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It is amazing how the Shunammite woman attracted Prophet Elisha to her house. She was not the only woman in town, but she did what others did not do. She realised the need of extending her hand of blessing to Elisha. You do not need to follow the crowd in the things you do, but it is good to follow your convictions. She started the relationship by giving him food and improved later on it by giving him regular dinner, not minding the financial implication, nor the extra labour it would entail. This is not an easy task for wives. I recall how we received five guests one evening, three of who we were not expecting. At one time, people from six states in Nigeria were living with us. I was glad that my wife did not mind it at all. There is a place for women.
The woman’s benevolence not yet done, it climaxed to allocation of a room to the man of God. In all these, she did not forget that she had a spouse, hence she obtained his approval. May you never behave as if you are your own lord!
Uncle Elisha was careful enough, through his servant, to realise that her need was that she had no children. It is possible for some Ministers of God to be so much swallowed up in their ministry that they will not see the needs of people around them. Sure of the God he was serving, Elisha told the nice lady, taking good care of him, that in a year’s time, she would be a happy mother. And so it was. God honoured His name as His servant had committed Him. The husband seemed not to be coming close to the man of God like his wife. It could be deliberate or it was caused by the type of work he was doing. Whatever thing that might have caused the lapse, his wife covered it. There is a place for women!
One day, the Shunammite’s son was with his dad in his farm when sickness struck. Knowing his limitations and the type of wife he had, he packaged him to her, perhaps for her to pray for him or to take general care of him. The child, however, died. Some women would curse God for it, their only child! Some may blame their husbands for not taking him to LUTH. It is in pains that we know the stuff someone is made of. The woman knew that God could still raise him, hence she laid the corpse on Elisha’s bed, and went to bring the prophet home. A good wife, even during crisis, she went to obtain her husband’s permission before going there. Some wives might consider that unnecessary. A prudent wife, she knew the level of her husband’s commitment in God, hence she did not disclose the bad news about their only child to him, lest in anger, he might bury him before she returned.
It is important to note her expression before her husband and Elisha’s servant about her dead son. To her husband, she said, “It shall be well”. This is hope. You can have hope for anything, but it does not change situations. Meeting Elisha’s servant, her confidence that the man of God would raise her son had risen, she declared, “It is well”. This is faith, acting on what you believe. Faith changes situations. What I do in all situations of life, and not what I will do, reveals my faith.
When she came to Elisha, she poured her heart to him. May we learn this from her! May you not pour your anger on your husband, wait until you meet God on your knees, then pour it to Him. He is your Father! Her rugged persuasion compelled Elisha to follow her to the house. There, he raised her son from death. No husband may handle the case in the same brilliant manner. There is a place for women.
Aunty Mary was still by the tomb of the Lord Jesus, when Peter and John left, satisfied, perhaps, with the overwhelming evidence of His resurrection revealed by the folded napkin. Men are always like that. How would she go home when she had not seen His corpse? She waited until her need was met. Women are always like that. They must wait until their children’s fees are paid by their husbands. They will not stop praying until the sickness is gone or the family need is met. During a misunderstanding in the family or church, men may leave in anger. Not women! They will fix a day to fast over the matter. They will fix a day to meet over the issue. That is how peace can be restored. There is a place for women.
Mary saw an angel – vs11-13. That is the benefit of waiting. Peter and John, in their hasty mood, though the woman, who brought them the sad news, was still around, did not see any angel not to talk about seeing Jesus. “Those that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength…” That is the benefit of patience. Women have dozens of it. Men may not. No wonder, why it is only women that bear the name ‘Patience’! It is a tragedy for a woman named ‘Patience’, if she is not patient. Seeing angels was not enough for Mary, she must see Jesus. And she did! There is a place for women!
We learn from the woman of Samaria in John 4, that the journey starts when a person is born-again. That was her, a sinner, sleeping with all types of men till she surrendered to the Lord Jesus! It is so with ladies, when they surrender their lives to Him, their anger, ugly emotions, sinful pleasure, fathers’ wealth, education, and indeed, anything that makes them proud. God warns that no man should put asunder His children He has joined. This is His position, only for the ones He has joined. May we not imitate those He did not join!
As I wrote in some of my books, the greatest problem of some Christian couples is their failure to leave their parents. Some parents try to run their children’s homes. My eldest sister tried it and I resisted her brazenly. Homes have broken because of this. Whatever a Christian is or will be, is a function of his commitment to the things he does. The level of his commitment to what he does is a function of his love for it. Did you notice some lapses as our brethren, Peter, John and Mary, were running to the tomb? Each of them was running without considering others. Never in my house!
Are you born-again? Have you submitted everything to Him? Do you submit to your husband in everything? My fellow men, do you love your wife as Jesus loves you?
For further comment, Please contact: Osondu Anyalechi: 0909 041 9057; [email protected]
