THE GREAT WOMAN
Introduction: Purpose of this series is to help us as women to become more
pleasing to God, to our families and those around us by looking at the examples of
women in the Bible….The Good, the Bad and the Ugly! Which are you? Whether
you want to be or not, you are an example just by existing. (Sunday School class
a couple of weeks ago) It’s a responsibility you have…what you do with it is up to
you.
We are going to begin with The Good:
HOW TO BE GRRRRREAT!
Intro. II Kings 4: 8
1. This woman called “great”. In same league with Moses, David and John
the Baptist. First mention of word is in Gen. 12:2 where God told Abraham
he would make of him a great nation.
2. Word thrown around randomly. Many different definitions acc. to
Webster’s 1828…large, important, powerful, vast, elevated, rich, superior,
influential. How do we know she’s not called great because she was a
substantial woman? How do we know she fits the additional definition of
“magnanimous, generous, high-minded?” By the rest of the story! She is
otherwise anonymous for what she did was more important than who she
was.
3. We have a convoluted idea of greatness is today’s world. To obtain
greatness you have to serve in Congress, sit on the Supreme Court or be a
vocal advocate for AIDS research. Hillary Clinton still ranks as one of the
most admired women in the world….go figure. And, so much of the value
of women in this culture is how they look…the model with the 40” inseam
and an IQ to match is regarded as a role model for our young girls! Worse,
to be a great woman in some churches, you must march for right to life, get
on the speaker circuit, or write a self-help book. Some great women
merely sit in the nursery or clean the church bathrooms.
4. So, why was this woman great. I have found 14 reasons in the
chapter….you can list them on your worksheet if you want.
1. 4:8 Hospitable – Opening your home is one of the greatest gifts you can
give esp. when it extends outside your comfort zone…it’s personal and
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
requires effort. Don’t be like the man who took his dog to the vet, asking to
have the animal’s tail cut off completely. “I don’t like to do that,” said the
vet. “And why completely?” “Well,” the owner replied, “my mother-in-law
is coming to visit us, and I don’t want anything in the house to suggest that
she is welcome.” I Peter 4:9 He should have read this verse!
4:8 Consistent – This was an open invitation, available whenever he
showed up…unexpected company…the bane of most of our existences!
Often we have brief twinges of benevolence, we quench them and move
on. Hers was ongoing…she was always prepared.
4:9 Perceptive - This is a lost art! This was the impetus for the two
previous actions….not so busy that she couldn’t see a God-given
opportunity when it walked into her life. She recognized who Elisha was…a
man of God. Not until eternity will we know who we actually entertained
or what we missed. Some of our sweetest fellowships in our home have
been with our old friend Damon Woods, missionary to the Philippines; he
was Elisha to me.
4:9-10 -Respected husband – This is just me, but I am so tired of seeing
commercials of men cleaning the house, fixing dinner or trying to get a
stain out of a child’s shirt. How about we return to traditional roles where
the husband is consulted before an action is taken? This woman actually
went to her husband before she went to Home Depot. “Let us” indicates
she intended to help. Illustration: Jim saying, “Who’s we?” “I pray thee”
shows he was the one who made the final call.
4:10 – Generous This isn’t a cot and blanket thrown in a corner; it’s a fullblown suite! It’s been my experience that the most miserable people in the
world are the selfish ones…the “takers.” I have listened to missionaries
relate stories re. being housed in deplorable situations while on furlough or
on deputation…it’s a given that our generosity surely should extend to
those who serve the Lord on a foreign field.
4:13 – Content Dorothy Prailey and I just had a discussion re. the
difference between contentment and complacency…and there is a big one!
Paul tells us in Phil.4:11 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have
learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Contentment
is learned…it’s an acquired habit! Complacency is very dangerous. The
woman has the contentment thing down pat as is demonstrated by her
response to Elisha. Given the activity in the previous chapter, Elisha had
the liberty to call in some favors from the king or the joint chiefs of
staff…the possibilities are endless! Because she experienced complete
contentment, she turned down his offer.
Enter Gehazi to save the day! Vs. 14-16
7. 4:16 - Realistic Perhaps she didn’t mention this piece of information
because she certainly knew that what she undoubtedly wanted most was
no longer possible and had come to accept that. There is a peace that
comes from accepting things you can’t change; she had achieved that.
However, the old preacher, John R. Rice, once said, “Never put a question
mark where God has put a period.”
8. 4:17 - Rewarded You have all lived long enough to know that you can’t
expect compensation every time you do a “good deed.” What’s the
saying….No good deed goes unpunished. Remember, the great use of a life
is to spend it for something that outlasts it. Obviously, doing right is its own
reward, but every once in a while, people surprise you, and the good comes
back to you. The actions of the great woman were rewarded in an
unbelievable fashion for her, and she was given a precious gift.
But that isn’t the end of the story…it gets better. You have 6 more vacant
numbers!
9. 4:18-21 In control of emotions This is where she truly triumphs over her
innate female make-up! Can you imagine how she must have felt? But
instead of giving over to the overwhelming grief she must have
experienced, she calmly takes her dead son, not to the graveyard, not even
to her husband or to his own room. She heads straight for Elisha’s room.
10.4:22-23 - Protective of her husband At this point it doesn’t appear he
even knows what has happened…and she doesn’t tell him. Is this different
from today when all our problems, woes and cares are spilled out on
Facebook, tweets and Dr. Phil?
11.4:24-26 - Possesses amazing faith This faith propels her without haste to
the one who can help her. “It is well.”
12.4:27-28 Possesses bold faith She went back to the source of her reward
from God through Elisha and was bold enough to remind him of his
promise. Hebrews 4:16
13.4:30 – Accepted no substitute for her faith It’s certainly not wrong to use
doctors, medicine, etc. but ultimately, faith should be placed where it is the
most valuable. Gehazi seemed like a nice guy but he just wasn’t the real
deal. (vs. 31) Elisha then re-enacts the miracle of Elijah in I Kings 17
almost exactly. The original CPR!
14.4:32 – Allowed God to work His will Often, all we can do is exhibit our
faith, boldly act on it and then let God take control. For a
mother…relinquishing that control is excruciating…but for the Shunamite
woman, it worked. Faith is idle when circumstances are right, only when
they are adverse is one’s faith in God exercised. Faith, like muscle, grows
strong and supple with exercise. Mark 9:24
I can just imagine her meeting up with her husband and saying, “You won’t
believe what a day we’ve had!”
Closing: Ecclesiastes 7:25-28 The sad commentary of a man who had 300
wives and 700 concubines…he couldn’t find one woman he would have
deemed great. Let’s work to be different, to be great in some small thing that
will make a difference in eternity.