In 2 Kings 4:8-17 we find a fascenating story involving Elisha and a Shunemite woman: “One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food. And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there. One day he came there, and he turned into the chamber and rested there. And he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite.” When he had called her, she stood before him. And he said to him, “Say now to her, ‘See, you have taken all this trouble for us; what is to be done for you? Would you have a word spoken on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’” She answered, “I dwell among my own people.” And he said, “What then is to be done for her?” Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.” He said, “Call her.” And when he had called her, she stood in the doorway. And he said, “At this season, about this time next year, you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord, O man of God; do not lie to your servant.” But the woman conceived, and she bore a son about that time the following spring, as Elisha had said to her.” The story does not end there. Later the young boy dies. The mother is distraught and hurries to get Elisha to do something. After Elisha makes a personal visit, he cures the boy and raises him back to life. Here we see God bringing joy and fulfillment to the mother. God first blesses the Shumanite woman with a son then raises the boy from the dead. These wonderful things did not happen to the Shunemite woman by accident; recall, she was very hospitable to Elisha. She was then duly rewarded for her righteousness!
Rewarded for Righteousness !
