Even the spiritually mature have weakness
This woman was godly, spiritually sensitive, faithful to God and her husband, used her financial resources to bless God’s servants and many more things. Even so, she seemed to harbor a bitterness over her barrenness. A callus may have been over it; there may have even been a faithful acceptance of it, but when God came along to give her this long desired blessing it was not accepted.
Consider how many years it had been since the blessing was bestowed. The child was born one year after her objections were voiced. The day the child died he had gone unattended to his father in the fields. So, I bet he was between the age of 5 and 10. When she arrived at Mount Carmel and met Elisha she dredged back up the day he proclaimed his blessing to her. So she harbored this semi-grudge, this spiritual weakness, this lack of full acceptance of this blessing for years.
Personally, I need to mature good opinions are not disqualified when shortcomings are discovered. Important, godly details of this woman are on display in the first part of this story: she orchestrates the construction of a prophet-suite, years later remains contented, at peace with others, honorable in her dealings. Those were not lost when the scab over her barrenness was removed were they? Similarly, we must never demand perfection as the price for our affection, yet it is easy to do.
Accept God’s blessings
This Shunammite woman would have done better to joyfully accept this young child. It seems that she only partially embraced him out of the fear that she would lose him. When she did lose him she blamed Elisha and by proxy God for this loss. Immaturity was saying that no-life was better than any life. As God has given us our minds we can never out-rationalize his plans for us. We can never flank God by our own efforts. Since he figured it was good for the Shunammite to have the child without regard for whether she would lose him it must have been so.
Are there things in your life that you are mad at God about? Consider the Shunammite and how things worked out for her along those lines. Now, I think that this may be more easily said than done. You and I can easily consider these several angles about this Shunammite woman and her child, but we are not her and they have both since died. I do not think that we can talk ourselves out of certain hard-formed opinions. We can pray about them. We can put a godly mask on our evil tendencies. When a thing is long worn it leaves its imprints. Trust those and bide ones time. In faith allow his molding to mold and if you cannot see the end-game do not be too vocal in your frets. This will honor the Lord and keep you from shame and disgrace.
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