Mothers of the BibleSample

The Shunammite Mom: God Uses Your Generosity

But the woman became pregnant, and the next year about that same time she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her. —2 Kings 4:17, NIV

At the age of 22, I moved from my comfortable hometown to a big city where I knew no one. You don’t realize how important community is until you are in a new place without it. One month after my move, a friend I had made at church invited me over to her house for coffee. It wasn’t anything fancy—just a simple snack and a warm mug—but as we sat and talked, I realized how much I needed her to reach out to me. What seemed like a small act on her part had a bigger impact on me than she could have ever imagined.

The story of the Shunammite momin 2 Kings paints a similar picture. She was a woman of faith, living in the town of Shunem, who recognized that Elisha, a prophet of God, frequently passed through her area. Instead of offering a mere greeting or a small meal, she and her husband went a step further. They built a room on their roof—furnished with a bed, table, chair and lamp—to make Elisha feel comfortable whenever he visited. Talk about hospitality!

But she didn’t expect anything in return. When Elisha offered to intercede for her, she humbly declined, saying she had no special requests. However, after hearing that she had no son, Elisha said to her, “About this time next year, … you will hold a son in your arms” (2 King 4:17, NIV). The Shunammite woman begged Elisha not to mislead her with a promise he couldn’t keep; however, it was not Elisha’s promise—it was God’s. God did something the Shunammite woman thought was impossible: She “became pregnant, and the next year about that same time she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her” (2 King 4:17, NIV).

The Shunammite mom’s story is a prominent example of how God blesses faith-filled generosity. When we extend generosity and hospitality to others, we partner with God in loving his people.

Challenge: This week, I encourage you to show hospitality to someone in your community. Is there a neighbor, a single mom or an exhausted teacher who could use an act of kindness? Maybe it’s a home-cooked meal, a handwritten card or something as simple as an invitation to grab coffee together. And take it from me—God will bless your faith-filled generosity in ways you cannot imagine.