Peggy Jones

Revelation Responsibility

Scripture:  2 Kings 4:8-37

As we read the story about the Shunammite woman we find a woman with character.  She is described as rich, but she is not just rich, she is generous with her wealth.  She is hospitable and kind. She is also a woman of discernment and courage and boldness.

We notice in this scripture that it is her idea to invite Elisha to come and have a meal and stay with her and her husband.  Verse 9, “She says to her husband, “Look, I am sure that this man who regularly passes our way is a holy man of God”  What a blessing this husband had in this wife.

Elisha notices her kindness and prophesies that in verse 16, at that season, in due time, she will embrace a son.”  And the prophetic word comes true.

The scriptures tell us that “When the son is older, as he goes out with his father among the reapers he complained to his father that his head hurts, he is carried to his mother who holds him until noon and the boy dies in her arms.

The woman’s faith is stirred to action when she first lays the boy on the “Holy Man’s bed” and then against her husband’s advice, and in an act that is out of the ordinary for a woman at that time.  She gets a donkey and hunts down Elisha, finds him at Mt. Carmel and informs him of the situation.

Elisha comes and in a vividly painted description of selfless ministry to the woman and the family, a miracle is performed through Elisha and the boy is raised from the dead.

So what can we learn from this obscure Shunammite woman whose story is remembered in this text.  First of all that with prophetic discernment, obedience and boldness must follow.  You see Elisha was not the only prophetic person in this text.  The Shunammite woman also had the discernment to recognize Elisha as a Holy Man.  She also had the boldness to step out in this discernment and turn it into an action.  When we receive discernment into a situation, or about a person, what is our response?   God would not give us the insight without a reason.  God does not show us things in the spiritual just to entertain us.  With the revelation comes responsibility.  Sometimes that responsibility is a call to physical action and this woman did, by providing Elisha a room and meal when he passed by.  Other times it is to pray, but do not assume it is always to pray sometimes it is action.  Sometimes that action requires boldness and courage.  Sometimes it will cause us to do things that seem unusual, not fitting into the expectations that the culture has placed upon us, for example the Shunammite woman getting on the donkey and going after Elisha, (why didn’t the husband do this?)

Is it possible that this Shunammite woman grew in discernment and wisdom as she continued to step out in boldness and courage when she received revelation from God?  That is usually how it is with God.  God rewards his obedient children; he brings them to higher levels in their gifting as they progressively learn to step out in boldness and faith.

Pray with me today

Almighty Father God, thank you for the gifts you have entrusted in me today.  Thank you for the revelation and discernment.  Now Father, help me to step out in boldness and courage.  Lord help me to understand the responsibility that comes with the gifts.  Lord thank you for entrusting me with prophetic insight so that I may serve the body of Christ in love.  Thank you for your love that is a constant delight to me. I love you too, Lord.   AMEN

Next Week’s devotion

Perfect timing

Scripture 2 Kings 8:1-6