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[This post is a part of my series on infertile women in the Bible, Barren + Biblical. Click here to return to the Barren + Biblical homepage.]
The Shunammite woman, although a lesser-known example of infertility in the Bible, seems to be quite different from many of the struggling infertile women who came before her.
In light of her infertility, Sarah panicked and had her husband sleep with someone else, Rachel was so jealous of pregnant Leah that she said she was going to die, and Hannah was crying so hysterically the priest thought she was drunk. (Before I go on, just a reminder that they all ended up with children. It doesn’t require the Shunammite woman’s faith for God to bless you with children.)
The Shunammite woman, however, was childless for so long that she didn’t even ask for kids anymore.
Before you go on, read her story in 2 Kings 4:8-37.
A brief recap:
Elisha the prophet often went to a place called Shunem, where this woman lived with her husband. Because the Shunammite woman knew Elisha was a man of God, she created a small room with a bed for him to stay in whenever he came by. Elisha wanted to give her something in return, so essentially asked her what she wanted (keep in mind Elisha did many miracles in God’s name so she could have asked for ANYTHING), and yet she asked for NOTHING. (Maybe that’s why most of us don’t know her story…we can’t relate. You have one wish and you don’t ask for anything? I can think of LOTS of things I would ask for.)
Anyway, Elisha and his servant came to the conclusion that she probably wanted children since she was barren and her husband was old, so he tells her that she’ll become pregnant and have a child within the year. She responds by saying, “No! Don’t mislead me!” but becomes pregnant and has a son.
Fast forward a few years and her son gets sick and dies. She goes back to find Elisha and asks, essentially, “Did I ask you for a son? Didn’t I tell you not to get my hopes up?” (In other words, why did you give me a son if you were just going to take him away?!) Elisha goes to the boy, and the boy comes back to life.
(There’s actually a lot more to the story…if you didn’t read it, go back and do it.)
There are a lot of lessons to be learned from this story, too. Instead of trying to hit every one, I just want to focus on the 2 big questions I had while reading this story:
1. Why did God allow the Shunammite woman’s son to die — after all that?
The Shunammite woman asked this herself: “Didn’t I tell you not to get my hopes up?” I would imagine this would be how many women feel when they lose children before giving birth: God, what was the point of getting my hopes up?
Although I don’t claim to have the answer to this question — I will never be able to fathom the wisdom of God — it reminds me of the story of the blind man in John 9. Jesus’ disciples ask him, “Why was this man born blind?” And Jesus is clear that, at least in this case, this is not the result of the parent’s sin. Instead, he answers, “This happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (v. 4) He then performed a miracle by healing the blind man…just like he performed the miracle of bringing the Shunammite woman’s son back to life.
In both cases, terrible things happened to righteous followers of God. But those terrible things were not the end of either story.
And the terrible things that are happening to you are not the end of your story, either.
These stories remind us that God has the power to perform miracles. He has overcome even death. In all things — even hardship and suffering — God works for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28). Although this answer may not always perfectly answer the “why?” question, there is comfort to be found in knowing that this isn’t the end of God’s plan for you.
And, now, my second big question:
2. Why didn’t the Shunammite woman ask for anything?!
Again, this blows my mind. How could she not ask for anything, especially as a barren woman in ancient times?
When Elisha asked what he could do for her, she replied, “I have a home among my own people.” (v. 13) In other words, “I have everything I need.”
This woman wanted to be clear that she was giving hospitality to Elisha simply because she wanted to serve God faithfully. She didn’t want anything from him in return.
Furthermore, the Shunammite woman had learned the secret to contentment: finding it in serving God, not in possessions or even in having a family. She had everything she needed.
BUT: Don’t be misled here. Contentment does not mean a lack of desire.
Several verses later, it becomes pretty clear that the Shunammite woman did indeed still have a very deep desire: children. She was content because she had everything she knew she needed, not everything she wanted. We can be content and yet have deep desires within us still unfulfilled.
The fulfillment of the Shunammite’s desires tells us something else about God: Even when you’ve given up hope, God hasn’t forgotten about the deepest desires of your heart. And sometimes He gives you what you want after you’ve already decided it was too late.
And one last takeaway: God gives you unique opportunities to serve Him that are just for YOU, in your present circumstances.
Sometimes I wonder: If the Shunammite woman had already had kids, would she still have created a room for Elisha to sleep in when he was in town? Would she have persuaded him to come and stay with them?
She did have great faith, so maybe she would’ve anyway.
But then again, maybe she wouldn’t have had any room in her house. Maybe she would’ve been too busy cooking and cleaning and doing laundry for her children to invite someone in to stay.
God provided this opportunity for her to serve Him, perhaps because she was in a perfect situation for her to be able to host Elisha. Sometimes our circumstances allow us to serve God in different ways.
How are you serving Him where you’re at right now?
[This post is a part of my series on infertile women in the Bible, Barren + Biblical. Click here to return to the Barren + Biblical homepage.]
