=ELISHA – A MAN OF MIRACLES=

The Chamber in Shunem

1. THE (890 BC) – II Kings 4:8

A. “And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great
woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft
as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread” (verse 8).
1. “It fell on a day” is not chance but opportunity.
a. Shunem was located a few miles north of Jezreel and was
on the road Elisha often took from his dwelling in Mount
Carmel to places he regularly visited, such as, Jezreel or
the schools of the prophets in that area.
b. This woman of Shunem saw Elisha’s situation as an
opportunity to .
c. It was an opportunity to serve in providing
for one of God's choicest prophets.
d. She used her “ ” wealth to give help
to the Lord's work by providing meals for one of God's
servants.
2. When inviting Elisha to eat at her house, she
“ ” him to do so.
a. The word “ ” means to be
forceful; to compel; to be persistent in a course of action.
b. It appears Elisha was not easily persuaded to eat at her house.
3. The feeding of Elisha was just a once only experience. It was an open-end invitation.
a. It was not given for just one meal, but it was given for every time Elisha passed by their place.
b. Therefore, “as as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.”
B. Unlike this woman, many people in church profess to be interested and willing, but you cannot count on them.
When you press them to perform as they promised, their tune changes and they have excuses for not serving.

2. THE (890 BC) – II Kings 4:9-10

A. “She said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us
continually” (verse 9).
1. In a conversation with her husband about Elisha, the woman of Shunem manifested some keen insight.
2. Providing meals periodically for Elisha had permitted the Shunammite to become well acquainted with
him.
3. Although she obviously knew he was a prophet when she invited him to dine at her house, she now
perceives that Elisha is “an man of God.”
a. Her statement says Elisha was holy in character.
b. She knew what was holy and what was not holy.
B. “Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a
stool, and a candlestick. And it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither” (verse 10).
1. In making her request to her husband, she showed respect for her husband - “I
thee” (verse 10).
a. She did not him around or have the chamber built on her own, but she
asked him instead.
b. She bowed to his decision.
2. She perceived Elisha's need of room (as well as board that she had already provided him) and made
request to her husband to build a chamber onto their house for the prophet.
a. She not only perceived Elisha's need of with a bed but also his need of
with a table, lamp, and chair.
b. She recognized that a prophet of God would want a place for meditation and study as well as
relaxation.
3. Because the Shunammite woman is more prominent in the story than her husband, some have suspected
she was a wife and, therefore, she, instead of her husband, ran the home.
a. Her prominence in the story is because the events take place in the where she
spent most of her time preparing the meals, taking care of the house and other household duties.
b. She did not act of her husband.
3. THE (890 BC) – II Kings 4:11-17
A. One day, after the chamber had been built and was in use by Elisha, he spoke to his servant, Gehazi, and said,
“Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him. And he said unto him, Say now
unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for with all this care; what is to be done for thee?
Wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine
own people” (verses 12-13).
1. “Been careful for us with ” emphasizes the fact she went
to a lot of trouble to provide for Elisha and his servant.
a. Elisha was anxious to show his .
b. Elisha ran into some problem in determining just what to do for her.
2. His first offer was to put in a good word for her to the king or to the captain of the host (who was next to
the king).
3. Her reply of, “I dwell with my own people” meant she was with her circumstances
and had no need of special intervention at that time.
B. Although his first attempt to repay her failed, Elisha insisted on pursuing the matter. So after the woman had left,
he asked Gehazi “What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her
husband is old” (verse 14).
1. Elisha knew then what her reward was going to be. It would be that of a .
2. Elisha called the woman back and told her, “About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt
embrace a son” (verse 16).
3. Her response, “Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid” (verse 16) was not a
harsh rebuke of Elisha, but only showed her at the wonderful news.
a. In Old Testament times especially, was considered a real curse.
b. Often times a woman without a child was considered in with God.
c. Children were considered a great blessing from God and a token of His favor upon the mother.
C. When Gehazi told Elisha that the woman was childless, he also told him that “her husband is old” (verse 14).
1. Humanly speaking this meant she was doomed to childlessness the rest of her life.
2. But in stepped God with a !
3. Unlike most of Elisha's miracles which brought blessings on people, this one was asked for
by the recipient.
4. The woman of Shunem received her blessing because she took care of servant (verse
17).