"Call her," said Elisha. So Gehazi called her, and she stood in the doorway. Call herIn this phrase, Elisha, the prophet, instructs his servant Gehazi to summon the Shunammite woman. The Hebrew root for "call" is קָרָא (qara), which means to call out, proclaim, or invite. This action signifies a moment of divine invitation and intervention. In the biblical narrative, God often calls individuals to step into His plans and purposes, as seen with Abraham, Moses, and Samuel. The act of calling here is not just a physical summoning but a spiritual invitation to witness God's miraculous power. It reflects the personal nature of God's interactions with His people, emphasizing that He knows and calls each one by name. So he called her
Gehazi's obedience to Elisha's command demonstrates the importance of servanthood and faithfulness in ministry. The repetition of the word "called" underscores the immediacy and importance of the moment. In the broader scriptural context, this reflects the chain of command and respect for authority within God's order. Gehazi's role, though secondary, is crucial in facilitating the miracle that is about to unfold. This teaches us that every role in God's kingdom, no matter how small it may seem, is significant and can be used to bring about His purposes. and she stood in the doorway
The Shunammite woman's position in the doorway is symbolic. In ancient Near Eastern culture, the doorway was a place of transition and decision. It represents a threshold between the old and the new, the known and the unknown. Spiritually, standing in the doorway can be seen as a moment of faith, where one is on the brink of experiencing God's promise. The Hebrew word for "stood" is עָמַד (amad), which implies standing firm or being established. This suggests her readiness and openness to receive what God is about to do. Her physical stance mirrors her spiritual posture of expectancy and trust in God's word through His prophet. Persons / Places / Events 1. ElishaA prophet of God, successor to Elijah, known for his miracles and guidance to the people of Israel. In this passage, he is interacting with the Shunammite woman. 2. GehaziElisha's servant, who acts as an intermediary between Elisha and the Shunammite woman. His role is significant in the account of Elisha's ministry. 3. The Shunammite WomanA notable woman from Shunem who shows hospitality to Elisha. Her faith and actions are central to the events in this chapter. 4. ShunemA town in the territory of Issachar, where the Shunammite woman resides. It serves as the setting for this encounter. 5. The DoorwaySymbolic of transition and opportunity, the doorway is where the Shunammite woman stands, representing a moment of divine intervention and promise. Teaching Points Hospitality as a Pathway to BlessingThe Shunammite woman's hospitality opens the door to God's blessing. We are encouraged to practice hospitality, trusting that God sees and rewards our kindness. Faith in ActionThe Shunammite woman's faith is demonstrated through her actions. Our faith should be evident in how we live and serve others. Divine Timing and PromiseGod's promises often come at unexpected times and in unexpected ways. We should remain patient and trust in His perfect timing. Intermediaries in God's WorkGehazi's role reminds us that God often uses others to facilitate His work in our lives. We should be open to the people God places in our path. Standing in the Doorway of OpportunityThe doorway symbolizes a moment of decision and opportunity. We should be ready to step into the opportunities God presents to us. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the Shunammite woman's hospitality reflect the biblical principle of loving your neighbor, and how can we apply this in our daily lives? 2. In what ways does the account of the Shunammite woman parallel other biblical accounts of miraculous births, and what does this teach us about God's power and faithfulness? 3. How can we discern the "doorways" of opportunity that God places before us, and what steps can we take to ensure we are ready to step through them? 4. What role do intermediaries, like Gehazi, play in our spiritual journey, and how can we be open to the guidance and support of others in our faith community? 5. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's promise or blessing in an unexpected way. How did this experience strengthen your faith, and how can you share this testimony with others? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 18The hospitality of Abraham and Sarah to the three visitors parallels the Shunammite woman's hospitality to Elisha, leading to a promise of a child. 1 Samuel 1Hannah's account of longing for a child and her subsequent blessing connects with the Shunammite woman's desire and the promise she receives. Luke 1The announcement to Mary about the birth of Jesus echoes the theme of divine promise and miraculous birth. People Elisha, GehaziPlaces Baal-shalishah, Edom, Gilgal, Mount Carmel, ShunemTopics Calleth, Door, Doorway, Opening, Standeth, Stood, VoiceDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Kings 4:11-17 5733 pregnancy 2 Kings 4:14-17 1416 miracles, nature of 2 Kings 4:15-17 7773 prophets, role Library When the Oil Flows
