Elisha-The Woman Asked, God Supplied

By Mary Vee
II Kings 8

From the Shunammite Woman's Diary

Seven years passed before we'd received word the famine had ended in our home town. 

I was really excited about returning to my house. My neighbors would be returning from wherever they fled. We could celebrate, plant our gardens, and get back to our normal lives. My son, now old enough to help, helped me pack our belongings on a donkey. 

We walked all the long way back. Tears welled when I saw my home. Finally home.

A guard stopped us shortly before we reached our home. "You must first ask the king to reclaim your land."

I have experienced many trials in my life, but this would be a tragedy if the king did not allow me to reclaim my land. I had to be strong, for the sake of my son.

We went to the palace at the time when the people had permission to go before the king. I stood in line.

When my turn came, I overheard Elisha's servant, Gehazi speaking to the king. The king asked him, "Tell me about all the great things Elisha has done."

I knew many miracles Elisha had done in the service of the Lord and would have gladly answered for him. 

Gehazi answered, "There was a woman whose son had died. She came to Elisha asking his help. Elisha followed her to her house and went to the boy's room. He prayed asking God to restore the boy's life. Later Elisha came out of the room carrying the boy. He handed the boy to his mother. His young eyes opened and he asked for food.

Gehazi had told the king my story! I stepped forward. "Excuse me."

Gehazi turned and smiled. "This, your majesty is the woman, and there is her son beside her."

The king gave me permission to approach his throne. "Tell me, what happened with your son."

I told him the entire story beginning with Elisha's visit, my husband building a room on our roof for Elisha, the Lord granting us a son, his illness, death, and Elisha's prayers to God. "This here is my son. The event I spoke of happened seven years ago. We fled as Elisha advised to avoid the famine and have returned to reclaim our land."

The king called to one of his officials. "Take this woman's case. Give her back everything that belonged to her, including all the money earned from her land from the day she left the country until now."

"Thank you, king." I bowed. Truly I never expected to receive the money. I didn't even know for sure if I'd receive my land. The Lord has given back to me more than a hundred fold for the little we spent to host Elisha. 

We left the official's chambers soon after and returned to our house. Yes. Our house. Thank you God for placing Gehazi in the king's chambers at the exact moment needed. Thank you for taking care of us.

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photo courtesy of visualbiblealive.com

1. Why did the Shunammite woman return to her land?
2. What did she find out when she returned?
3. Who was meeting with the king when she stood in line?
4. What did the king ask her?
5. What did the king give her?

Elisha-The Shunammite Woman's Cry for Help

By Mary Vee
II Kings 4

From Elisha's Journal

I didn't worry. 

My faith remained strong.

God said He wanted to bless the Shunammite woman with a son. The boy was a gift from God. I knew in my heart God would take care of the situation.

She came to the mountain searching for me and said her son had been sick and died. Immediately I sent my servant, Gehazi, ahead of us and told him to set my staff on the boy's face.

This woman had dome much for me in the past years. She first allowed me to stay in her home and fed me. She and her husband then invited me to come anytime the Lord's work brought me past their home. Last, she and her husband built a room on the roof of her home to give me a peaceful rest. Her kindness touched my heart. 

Gehazi followed the instructions then ran back and found us close to her home. He said, "I did all you told me to do. The boy has not awakened."

I continued to escort the Shunammite woman, walking faster to her house. Since I'd stayed with her family in the past, I knew where her son's bedroom was. I walked straight to the room. "Stay out here," I said to Gehazi and her.

I shut the door and prayed to the Lord, asking His mercy on the boy's life. After a time of prayer I got up and went to the boy's bed. I laid my hand on his head. God then commanded me to lay on the boy, placing our faces together. I felt the boy's body warming. 

I got up from the bed and paced about the room, talking with God the whole time. I then went back to the bed and lay on the boy as the Lord commanded. Suddenly, he sneezed. I sat on the bed next to him and watch him breathe. Six more times he sneezed and opened his eyes.

I went to the door and called to Gehazi, "Call the Shunammite woman" 

She ran to the room right away. I pointed to the boy, "Take your son."

Her eyes grew wide and she pressed her hands on her cheeks. She called out to her son and ran to him. As she held him in her arms she thanked God for sparing her son's life.

God gave me another message for her. "I have something to tell you. You and your family need to move away for seven ears. The Lord has decreed a famine in the land that will last the seven years." 

She told her husband the message. They packed their things and went to the land of the Philistines, and there they lived for seven years.

Praise God for his loving kindness.

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photo courtesy of christianimagesource.com

1.  What problem did the Shunammite son have?
2.  What happened to him?
3.  ______________ went with the Shunammite woman to her home
4.  Elisha saw her son. He first _____________________
5.  Second, he __________________________________
6.  Third, he ____________________________________
7.  Fourth, he ___________________________________
8. What warning did Elisha give the Shunammite woman?

