Tuesday, July 9, 2019
“Go in peace,” Elisha said. So Naaman started home again. But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, the man of God, said to himself, “My master should not have let this Aramean get away without accepting any of his gifts. As surely as the Lord lives, I will chase after him and get something from him.” So Gehazi set off after Naaman. When Naaman saw Gehazi running after him, he climbed down from his chariot and went to meet him. “Is everything all right?” Naaman asked. “Yes,” Gehazi said, “but my master has sent me to tell you that two young prophets from the hill country of Ephraim have just arrived. He would like 75 pounds of silver and two sets of clothing to give to them.” “By all means, take twice as much silver,” Naaman insisted. He gave him two sets of clothing, tied up the money in two bags, and sent two of his servants to carry the gifts for Gehazi. But when they arrived at the citadel, Gehazi took the gifts from the servants and sent the men back. Then he went and hid the gifts inside the house. When he went in to his master, Elisha asked him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” “I haven’t been anywhere,” he replied. But Elisha asked him, “Don’t you realize that I was there in spirit when Naaman stepped down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to receive money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, and male and female servants? Because you have done this, you and your descendants will suffer from Naaman’s leprosy forever.” When Gehazi left the room, he was covered with leprosy; his skin was white as snow. 2 Kings 5:19-27
Naaman,
commander of the most powerful army in the world awoke one day to discover he
had leprosy. He would’ve traded all his
power and wealth for a good doctor’s report.
When he went to the prophet he got just that…jaundiced, sickly skin,
covered in sores and scabs, bordering on rotting, was now smooth and clear.
Naaman was
overjoyed and wanted to shower the prophet with gifts of gold, silver, and a
lavish wardrobe. Elisha refused, but
Gehazi, his servant couldn’t resist. He
went behind the prophet’s back, running after Naaman, lying straight-faced to
him, and managing to snag 150 pounds of silver for himself (worth about $36,000
in today’s money[2]). Gehazi hid the money, but the prophet knew
all about it and the tables turned very quickly.
The upshot
of the story is incredible. Naaman, a
heathen, hardened military political power broker who had every advantage
except health was willing to trade it all for relief from leprosy. He got the relief and became a worshipper of
the Lord God. Gehazi, servant of Elisha,
who had seen the prophet’s connection with God as Elisha performed miracles,
and who had witnessed the might of JHWH defeating the foes of Israel without so
much as a skirmish, traded away his own health, and that of his children and grandchildren,
not to mention the possibility of passing along a good name, for some stolen
bags of silver, just enough to make a good down payment on a funeral.
The
contrast of the two men is striking.
Naaman was sickly and willing to give it all away for the blessing of
God. Gehazi lived in the blessing of God
and wanted what Naaman had. He got way
more than he bargained for.
For You Today
Scripture says that contentment with godliness is itself great wealth.[3] Like Gehazi we always have a choice, we can
be content and let our thoughts and lives dwell with God and His ways, or we
can trade away our contentment for a little silver or gold…and leave a leprous
legacy; should be a no-brainer for believers!
Go to VIDEO
[1]
Title Image: Pixabay.com Unless
otherwise noted, Scripture used from The
New Living Translation©
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