There is a story in 2 Kings where Elisha forms a relationship with a family in Shunem. Life as a prophet didn’t exactly come with five star accommodations. Turns out, telling people things they don’t want to hear from God doesn’t have people lining up to give you handfuls of cashing and nice cushy homes. Elisha’s living conditions were on a very need to need basis. He didn’t have guarantees of a place to stay or meals to come.
But then Elisha comes to Shunem.
“A wealthy woman lived there, and she urged him to come to her home for a meal. After that, whenever he passed that way, he would stop there for something to eat. She said to her husband, “I am sure this man who stops in from time to time is a holy man of God. Let’s build a small room for him on the roof and furnish it with a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp. Then he will have a place to stay whenever he comes by.”” (2 Kings 4:8-10)
In a world where Elisha was having to depend on God to fill his needs from day to day, this woman offered him something permanent and reliable. Something he could know was waiting for him.
Elisha, grateful for all this woman has done for him, decides it’s high time someone did something kind and meaningful for her. So he sends his servant in to ask her what they can do for her. In the face of such an offer, this kind, lovely woman actually shrugs it off politely, saying she doesn’t need anything because he family takes good care of her. Elisha’s servant reports back to him, but the prophet has no intention of leaving it there.
“‘Call her back again,” Elisha told him. When the woman returned, Elisha said to her as she stood in the doorway, ‘Next year at this time you will be holding a son in your arms!’
‘No, my lord!’ she cried. ‘O man of God, don’t deceive me and get my hopes up like that.’” (2 Kings 4:15-16)
Well I think we found what this woman really wants.
Elisha was a prophet, yes, but he was also a very human man. I picture him standing in his room a smile from his good news slowly slipping off his face to be replaced by confusion as this woman reacts to his news. This was supposed to be a happy moment. This news was supposed to be a gift. Why is she losing it like this?
Because hope is one of the most terrifying and painful things to ever exist in our world.
This woman wasn’t ignorant to what Elisha could do. It wasn’t like she decided to invite a random man to bunk in her house. She knew he was a powerful and wise prophet. She knew some of the miracles he had performed. She knew he’d walked with and learned from Elijah. And she knew that he was capable of doing what he said.
Her despair wasn’t a lack of faith in him, it was a lack of faith that it could be for her.
It’s a surprising facet of faith that so often we can be completely dedicated to what God is doing, completely resolved to listen to his call in our lives, and completely sure that he will do great and wonderful things for his glory and still believe that good things just won’t happen for us.
This is a mistake.
We need to believe that we’re as much a part of God’s plan as those around us that we’re trying to serve and bless for his glory. That’s a part of faithufulness. The Shunemite woman was so ready to bless others to honor God and completely unprepared to be blessed herself. But in failing to hope she was also failing to trust God.
And I get it. This is a big ask. There are hurts and disappointments that hit us again and again and again until it feels like there’s no point in holding out hope anymore. We feel like we can save ourselves time and hurt by rejecting hope before it rejects us. But God does not operate that way.
God does not offer promises with maybes. If he says he’s going to do something, he’s going to do it. Full stop. He doesn’t forget he promised something. He doesn’t break his word to you. And he doesn’t stop working things for your good and his glory. You are part of that. Not everybody but you. You. You are worth hope and fulfilled promises.
So take heart, Christan. Just because a promise feels impossible doesn’t mean it won’t happen. The Shunemite woman not only had a son, but when he unexpectedly died, Elisha came on God’s behalf and raised him up again. The promises weren’t for everyone else. They were for her too. The same is true of you. Keep hoping, keep believing. You are part of the plans God has for glory and goodness.
Let’s find some joy,
A
Avalon Robinson Author 