Elisha-Shunammite Pleads for Her Son

By Mary Vee
II Kings 4

From the Shunammite Woman's Diary

I love my son. After many years, I didn't think I would ever have a child. One day the prophet Elisha told me God would bless our family with a son.

He has been the joy of my days. I love his laughter and his giggles. Yesterday he went with his father to help in the fields. Before noon, I looked out the window and was surprised to see out servant carrying my son toward the house.

He brought my child inside. "He has a terrible headache. It has grown so terribly over the last hour."

I took my son and placed him on my lap, holding him tight and humming a soft tune. Nothing helped. He cried out in anguish. My heart ripped apart because there was nothing I could do to ease his pain.

As the noon sun sat in the sky, my son fell limp in my arms and took his last breath. I had to do something. Sitting here and crying wouldn't help. I carried my son to his bed and closed the door. 

Elisha told us where he would be when he left a few days ago. I ran out to the field where my husband worked, asked for a donkey and a servant to accompany me to visit the prophet. "I won't be gone long." 

"Why do you want to see him today? This isn't a festival or the Sabbath."

"I know. I just want to speak with him."

He shrugged and called for the donkey and servant. I saddled the donkey as quick as I could and said to the servant, "Lead the way, go quickly and don't slow down for me unless I tell you." He set a good pace, one that I had to work hard to keep up with.

In the distance Elisha's servant ran toward us. He must have seen us coming. He called out to us as he neared, "Is everything all right. Is your husband all right? Is your child all right? 

"Gehazi, I must speak with the prophet. This is urgent." 

He led us to Elisha's camp on the mountain. Elisha came out to greet me. I slid off the donkey and ran to his feet and wrapped my hands around them. Gehazi moved forward to pull me away but Elisha told him to stop. 

"Did I ask for the son to be given to me? Yet God gave me a son as a gift. This morning he died."

Elisha said, "Gehazi take my staff and run to the boy. If you meet anyone on the way don't greet them. If anyone greets you, ignore them. Hurry to the boy and set my staff on his face."

I wanted Elisha to come to my son, I just needed his presence. "Please, Elisha, as sure as the Lord lives, I will not leave without you."

Gehazi left ahead of us as Elisha commanded. Elisha and I traveled on the road together. 

As we walked a ways, Gehazi ran back in our direction. "I did all that you said, but the boy has not awakened."

I refused to give up. Come back next time to see what happened next.

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photo courtesy of christianimagesource.com

1.  What problem did the Shunammite son have?
2.  What happened to him?
3.  What did the Shunammite ask her husband for?
4.  Why did she do this knowing what happened top her son?
5.  Who did she go to see?
6.  Did she find him?

Elisha- God Rewards The One Who Gives

Mary Vee
II Kings 4

From the Shunammite Woman's Journal

I went outside to do some chores one day and found a prophet of God walking by. He walked slow and seemed to need a rest. I invited him into my home, offered him something to eat and drink, and gave him a place to rest. He had good color in his face when he left. I also gave him some bread for his journey.

Some days later, I saw the prophet come my way again. He must have regular business that brings him this way. I invited him in my home again, gave him food, drink, and a place to rest. He thanked me several times before he left.

I told my husband about this prophet. "Husband, he comes by our home frequently. I would like to build a room for him on the roof. We could put a bed there and offer him the privacy to come and go as he needs.

My husband is a good man, always willing to help. He agreed to build the room. Once it was finished I put a bed, table, chair, and lamp in the room for the prophet.

The next time the prophet came, I showed him the room we made. He was completely overjoyed. He spent the one night, stopped in for food, then left repeating thank you several times.

A week later, the prophet returned. He asked to speak with me. I went right away, thinking there was some problem.

"Tell me," he said. "You have gone to all this trouble for us. Now, what can be done for you? Can we speak to the king or the commander of the army on your behalf?"

"No, I can't think of anything. I live here among my people and am quite happy."

The prophet turned to his servant. "Can you think of anything we can do to show our appreciate to this woman?

His servant said, "Well, she has no son and her husband is old."

The prophet smiled at me. "About this time next year, you will hold a son in your arms."

I didn't believe him. My husband is old. We've never had children. "Please don't tease me, O man of God."

"Trust me, you will have a son."

His words came true. I became pregnant soon after their visit and about the same time the next year, when he stopped by, I showed him my new son.

What a wonderful blessing from God.

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photo courtesy of visualbiblealive.com

1.  Who walked near the Shunammite woman's home?
2.  What did she do for the man?
3.  She asked her husband to build a _________ on the ________
4.  Elisha was so happy he asked her what she wanted as a gift. She said ______.
5.  Elisha asked his servant for an idea. He said ___________________________
6.  Elisha told the woman she _________________________________________
7.  Did his words come true? ____________________