The Shunamite’s Land Restored –2 Kings 8:1-6
Gehazi, former servant – assistant to Elisha was before the king telling him about some of the miracles Prophet Elisha had worked when he was around him. Since Prophet Elisha had received a double portion of Prophet Elijah’s mantle, he had quite a few miracles to talk to the king about. Finally, he was just finishing up telling about how God had used the Prophet to raise a Shunamite woman’s son from death to life.
When in walks the Shunamite woman and her son to plead with the king for her house, lands and assets. After a famine in the land had caused her family to seek refuge in another country. Prophet Elisha had forewarned her family of the famine and told them where to take refuge.
Back to the King, he was excited to meet her. It became a supernatural event and her story of God’s glorious recompense when after asking her to tell him what happened in her own words. She told the king her story and confirmed that the Prophet had indeed prayed for her son and God had raised him from death back to life.
After her story from her, he immediately awarded the Shunamite woman her property, lands, assets restored and appointed an officer to make sure she got it.
The inspired writer of 2 Kings 8:6 wrote it like this: So the king appointed for her an officer, saying, “Restore all that was hers, along with all the proceeds of the field from the day that she left the country until now.”
Additionally, Gehazi himself had a recompense and restoration story. It is believed to have been the same Gehazi that had previously been judged and received leprosy for deceiving the now famous Naaman who came from a different land to receive healing of leprosy.
He later repented and received healing of leprosy. He was found serving the King and recounting the miracles of Elisha.
We can see a pattern of faith. The Shunamite woman perceived that Elisha was a man of God and planted a seed in his ministry. They prepared a room for him so that when he was ministering in the area, he could stay there. Later the prophet was looking for a way to bless her because she discerned his ministry need at the moment. He asked his assistant to find out.
He came back and said, “She says, “They have no need at the moment. But I found out they are older and have no child.” The prophet told the assistant to go get her. When she stood before him he said, “By this time next year, you will hold a son in your arms…” And it came to pass. Bible scholars agree that the son became well known Prophet Habakkuk, the one that wrote the famous words, “Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.” –Habbakkuk 2:2
What can we learn from the Shunamite woman and her miracles and even Gehazi. Here are three lessons of faith, we can learn from the Shunamite’s faith:
- Believe in God and the Prophet’s words.
In other words believe that God speaks by his prophets (Men and Women of God – New Testament five fold ministry gifts: Pastor, Teachers, Evangelists, Prophets, Apostles). It is one of His systems of speaking to his people. Early in the morning they got up and left for the Wilderness of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood up and said, “Hear me, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be upheld; believe in His prophets, and you will succeed.” *2 Chronicles 20:20 - She shared her story. She retold her story to the king. Exactly what did happen the king asked? The word of your testimony is a part of overcoming. 11 They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. And they did not love their lives so as to shy away from death. Rev. 12 :11
- Believe God can do the impossible. The Scripture tells us, “With God all things are possible.”
The verse that says “how do we do the works you do” is John 14:12 which states, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father.”
The War in Heaven
…10And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down—he who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. And they did not love their lives so as to shy away from death. 12Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea; with great fury the devil has come down to you, knowing he has only a short time.”…
So, in summary we can know the battle between good and evil even in our personal lives is a part of a bigger picture. It’s rarely about just you. Because just as a friend said, “if our enemy succeeds with one of us and their family. Guess who he comes for next?
The Scripture commands us to bear one another’s burden. My prayer is that we all humble ourselves and pray in unity. God says, ““If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Father I continue pray for the believers and those that don’t know you. That you will grant us a spirit of wisdom and revelation to know you more and more. Work with us as we learn and pray according to your word about how you want to not only recompense us but restore beyond what we’ve asked or imagined…
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