The Shunammite’s son restored to life
8 One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he passed by, he stopped there to eat. (Stopover became a regular habit) 2 Kings 4
Shunem can mean, two resting places, double supports. Seems a fitting name in this context.
The wealthy woman offered Elisha the hospitality of her home. She was in a position to bless the travelling prophet and she did. We should BE CAREFUL especially whom we invite into our homes and lives, because IT MAY OPEN US TO FUTURE INFLUENCES, WHETHER GOOD OR BAD. This is a simple and maybe very obvious statement, but I actually feel the weight of the Spirit as I’m writing this! So again, be careful to whom you open your house and your life.
9 She said to her husband, ‘I know that this man WHO OFTEN COMES OUR WAY IS A HOLY MAN OF GOD. 10 Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then HE CAN STAY THERE whenever he comes to us.’
No doubt the Lord’s Hand was in all of this, but the Shunammite lady had observed Elisha for some time before concluding that he was a genuine man of God. God’s people are always on view and open to judgment and there is wisdom in taking time to get to know people better before inviting them into closer relationships. Dare I say that this is wise even in the Church today. The Shunammite took time to observe and get to know this visitor to her home, even though he was the national prophet in Israel.
26 The righteous choose their friends carefully, (are cautious in friendship)
but the way of the wicked leads them astray. Proverbs 12
There’s a big difference between someone visiting our home and someone staying, or living, in it. When we allow the wrong people to become too familiar they may well seek to dominate and control our lives. It’s interesting that the Shunammite, though caring and kind, put Elisha up on the roof and not in the main part of the house. There was still a little distance between the man of God and the household and this may have suited both parties.
There was now AN OPEN DOOR to the prophet whenever he came that way and he determined when he would visit and stay. The woman and her husband may have felt honoured that the prophet Elisha came and stayed in their home and certainly future blessings would flow from this close relationship. In order for any close relationship to work there must be mutual honour and respect on both sides. One party cannot dominate the other, that’s only control and there’s a lot of it in this world and in the Body of Believers, so be cautious who you invite in.
May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.