KI 4:8-37{
"And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great [wealthy] woman." 2 Kings 4:8.
Our attention is focused on a great (wealthy) woman of Shunem, which was a city of Israel belonging to the tribe of Issachar.
"Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens: and he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute." Gen. 49:14,15.
Jacob prophesied that his son Issachar would look on to his inheritance and see that rest was good and the land pleasant. It is the normal thing for the believer to be taken up with Christ and the inheritance. There may be times when the Lord has to remind us of our ways to correct them, but normally we should be pressing on to the mark for the prize, as did the Apostle Paul in Philippians, chapter 3.
"Where was a great woman." 2 Kings 4:8.
The great woman is a lovely picture of this normal Christianity as taught in Philippians, where the believer, walking in the Spirit day by day, pursues to the end the Lord Jesus as the object set before him. We speak of this as a proper state of soul becoming to a Christian.
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." Col. 3:1-3.
The Spirit of God presents to us a great woman, because woman represents position, devotedness and affection. Responsibility belongs to the man, but devotedness with affection, in the divinely-appointed position in the assembly, is the woman's place.
Several tests of faith will be observed, allowed of God in the life of this woman. The first is: "And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread." 2 Kings 4:8.
Elisha came to Shunem, but he might have passed by, had the great woman not recognized him as the prophet of God. When the Spirit of God speaks to our hearts and consciences, are we so engrossed in life's activities that we have no time to listen to the still, small voice? Let us not miss the first test, lest we lose the second.
Elisha represents to us Christ gone on high, having now sent the Holy Spirit to work through His servants down here in the world in His absence.
As Elisha passed by, the great woman constrained him to eat bread, else he would have continued on his way, as the Lord walked with the two on the way to Emmaus in Luke 24. He would not have stopped at their home, had they not constrained Him to abide with them. What a privilege! Christ is passing constantly, and we can have as much of Him as we wish. If we try to busy ourselves with both worlds, earthly and heavenly, we will soon be robbed of these precious visits by Christ, and will we not lose in the end? Everything here is of a transient nature, but everything of Christ lasts forever.
The great woman had one object before her, Christ and the inheritance, and she let nothing interfere to draw her away from Elisha.
"And so it was, that, as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread." 2 Kings 4:8.
The soul who has a pure object in the heavens is enlarged spiritually, and what once was a visit with the Lord becomes a habitual desire-"oft." Christ finds it His joy to pass near His beloved people and is delighted when asked in to eat bread, especially if invited repeatedly.
"And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God, which passeth by us continually." 2 Kings 4:9.
If we wish to enjoy His presence, there must be holiness in our walk. We cannot allow evil in our lives and expect to go on in communion and the enjoyment of fellowship with the Lord in a path of happiness and growth. Our guard is the eye fixed on the holy Prophet of God, and thus we are changed into the same moral character as the Prophet in a practical way here in this world. (2 Cor. 3:18.)
To be "continually" in His presence is the safest way of life, a great gain if it be so, a great loss if it be not so. There is much on earth demanding our time but surely not our hearts.
How many happy occasions there must have been in the home of the great woman as the prophet stopped to eat bread. She was providing something for the prophet, and she will surely be rewarded, although reward was not in her mind-his presence in her home meant everything.
The question has been asked, "How can I gain an appetite for the Word of God?" The answer is, "Read it, and the more you read it in communion, the more you will want of it."