The Shunammite woman again becomes the focus of the story. While the land is in tumult with war and famine this one woman enjoys God’s favour and care. She has already experienced two remarkable miracles. Now she is saved from the famine and her land is restored by divine providence when she returns from the land of the Philistines. This woman stood as an example of what Israel could have been enjoying but was not. The Israelites were, at this time, caught up in idolatry and they were ignoring the warnings of the prophets. In contrast, the Shunammite woman opened her house and her heart to God’s prophet and therefore also to God. In this story we see God’s faithfulness to her. The story seems to be included here as a plea for faithfulness. It tells that, if we would only open our hearts to God as this woman did, then we also will experience God’s goodness the way she did. She is held up here as an example of what happens when you entrust your life to God. When you see it objectively like this, it seems like madness to not follow the example of this Shunammite woman. But we rarely do see it objectively. We tend rather to react to situations automatically in ways that disregard God. We try to make things happen in our own strength and anxiously try to push solutions through. How about turning to God this time? How about opening your situation up to him? Let the burden of your life rest in God’s hands as the Shunammite woman did.
Do what Philippians 4:6 says to do.
Read 2 Kings 8
