Just Make Room
2 Kings 4:8-17
“You have gone to all this trouble for us. Now what can be done for you?” vs. 13
The Talking Parrot
A wealthy Texas man was in the habit of giving his mother an extravagant gift each year for Mother’s Day. He made it his goal to give her something more expensive and unique each year. One year he gave her the entire collection of – music. Not to be outdone the next year he gave her hang gliding lessons. Well he got to the point where he thought he may have out done himself and was at a loss of what to give her until he ran across this unique and gifted talking parrot. The parrot could speak in five languages and the topping on the cake was that it could sing her favorite song, The Yellow Rose of Texas, while standing on one foot. The bird cost $10,000.00 but that made no difference to the man. Well the man was thrilled with his gift and gave it to his mom on Mother’s Day. About a week later he called his mom to check in on her and maybe gloat a bit over his gift. He asked his mom how she liked the bird. She replied “It was delicious!”
HA! I guess it is good to make sure you give your mom the right present and that she is clear on how it is to be used. If you are able, please stand as we read God’s Word from 2 Kings 4:2-17.
Read Passage – 2 Kings 4:8-17
One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat. 9 She said to her husband, “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. 10 Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us.” 11 One day when Elisha came, he went up to his room and lay down there. 12 He said to his servant Gehazi, “Call the Shunammite.” So he called her, and she stood before him. 13 Elisha said to him, “Tell her, ‘You have gone to all this trouble for us. Now what can be done for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?’” She replied, “I have a home among my own people.” 14“What can be done for her?” Elisha asked. Gehazi said, “She has no son, and her husband is old.”
15 Then Elisha said, “Call her.” So he called her, and she stood in the doorway. 16 “About this time next year,” Elisha said, “you will hold a son in your arms.” “No, my lord!” she objected. “Please, man of God, don’t mislead your servant!” 17 But the woman became pregnant, and break and the next year about that same time she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her.
Finding a Friend
We have been working our way through the book of James but being that it is Mother’s Day, I couldn’t resist taking a break and doing a Mother’s Day story. In 2 Kings 4 Elisha is the main prophet in Israel. Israel is on a downward spiral. Elisha goes from town to town proclaiming the Word of God and in chapter 4 he goes to the city of Shunem, which he has been to before, and stays at the house of family he has stayed with before. We know little about the woman introduced as the woman of the house but we do know she is childless and that she seems to have control of her household and the trust of her husband. She is one who lives out another famous verse that we read often on Mother’s Day in Proverbs 31:11:
“Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.” Proverbs 31:11
We can see how her husband trusts her and has confidence in her and in her decision making
Old Testament Hospitality
Now the OT cultured had a different view of hospitality than we do. Our culture is very protective and guarded. We have extensive lock systems, security system and video surveillance, and all kinds of things to protect ourselves. We rarely hear of taking someone in unless we know them or know someone they know and can vow for them.
Ex. A good example is last week when we got away for a for days, we booked an Airbnb room but the owner went on Facebook to check us out and determine if he wanted to rent to us. The owners can check out your profile and decided weather or not to rent to you.
In the culture we see in 2 Kings, a traveler could go to the main town square and hang out in a particular place and if people saw them there, they were letting others know they needed housing for the night. The people of this time were used to taking people in. Many of their homes had a “chamber” or porch area toward the front of the house where they could put a bed and some simple necessities for strangers go spend the night. It was somewhat protected from the rest of the house because it was in the front and part of the main living quarters.
In our story today we see the Shunammite woman actually go a bit further with this idea of hospitality, she designates a room on the roof for Elisha so that when he comes by, she is prepared to welcome him and his place is secure.
Her Character…
What kind of woman would do this? The answer is a woman of high character and one who was confident in herself. This woman has a quiet dignity about her We can learn from her noting she has three important traits that we take note of and that speak into our lives as well. These traits all have to do with her making a room for Elisha and that speaks about the rest of her life as well.
-Made Room for Others
The first thing to take note of is that she makes room for others in her life. She didn’t have to designate a space for Elisha but she wanted to. This shows her gift of hospitality and acceptance of others. We read in verse 8:
“One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat.” vs. 8
This shows the importance of giving food to men of God! Ha! No, just kidding. The first thing to note is that word “urged.” Circle that word. What this really shows us is her open spirit to others and her gift of serving. She wanted him to come to her house. Would you agree with me; a person with an open spirit to others is an attraction and a joy to be around? When you open your spirit to others and are inviting in your soul, there is a certain beauty to it. Verse 9 specifically notes that Elisha is a “holy man of God.” She goes the extra mile for this man who is God’s representative. He’s a prophet, one that speaks the word of God and this woman shows through her actions how important she sees his presence in her community. People who have that open of a spirit are rare but great to be around.
Ex. Maria at Raley’s. Always welcoming, helpful, etc. You wait in line at the store just to get her. (Do imitation)
Proverbs 11:25 says:
“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” Prov. 11:25
There is a refreshment that comes from being around someone who is so welcoming and warm. You tend to like those people and you tend to remember them as well.
