The Shunammite woman lived during a fairly peaceful time in Israel. But, more importantly, her home was a peaceful one. That is not always true if the spouse doesn’t follow God with all his heart. It is more likely to be false today.
There have always been mean, violent people. Way back in the beginning, Cain killed his brother. Then, he left. Adam and Eve had other sons and daughters (Gen. 5:4). One of those daughters was Cain wife. That was okay in those days, because there were so few people, and the genetics wasn’t so messed up like today. Anyway, the Bible tells of a very vain and violent descendant of Cain’s, named Lamech. Genesis 4:23-4 quotes him as bragging about having killed people. He does so in a way that seems to threaten his two wives – as if he gathered them together and said, “Listen here, this is how it’s going to be!” Then, he sounds like he’s claiming to be greater than God. He says “if Cain shall be avenged sevenfold” – which God said He would do if someone killed Cain - then he – Lamech - would be avenged seventy-seven times.
The Shunammite woman’s husband was not like that, it appears. He didn’t step all over her like Lamech seems to have done. He certainly stuck to one wife. Lamech is the first person recorded to have two, which is totally against God’s wishes.
But, the point is that the Shunammite woman didn’t choose a person who totally followed God. So, her husband could have been a person like that. And, that would have made her life much harder. She was lucky to find a man who loved and cherished her.
It’s possible that the man she found was the best one available. The point is, this is one reason why it’s important to choose a man who is a spiritual leader. And, for a man to choose a woman who is following God.
This is not saying there won’t be problems; there are in every situation. But, we have departed from God a lot. Most people serve their own selfish interests. So, it is far more difficult than it used to be to find a man like the Shumannite’s husband. He didn’t trust in the Lord, but was a faithful provider, a hard worker, and a good, gentle person overall. There are way too many who don’t want to live by the Golden Rule – do unto others as you would have done unto you. It used to be that everyone was taught that Golden Rule, no matter what. So, even the non-religious followed it.
