Bible Reading2 Kings 4:8-37 One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food. And she said to her husband, “Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there.” One day he came there, and he turned into the chamber and rested there. And he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite.” When he had called her, she stood before him. And he said to him, “Say now to her, ‘See, you have taken all this trouble for us; what is to be done for you? Would you have a word spoken on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?’” She answered, “I dwell among my own people.” And he said, “What then is to be done for her?” Gehazi answered, “Well, she has no son, and her husband is old.” He said, “Call her.” And when he had called her, she stood in the doorway. And he said, “At this season, about this time next year, you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord, O man of God; do not lie to your servant.” But the woman conceived, and she bore a son about that time the following spring, as Elisha had said to her.
When the child had grown, he went out one day to his father among the reapers. And he said to his father, “Oh, my head, my head!” The father said to his servant, “Carry him to his mother.” And when he had lifted him and brought him to his mother, the child sat on her lap till noon, and then he died. And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God and shut the door behind him and went out. Then she called to her husband and said, “Send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may quickly go to the man of God and come back again.” And he said, “Why will you go to him today? It is neither new moon nor Sabbath.” She said, “All is well.”
Then she saddled the donkey, and she said to her servant, “Urge the animal on; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you.” So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her coming, he said to Gehazi his servant, “Look, there is the Shunammite. Run at once to meet her and say to her, ‘Is all well with you? Is all well with your husband? Is all well with the child?’” And she answered, “All is well.” And when she came to the mountain to the man of God, she caught hold of his feet. And Gehazi came to push her away. But the man of God said, “Leave her alone, for she is in bitter distress, and the LORD has hidden it from me and has not told me.” Then she said, “Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say, ‘Do not deceive me?’”
He said to Gehazi, “Tie up your garment and take my staff in your hand and go. If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not reply. And lay my staff on the face of the child.” Then the mother of the child said, “As the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So he arose and followed her. Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the face of the child, but there was no sound or sign of life. Therefore he returned to meet him and told him, “The child has not awakened.” When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed. So he went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the LORD. Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm. Then he got up again and walked once back and forth in the house, and went up and stretched himself upon him. The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. Then he summoned Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite.” So he called her. And when she came to him, he said, “Pick up your son.” She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out.
[09:59]Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
[21:03]Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
[28:10]Genesis 22:5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.”
[30:43]John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
[33:20]Observation questions- What details show that the Shunammite woman was generous toward Elisha before she ever received a promise of a son?
- After her son dies, what specific actions does the Shunammite woman take before she reaches Elisha, and what do those actions show about where her attention is directed? [27:02]
- The woman says, “All is well,” while the passage also says she is in “bitter distress.” What does this contrast reveal about her situation and her words?
- In Philippians 4:6-7, what are believers told to bring to God, and what does God’s peace do for their hearts and minds? [21:17]
Interpretation questions- The Shunammite woman brings her son’s body to the bed of the man through whom God’s promise came. How does that action picture bringing disappointment, grief, and unanswered questions directly to God? [23:29]
- If “all is well” is connected with shalom—peace, completeness, welfare, and health—how can a believer truthfully speak of God’s peace without pretending that a painful situation is not real? [20:07]
- Philippians says God’s peace will guard hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. What might that guarding look like when a believer is facing fear, anger, loss, or uncertainty?
- Abraham says that he and Isaac will “come again,” and the Shunammite woman says she will go to Elisha and “come back again.” How does their faith point to trust in God’s character rather than control over the outcome? [31:31]
Application questions- What is a “dead thing” in your life right now—a dream, relationship, hope, financial situation, health concern, calling, or other loss—that you have been carrying alone? What would it look like to bring that specific burden honestly to God in prayer? [25:45]
- When something painful happens, what voices or distractions most quickly pull your mind away from God—fearful thoughts, social media, other people’s opinions, worst-case scenarios, or self-blame? What is one practical way to keep your mind stayed on God this week? [27:17]
- Philippians invites believers to bring requests to God “with thanksgiving.” In the middle of a hard season, what are one or two specific things for which you can still thank God without minimizing the pain?
- Is there an area where you have been telling God, “I didn’t ask for this”? What honest words, emotions, or questions do you need to bring into His presence instead of hiding them? [37:41]
- Jesus gives a peace that is different from what the world gives. Where have you been looking for peace in something that can change—an outcome, a person, money, health, or control—and how might you turn again to Christ as your shalom? [33:20]
- God’s shalom may not change a situation immediately, but it changes the person standing in it. How have you seen God steady, guard, or strengthen you in a situation that was still difficult? [39:26]
- What would “faith regardless of the outcome” look like in one decision, relationship, or burden you are carrying right now? [35:34]