Ex. Last week I heard Bob Goff the author of Love Does. He is that kind of guy. He loves people, welcomes them, sees the good in them. He told the story about how he loves cake pops. I’ve always wondered why people like those things but he does. He told this story about a guy he was having a struggle with so he buys a cake pop and send it to him in the mail. Ha! Turns out that a simple act like that eased his heart to love the man even more.
We are so guarded in our culture. Why not have a heart that is open and welcoming. Buy someone a cake pop, a cup of coffee, etc. Having issues with someone, buy them a simple gift and I’ll bet your attitude will change.
-Made Room for God
A second trait to take note of is that this wealthy woman made room for God. Obviously from the text we note that Elisha had been there before. It’s interesting that she wanted to be prepared anytime the man of God came to town. We know that God is at work and around us but many times we haven’t prepared for God. This woman wanted to carve out a niche in her life so that whenever God showed up, she was prepared. Verse 10:
“Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him.” vs. 10
It’s interesting to think about, she didn’t go to extremes here, she didn’t get all this fancy stuff and make this room that was extravagant. Nope, she made it a functional simple space that Elisha could use. In this room she put a bed, table, chair and lamp. This was a place Elisha could use for study, for rest, and that would have just the basics.
But note: she created a space for God. So many times we get caught up in life in general. We fill our lives with work, the kids, with the gym, hobbies, internet, technology, etc., all these things that take our time and energy and we haven’t left room for God. Many of those things are good and needed in our life. But…you know the first area we cut back on? Our spiritual life. God just wants a simple place to dwell, just the basics, one that he can use for His purpose and one that is set aside just for him. It’s important to have a place for God.
Ex. Tuesday, got my hike, did my puzzles, built some planter boxes, etc. but never read my Bible. I cut the wrong thing out.
David wrote in Psalm 51:10:
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10
Circle “create” Many people want God in their life but have not created a space for him or prepared a place for him.
Ex. How can you do this?
-A Specific time of prayer
-A walk and talk with God everyday; and it doesn’t have to be long
-A verse card strategically place (Fil’s computer)
-A armband, bracelet, etc. that reminds you about God during the day
-Made Room for God’s Call
And, the third trait this Godly woman displayed was that she made room for God’s call. You might be thinking, “Didn’t you just say that?” No. Making room for God and making room for his call are two different things. Let me explain. Many people invite God into their lives. There is a saying that goes,
“Many people want to serve God-but only in an advisory capacity.”
Making room for God’s call is making room for God’s plan for your life, even when it seems your life pattern is set, even when it seems impossible, even when it doesn’t match your plan. For this Shunammite woman, her life plan seemed set. She wasn’t going to be a mother and the text lends us to believe that she was past the point of having children. Not only that, but she carried around the stigma of being a woman who didn’t have children, which made her of lower standing in her society. In some senses, she was prepared just to finish out her life as a good wife, but not a mother, grandmother, etc. and possibly alone because at some point her husband would probably die before she did. It all seemed set and inevitable. So, when she is told she will have a child by the same time the next year, her reply in verse 16:
“No, my lord!” she objected. “Please, man of God, don’t mislead your servant!” vs.16
Although we don’t have the inflections and tones in her voice, we can pretty much assume based on her character that this wasn’t disbelief, this was that she just didn’t want to get her hopes up. She was guarding against the stigma and shame she felt from her society. Think how she would feel if she told everyone that God promised her a son and then it didn’t happen. She would be ridiculed even more.
People of character leave room for God’s plan even when it doesn’t match their plan or situation. We can get to the point of missing God’s plan when we base it on our ways and what we feel is going to happen. David put it this way in Psalm 95:7-8:
“…for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if only you would hear his voice, ‘Do not harden your hearts…’” Psalm 95:7-8a
Circle “Do not harden your hearts.” When we accept God but not his plan we have hardened our hearts. We need to make room for God’s call, for the impossible, for the unexpected, and for the things that we haven’t planned on or considered.
Challenge: What area of your life do you feel is so set that it would take an act of God for it to change? Or, what area of your life have you given up on because you feel it will just never happen? Now ask yourself, have you left room for God’s call?
Fulfilled Promises
This story ends on a high note. From verse 16 to 17 it jumps ahead a whole year and we read in verse 17:
“But the woman became pregnant, and the next year about that same time she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her.” vs. 17
God fulfills his promise to the Shunammite woman. This is so exciting and encouraging. God’s ways will always work. Not one of his promises will go unfulfilled. You might be thinking that this is just another Bible story. No, this is God’s assurance that he provided for us too. You might be thinking that the extraordinary doesn’t happen to you. That your life and your plans are set and that there is nothing that can change them. Not true. Just the opposite. God sent his Son to this earth to give you a future and a hope (Jer. 29:11). Jesus came that you might have life and that you might have it abundantly. You may have given up on a dream or a plan. Jesus shows up when you least expect it. But don’t forget to make room for him and to make room for his call.
Fun Saying
Some people make room for God but it’s in the waiting room
