Proverbs 14:1 NKJV
[1] The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.
2 Kings 4:8-12 NKJV
[8] Now it happened one day that Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a notable woman, and she persuaded him to eat some food. So it was, as often as he passed by, he would turn in there to eat some food.
[9] And she said to her husband, “Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly.
[10] Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there.”
[11] And it happened one day that he came there, and he turned in to the upper room and lay down there.
[12] Then he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite woman.” When he had called her, she stood before him.
All through this thought-provoking story of Elisha and the Shunemmite woman, we read a lot about the woman, but very few about the husband.
In fact, right from the beginning of the story, the Bible says: Elisha went to Shunem, “where was a notable woman”, and the Bible goes further to say that the woman “persuaded Elisha to come inside the house and eat”.
Then, every time Elisha passed by the house, he would branch into the house and eat. It was this woman the Bible says approached her husband and pleaded with the thought of building a guest room of the upper deck of their house. the room was built and furnished with necessary furniture.
Then, one day, as the Prophet came and ate as usual, he and his servant were escort into the new room that had been built for him to rest and sleep. It was that evening that the Man of God told his servant: “Call this Shunemmite Woman!”
He pronounced the blessing of the fruit of the womb for her and the following year, the barrenness was broken and she had a child, a boy.
In the whole episode, we never heard of the man but once.
It was the Hospitality Spirit of the woman that welcome the Prophet into the house.
It was the caring spirit of the woman that always attract the Prophet into the house.
If you read the entire chapter to the end, you would discover that the house had become the house of Elisha in the City of Shunem. The Woman made it so.
SO THEREFORE, IT WAS THE WOMAN THAT ENGINEERED THE MIRACLE THAT HAPPENED IN THAT HOUSE.
The joy that came into that house at the arrival of a child was due to the caring and hospitality spirit of that woman towards the Man of God like Elijah.
THE WOMAN HAD A VERY GOOD PERCEPTION AND DISCERNMENT.
SHE PERCEIVED AND DISCERNED THE SPIRIT OF GOD IN ELISHA AND BROUGHT TO HER HUSBAND, THE SUGGESTION OF BUILDING A GUEST ROOM FOR THE PROPHET.
2 KINGS 4:9-10
[9] And she said to her husband, “Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly.
[10] Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there.”
That was when the family hit the Miracle!. the suggestion of the Woman brought the great Miracle! They accommodated the Carrier of Grace and Miracles. She brought a great joy to her family.
WOMEN WELD A GREAT SWORD OF INFLUENCE IN THE LIFE OF MEN. SO, TO A LARGE EXTENT, THE WOMAN DETERMINES A LOT OF GOOD OR BAD IN A HOME OR MARRIAGE.
The Shunemmite Woman was very discerning, very observant, very caring and hospitable. So, she influenced the Prophet of God into her home and made him accept to take the house as his base in Shunem City. she made him a part of the family, if you read further in the chapter. SO, SHE PROVOKE A PRONOUNCEMENT OF BLESSING OF A CHILD.
Abraham was regarded as the friend of God. God called him out of his father’s house. And he followed the Lord and left for a new land the Lord had promised to give him. He was a man of great faith. Father of many nations. Father of Faith.
BUT HE LISTEN TO HIS WIFE, SARAH, WHEN SHE SUGGESTED TO HIM TO GO AND SLEEP WITH HER HOUSEMAID FOR THEM TO HAVE A CHILD.
The union produce Ishmael that became a problem to the whole WORLD of believers and the children of Hebrews now. The Influence of Sarah brought a crisis into the world.
The influence of Eve made Adam eat the forbidden fruit and brought sin and curses into the humanity. This is what the Book of Proverbs says about two types of women.
Proverbs 14:1 NKJV
[1] The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.
Proverbs 12:4 NKJV
[4] An excellent wife is the crown of her husband, But she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.
This is what is said about Ahab, the king of Israel:
1 Kings 21:25 NKJV
[25] But there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife stirred him up.
Ahab did a lot of wickedness and evil in the land, because his wife stirred him up to do the evils. When Naboth refused to give the king his land, Ahab did not force him, but he simply went back into the palace looking sad, that he had been refused. But Jezebel, his wife came and stirred him up and gave him the garden by plotting the death of Naboth. King Ahab was evil, but his wife stirred him up.
Some women are Joy to their husband.
Some are pain and curse to their husband.
Some women bring in peace and gladness into their homes.
Some bring in problems and crisis into their homes.
Some women are very stubborn and very self-willed, causing noises.
some are very humble and submissive bringing serenity into he home.
Some women are very spiritual-minded, and discerning and observant.
Some are very Carnal-minded and worldly, causing a lot of sadness.
May the LORD MAKE OUR WOMEN AND SISTERS INSTRUMENT IN HIS HAND TO BUILDING GODLY HOMES.
Aphorism CITY 