What can we learn about faith from the Shunammite woman's response in 2 Kings 4:28? Setting the Scene 2 Kings 4 traces the story of a wealthy Shunammite couple who blessed Elisha with hospitality. In response, God granted them a miraculous son. Years later the boy suddenly died. The mother saddled a donkey, rode to Mount Carmel, and fell at Elisha’s feet. When Gehazi tried to push her away, “But the mother of the boy said, ‘As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.’ So he got up and followed her” (2 Kings 4:30). Then comes her pivotal cry: “Then she said, ‘Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say, “Do not deceive me”?’” (2 Kings 4:28) What Her Words Reveal About Faith • Faith remembers God’s gift – She anchors her plea to the child who came by prophetic promise (v. 16). • Faith speaks honestly yet reverently – She expresses raw grief without accusation. Like David, she pours out her complaint but keeps her trust (Psalm 62:8). • Faith refuses resignation – She does not plan a funeral; she seeks resurrection. Her journey to Elisha says, “God’s story with my son is not finished.” • Faith clings to God’s appointed means – Elisha represents the Lord’s word. Staying at his feet shows confidence that God will act through His servant. Compare the Jairus story: “Do not fear, only believe” (Mark 5:36). • Faith persists until the promise is fulfilled – She will not leave Elisha until he returns home (v. 30), echoing Jacob’s “I will not let You go unless You bless me” (Genesis 32:26). Faith Illustrated in the Wider Canon • Hebrews 11:35 – “Women received back their dead, raised to life again.” The Shunammite stands among those heroines. • Romans 4:20–21 – Like Abraham, she is “fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised.” • James 1:6 – “But he must ask in faith, without doubting.” Her determined journey embodies single-minded trust. Practical Takeaways for Today • Rehearse God’s past faithfulness; let previous mercies fuel present petitions. • Bring grief and confusion to the Lord without fear—He invites honest hearts. • Refuse to surrender to circumstances that contradict God’s revealed will. • Stay close to Scripture and the people who speak it into your life; God often works through them. • Persist. Faith that endures the trip from Shunem to Carmel—twenty miles of dusty road—often sees the miracle. Conclusion The Shunammite woman’s cry in 2 Kings 4:28 is not a wail of despair but a declaration: “You began this story, Lord; You must finish it.” Her example calls us to that same steadfast, honest, promise-anchored faith. |
    |