Mother’s Day can serve to remind us of the need to encourage the women in this walk, for they are no less dedicated than the men. In fact, a fantastic number of hours is spent by many of the women laboring to prepare the word for printing. Sometimes they feel, “I can’t do much because I’m a woman”; yet in Christ is neither male nor female, bond nor free, Jew nor Gentile, for we are all one in Christ (Galatians 3:28). We know that is true. However, we have seen that the requirements God makes of a woman in submission and other areas are quite distinct and different from those He places on a man. Although He asks submission no less of the man than of the woman, it is of a different nature.
A gracious, sweet anointing fills the house of God because of the ministry of the women. They may draw upon the authority of men, but the women themselves are constantly giving. It is the nature of a woman to give anyway, and when she’s anointed of the Holy Spirit she gives a great deal, becoming deeply involved in the spirit of the church and the level on which that spirit will be maintained. Recently a woman remarked that she was yearning for the day in which women would no longer be such third-rate citizens in the church, but would be able to take their place, equal with men. Dear sisters, you’re more than equal now. Many of the men have to strive to catch up with you. The wholesome purity and dedication of the women of the church have been an inspiration to the men. When you find a man who is forging ahead in the Lord, usually you find some woman right behind him, who is believing for him and praying for him; who with all her heart and soul wants nothing more of her life than to see her husband stand in the place that God has for him. Conversely, you don’t find too many husbands preoccupied with their wife’s welfare, pushing her into the ministry and place she has. True, the husbands want their wives to have their place, but the concern is usually not as predominant or deep with the man as it is with the woman.
The Shunammite woman is one of the many examples in the Bible of a good mother. In fact, she was quite a militant mother. Her story is recorded in II Kings 4:8–37. And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God, that passeth by us continually. Let us make, I pray thee, a little chamber on the wall (“with walls” is the literal translation, indicating that it was a separate little guesthouse); and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a seat, and a candlestick; and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither. And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber and lay there. And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him. And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people. And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no son, and her husband is old. And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door. And he said, At this season, when the time cometh around, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thy handmaid.
And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season, when the time came round, as Elisha had said unto her. And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers. And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to his servant, Carry him to his mother. And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees until noon, and then died. And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out. And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the servants, and of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again. And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him today? it is neither new moon nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well. Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slacken me not the riding, except I bid thee. 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 the Shunammite: run, I pray thee, now 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. (Notice that she didn’t even stop.) And when she come to the man of God to the hill, she caught hold of his feet. And Gehazi came near to thrust her away; but the man of God said, Let her alone: for her soul is vexed within her; and the Lord hath hid it from me, and hath not told me. Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me? Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thy hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child. And the mother of the child said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her. And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he returned to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked.
And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the Lord. And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon him: and the flesh of the child waxed warm. Then he returned, and walked in the house, once to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son. Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and she took up her son, and went out.
This woman reminds us of a mother in this walk. Her story involves many things with which we are familiar in this walk. Elisha’s actions have become very realistic principles of ministry to us. Although they seemed like some strange acts of an old backwoods prophet, they actually worked, because he was invoking true principles.
Normally when Elisha’s staff was placed upon the face of an individual, it would cure anything, even raise the dead. In case you are questioning how far Elisha was advanced in this, let me remind you of an incident that happened long after his death. (Don’t confuse him with Elijah, who was translated.) Some soldiers were burying one of their dead buddies when they spied another band of soldiers coming. Hurriedly they threw the dead soldier into the sepulchre where Elisha was buried and went on their way. When the dead soldier touched the bone of the prophet Elisha, he was revived and stood on his feet (II Kings 13:21). A fantastic amount of anointing rested in Elisha, even long after his body had decayed.
This Shunammite woman was wise in laying the child on the bed of the prophet. When Elisha came, he stretched himself out on the child, eyes upon his eyes, mouth upon his mouth, hands upon his hands: the great areas of impartation all at once. The boy became alive, sneezed seven times, and was restored to his mother.
This Shunammite woman was a mother with promises, whose child was a child of promise. She was a mother with an aggressive and persistent faith, ruthlessly seeking after God. She is a picture of mothers who will live in this day, whose children will be given by the promises of God and in the purposes and plans of God. Some of our mothers today have had promises and prophecies greater than any in the history of the Church. They are bringing forth prophets who must be raised and disciplined wisely. Wise discipline is not punitive; it tries to teach the child and show him your faith. You can shake a child until his teeth rattle, provided you convince him that your love and faith for him are greater than your anger and displeasure with him. Resist and rebuke the evil that comes in his heart and lead him in the way of serving God with all diligence.