'And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.'--2 KINGS iv. 6. The series of miracles ascribed to Elisha are very unlike most of the wonderful works of even the Old Testament, and still more unlike those of the New. For about a great many of them there seems to have been no special purpose, either doctrinal or otherwise, but simply the relief of trivial and transient distresses. …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureA Miracle Needing Effort
'So she went, and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite: 26. Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband! is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well. 27. And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Infant Salvation
Now, let every mother and father here present know assuredly that it is well with the child, if God hath taken it away from you in its infant days. You never heard its declaration of faith--it was not capable of such a thing--it was not baptized into the Lord Jesus Christ, not buried with him in baptism; it was not capable of giving that "answer of a good conscience towards God;" nevertheless, you may rest assured that it is well with the child, well in a higher and a better sense than it is well …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 7: 1861 That the Grace of Devotion is Acquired by Humility and Self-Denial
The Voice of the Beloved Thou oughtest to seek earnestly the grace of devotion, to ask it fervently, to wait for it patiently and faithfully, to receive it gratefully, to preserve it humbly, to work with it diligently, and to leave to God the time and manner of heavenly visitation until it come. Chiefly oughtest thou to humble thyself when thou feelest inwardly little or no devotion, yet not to be too much cast down, nor to grieve out of measure. God ofttimes giveth in one short moment what He …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ Extracts No. Ix.
[As the objector here begins to give up his ground, his letters from this place will be given nearly entire. He commences this number as follows, viz.] "Dear sir and brother--Your reply to my seventh number has been received, and hereby duly acknowledged. I have just given it a second reading, with peculiar care and attention; and I must add, generally speaking, with peculiar satisfaction too; for as it has tended in some degree to revive my almost extinguished faith in divine revelation, so it …
Hosea Ballou—A Series of Letters In Defence of Divine Revelation Abram's Horror of Great Darkness.
"And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him." If we consider the sketch, given us in scripture, of the life of this patriarch, we shall find that few have had equal manifestations of the divine favor. But the light did not at all times shine on him. He had his dark hours while dwelling in this strange land. Here we find an horror of great darkness to have fallen upon him. The language used to describe his state, on this occasion, …
Andrew Lee et al—Sermons on Various Important Subjects The Soul.
Man as we behold him is not all there is of man. He is a wonderful being. He stands in the highest order of God's creation. He Is A Compound. Man was created a physical and spiritual organism. He possesses an animal and a spiritual life. Thus he is connected with two worlds. The physical creation is termed the "outward man," and the spiritual, the "inward man." "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." 2 Cor. 4:16. "For we know …
Charles Ebert Orr—The Gospel Day Answer to the Jewish Rabby's Letter.
WE Are now come to the letter of Mr. W's Jewish Rabby, whom Mr. W. calls his friend, and says his letter consists of calm and sedate reasoning, p. 55. I on the other hand can see no reason in it. But the reader than not need to rely upon my judgment. Therefore I will transcribe some parts of it, and then make some remarks. The argument of the letter is, that the story of Lazarus's being raised is an imposture; or else the Jews could not have been so wicked, as to be on that account provoked against …
Nathaniel Lardner—A Vindication of Three of Our Blessed Saviour's Miracles Supplementary Note to Chapter ii. The Year of Christ's Birth.
The Christian era commences on the 1st of January of the year 754 of the city of Rome. That our Lord was born about the time stated in the text may appear from the following considerations-- The visit of the wise men to Bethlehem must have taken place a very few days after the birth of Jesus, and before His presentation in the temple. Bethlehem was not the stated residence of Joseph and Mary, either before or after the birth of the child (Luke i. 26, ii. 4, 39; Matt. ii. 2). They were obliged to …
William Dool Killen—The Ancient Church Synagogues: their Origin, Structure and Outward Arrangements
It was a beautiful saying of Rabbi Jochanan (Jer. Ber. v. 1), that he who prays in his house surrounds and fortifies it, so to speak, with a wall of iron. Nevertheless, it seems immediately contradicted by what follows. For it is explained that this only holds good where a man is alone, but that where there is a community prayer should be offered in the synagogue. We can readily understand how, after the destruction of the Temple, and the cessation of its symbolical worship, the excessive value attached …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.), …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links 2 Kings 4:15 NIV2 Kings 4:15 NLT2 Kings 4:15 ESV2 Kings 4:15 NASB2 Kings 4:15 KJV
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