THE SHUNAMMITE WOMAN

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Heyyyyy guys it's been quiet here. Did you miss me?

Well, I missed you. I took some much needed time off and I'm back. To be honest, it's been hard for me to keep quiet especially since March was Women's history month and I loooooove women stuff (lol). I had big things I wanted to share with you in March but I'd rather stick with God's plan.

So in honour of Women's history month (March), I thought it would be befitting that we learn about a woman of virtue today. Don't you agree?

Let's get into it.

Usually when we talk about biblical heroines, our minds drift to Deborah, Esther, Mary etc. few would remember this nameless woman from 2 Kings. This woman lived in a town called Shunem in Israel- that’s how she get the name she’s known by - the Shunammite woman.

For the purposes of this post, we’re going to call her ‘Rich Aunty’ (lol) . Because I don’t know any other person more deserving of this title than her. She is one of the few women the Bible describes as 'wealthy'(2 Kings 4:8).

Let’s take some time to admire who she is and what she did in Scripture.

1. Hospitability

According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, to be hospitable means to be friendly and generous to guests and visitors.

One day Elisha went to the town of Shunem. A wealthy woman lived there, and she urged him to come to her home for a meal. After that, whenever he passed that way, he would stop there for something to eat.- 2 Kings 4:8

Rich aunty saw a complete stranger and decided to offer him a meal. That's something a few people would do. Her house became the prophet's second home because she offered to help him in the first place. As christians, hospitality is a quality we must portray to both strangers and friends alike.

And show hospitality to strangers for there may be angels from God showing up as your guests.- Hebrews 13:2

2. Discernment

This is the ability to judge well. It is the God-given ability to distinguish right from wrong, good and evil, truth and error.

She told her husband, “I am sure this man who stops in from time to time is a holy man of God- 2 King 4:9.

Discernment is a very necessary gift every believer must possess. The Shunammite woman could tell that Elisha was holy man. Her judgement was not based on gossip or suspicion but upon her discernment. She had observed him according to scripture and found out that he was genuine. In the days we live in, there is an abundance of false prophets, we must be like this woman and discern the sheep from the wolves in sheep’s clothing.

3. Problem solving

Rich aunty did not just sit there and fold her arms when she noted that Elisha had no permanent place to stay when he was in town. She did not go about complaining to everyone else, she did something about it. She consulted stakeholders (her husband) and found a solution to it.

Let’s build a small room for him on the roof and furnish it with a bed, table, a chair and a lamp. Then he will have a place to stay whenever he comes by”- 2 King 4:10.

Maybe you and I cannot build a small room but are we willing to share our own small room with someone?

It could be a word of encouragement for someone who has been diligently labouring in their place of assignment. It could be a money gift or volunteering to do something for that person. In short, you can do anything your strength and resources allow you to in order to help solve a problem.

Today, our keywords are; hospitability, discernment and problem solving.

By practicing these three things on a genuine man of God, she was blessed with a son. Elisha was pressed to ask her if there was anything she needed because of how she treated him. And since she didn't have any children of her own, he prophesied that she would have a son and she did!

This is what I call “endearing yourself to people”. She did not lobby for help, she just found a need and filled it. In the fulfilment of this need, her problem was solved. Her hospitability not her prayer or fasting(as important as those are) led to her miracle.

I pray that as we enter this new month of April, you will keep these three attributes in mind and endeavor to practice them with the help of the Holy Spirit.

And oh! don't forget to like, share and subscribe to this blog. Do have a blessed April!