When young people do wrong, talk to them about how they are letting others down, those whom God has raised up for them to minister to. Remind them of the vision and the faith they should have. Our children must recognize our authority; they must want to avoid displeasing us, but above everything else they must sense our faith—a faith that will not let them go.
Always remember to teach your boys that God has promised them something wonderful to walk in if they have faith. Teach the little girls that God has something better for them than just growing up and marrying some unsaved man who will make their life miserable and unfulfilled. The function they have as a male or female is secondary to their function as a child of God. The body was not made for fornication but for the Lord. And when they give themselves wholly unto the Lord first, God will see to it that what comes forth in their life will be truly blessed, just as He has promised.
The Shunammite woman ministered unselfishly. Not only did she invite the prophet to come and eat with her family, but they also built and furnished a guestroom for him, that he could use any time he passed by. She demanded nothing in return, yet God blessed that ministering unselfishness.
She was an aggressive mother. How does a young person cope with an aggressive mother who has such persistent faith? How far can he run from the Lord before he gets pulled back? It’s good to have that aggressive, persistent faith. And this mother had it. Notice how determined she was to reach the prophet as fast as she could. She instructed her servant in effect, “Don’t spare the horses until I say so.” When Gehazi came running out to meet her he asked, “Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?” She was in too much of a hurry to stop. “It is well. I’m on my way. Don’t bother me.”
In those days the prophet was greatly respected and no one touched his person uninvited. When she threw herself down and caught hold of Elisha’s feet Gehazi came to push her away. It wasn’t that Elisha was being aloof; he and Gehazi were just following Scriptural principles, for they were walking on a high spiritual level. However, Elisha told his servant, “Let her alone,” and he let her stay there.
When Elisha sent his servant with his staff to revive the boy, nothing happened. The prophet was puzzled by the whole situation. God had given the child in answer to prayer and now the child had died and the revelation of a way to revive him was being veiled. A satanic force must have come against the child to destroy him when he cried, “My head, my head,” and died in his mother’s lap. Apparently nothing had been wrong with the child before. When his staff failed to work in healing the child, Elisha went to the child himself and found a way of victory.
Another praiseworthy trait of this mother was a demanding submissiveness. It’s the kind of submissiveness that some of the brothers in the church have. They say, “I’m submissive to you. I’ll go any place you want me to go; I’ll do anything you want me to do, anytime. Just tell me how I can help you.” The next week they’re back, saying the same thing. You can’t ignore them because that submissiveness is almost demanding.
How do you deal with a woman who has demanding submissiveness? Can you picture how it would be? Your wife says to you, “Dear, I’m submissive to you. I’ll be anything you want me to be, any time. I’m right with you to love you and to bless you. Is there something I can do for you?” Everywhere you go, she’s there, “I’m submissive; what do you want?” This action will demand that you finally decide what you do want of her, and what you do want her to be. That submissive role is the wisest course anyone could follow. Get down before the Lord and say, “Lord, I’m submissive. What do you want me to do?” What can the Lord do with such a nuisance except show him and lead him into His will and purpose?
Behind the beautiful soft femininity of a woman there can be a tenacity as ruthless and as hard as steel, that won’t let go or back off. The Syrophenician woman demonstrated that quality when she came to Jesus and asked Him to deliver her devil-possessed daughter. The disciples tried to send her away, and even Jesus indicated that she wasn’t worthy. Yet because of her persistent faith her daughter was delivered.
That kind of faith even a great man of God often cannot understand. As a high priest, Eli was familiar with the ways of the Lord; but when he saw Hannah praying he thought she was drunk. The agony of her spirit was so great it seemed to leave her in a stupor. In answer to her prayer God gave her a son, who became the prophet Samuel.
The Shunamite woman was a good mother. The Bible calls her a great woman. No doubt she had many faults, just as most of you mothers have. But that isn’t what will determine how successful you are as a mother. It is the way you believe, the way you come through. God deliver you mothers who struggle with the feeling, “I’m inadequate; I’m insufficient; I can’t take care of my family.” You can; it will turn out fine if only you have faith. God will honor that and bring them through in spite of all the mistakes you make.