Before we leave the Shunammite woman, there is one other bit of information we get to read about her. Read 2 Kings 8: 1 - 6
Did you see again the faith of this woman? She so trusted God that when His spokesman, Elisha, told her of a coming famine, she believed him and responded. We read it so quickly - in such a few sentences - it is easy to miss the impact of the event. This woman is faced with a decision that is monumental. Leave your house ... leave your community ... leave your country ... go to a foreign land among people you do not know. All scripture tells us is: "the woman proceeded to do as the man of God said. She and her family went away ..." (verse 2) I just don't think it was all that simple! Many of you have moved - some of you have moved a LOT. You have first hand knowledge of what all is involved in relocating. And while the times were different and the culture was different - I don't think women are different. She left her home and her community. Because God warned her through His prophet.
I think of the many warnings that come to us through the pages of scripture. Do I respond? Or do I want to wait and see if the dire things are really going to happen? In this study, we are getting a crash course on the effects of idolatry on a people - on a country. Do you believe it? What is your response?
Paul, in Colossians 3:5 says, "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: Sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry." I am not a Greek scholar. So I don't know if the use of idolatry applies to "greed" or to the whole list of earthly, fleshly stuff. Either way, I see what God considers idolatry from me - from you. And I see this as a warning from God through the pages of scripture as much as the woman from Shunem received a warning from God through Elisha. God said to her, "Get out of there". And she did. God says to us, "Get rid of ...". And how will our story read?
I love this woman!
As we close today, enjoy a chuckle about God's timing. This lady "happened" to walk into the king's presence as Gehazi "happened" to be telling the king about Elisha raising a boy from the dead. And, what do you know, here she is!
Don't doubt God's timing in your life as well. Even when you can't see the end of something ... know that our sovereign Lord has timing well in control. And it is different from ours! Trust Him.
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