It is lovely to hear what the prophet said to the widow here: “Go, sell the oil, and pay the debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.” How wonderful to know, on the assurance of God’s Word, that our debt of sin has all been paid! But that is not all, for the prophet also said, “Live thou and thy children of the rest.” The poor widow was afraid her children would be taken for slaves, but what a change takes place now. Not only was her debt paid, but there was plenty for the future, plenty to live on. How grand this is! What a word to us, as parents! We not only desire to see our children saved, but living by the Spirit in the enjoyment of their portion. The Word of God not only tells us the way of salvation, but it also marks out the whole pathway, and the Spirit of God is the power to walk in it. What a happy home this must have been; and there is no happier home on earth now than the one where all are saved and walking in the truth.
How touching it is to see the grace of God reaching out to poor souls in need, not to the great and mighty of earth only, but to a poor widow, and now to a man and his wife in Shunem. We notice that Elisha sought out the poor of the flock and received a welcome to this humble abode. The wife in this home was more perceptive than her husband, and she realized that Elisha was not a mere traveler, but a man of God. She suggested to her husband that they make a little room for him so he could stay with them whenever he passed by that way. This is sweet and touching. How easy for some, with their grand homes, to be so occupied in keeping them nice, that they do not have a place or welcome for the Lord’s people. Dear young people, as you plan your home, do you have in view the thought of entertaining the Lord’s pele? Do you plan to have a “prophet’s chamber? It does not need to be grand, but a quiet place with a bed, a table, and a candlestick, like this “great woman” of Shunem provided for Elisha. This was sufficient for the man of God. It was his room, and it was not extravagant to have this room for him, as it was not extravagant for Mary of Bethany to pour her ointment on the feet of Jesus. He has said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.” Let us learn to value things rightly in view of eternity.
This “great woman” did not look for any reward — she only did what she could for the Lord. But the Lord delights to reward devotedness to Himself and so one day Elisha called her in and made a few suggestions as to what he might do for her. He told her how he appreciated her care and thoughtfulness, and suggested that he could speak to the king or to the captain of the host for her, but she did not seek such honors as that. I wonder if we are looking for honor and recognition for what we do, or are we content to go along with the lowly (Romans 12:1616Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. (Romans 12:16))? This woman might have wanted to be “somebody” in the world, but even though the Lord had not given her a family, she recognized her place was in the home, and she sought to use her home for Him. This is very sweet, and a lesson suited to our day, one feels, when so many women are not satisfied with the God-given place in the home. The Lord rewarded the faith of this dear woman, and Elisha promised her a son, even though so late in her life. She thought it impossible, but it was not, for with God all things are possible.
ML 12/16/1956