March 17 – A Time for Grace – Not a Time for Greed
II Kings 5
In the miracle of the healing of Naaman, the text is rich with lessons about faith and life. We learn that the little Israelite girl taken captive in a raid by the Syrians led by Naaman, the opposing general, had remained faithful, and even saw her position as a slave as part of God’s plan. She bore witness to her Lord, to help Naaman be healed from his leprosy.
Namaan, unfamiliar with Yahweh the God of the Israelites, still believed in the word of the little slave girl. Going to his King, he asked for permission to go to Israel to locate Elisha, the prophet, whom the little girl had said would be able to heal him. His King authorized the trip, wrote a letter to King Johor describing the trip as peaceful, and the general brought with him an enormous amount of silver, gold, and changes of clothing for the gift/payment for the healing.
Yahweh in this Old Testament account is the same God of grace Who freely gave of Himself on the cross. Unlike the event in II Kings, however, no payment was necessary. And that’s the point of this particular story. God wanted the Syrians to know He “freely gives.”
Gehazi had been a servant of Elisha for some time. We don’t know precisely when he joined Elisha, but he was certainly around for the previous three or four miracles recorded in Second Kings, and he may have been there for all of them, even those done at the time of Elijah’s work with Elisha. There is no record of Elijah or Elisha ever being paid for a miracle, (though sometimes they were given accommodations).
After Naaman was healed, he made a great – exclusive – confession of faith in Yahweh, rejecting even the kings of his own nation. He also offered the gifts to Elisha. His response was, “As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.” (II Kings 5:16) The text also records that the general urged Elisha to take the gift, but he was stalwart in his refusal.
You may know the end of the story. Gehazi saw the tremendous gift — valued somewhere between 1 and $10 million according to commentaries — and he coveted.
Gehazi acted on his greed, running after the general, and then adding to his coveting some more sins. He lied – bearing false witness that Elisha had told him other prophets needed financial help and said Elisha had changed his mind. He then broke the fourth commandment, not honoring Elisha but tarnishing his reputation and then lying to him when Elisha asked him where he had been. Gehazi’s answer was “Nowhere.” That may have been more accurate than he realized. The Bible describes greed and faithlessness as “emptiness/nothingness.” Elisha had already seen by God’s revelation where Gehazi had been, what he had done, and what he had said.
The judgment on Gehazi would be that leprosy would now rest upon him and his family forever. Gehazi left with money and clothing…and leprosy. Greed has its cost.
General Naaman was healed, but he unfortunately did not receive the clearest picture of the true God: “For God so loved the world that he gave…” (John 3:16 a)
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, You freely give, and we freely receive.
May we be givers like You. Teach us to have a giving heart. Thank You for Your mercy, Lord. Amen.
