many opportunities to get discouraged and quit.

• She could have given up and started planning a funeral the moment her son took his last breath while lying in her lap.

• She could have gotten overwhelmed with feelings of shame and blamed herself for her son’s death.

• She could have gotten offended when the servant Gehazi met her along the way instead of Elisha.

• She could have given up when Gehazi tried to push her away from Elisha.

• She could have settled for less than what she was believing for when Elisha said, “I’ll send my servant with my staff.”

But the Shunammite woman did not stop until she received what she was believing for! In each of those moments that could have challenged her faith, she made the right choice. She chose faith instead of fear, shame, offense, or discouragement. She chose to hold fast to her expectation of a miracle.