31 TWO IMPORTANT LESSONS

Naaman, the Aramian, in returning to Elisha to give thanks, did the same thing as one of the ten lepers Jesus cleansed. He was convinced of the power of the God of Israel, not only that He is God, but that He is the only God. This is a wonderful confession, but hidden in it is a sad message about the misery of the Gentile world. It means that the nations that had many gods really had no God, but were without God in the world. He had earlier thought the gods of Aram, Rimmon being the chief of those gods, were gods, but now his experience in Israel had corrected this mistake, and he now knew Israel’s God alone was God. The mercy and the miracle of the cure affected him deeply and he became a worshipper of the true God. Anyone is best able to speak of the power of God to save or to heal who has him or herself experienced it. He was grateful to Elisha the prophet and wanted to give him gifts as though to say, ‘You are the servant of the true God and, to honor you and your God, I have a present for you of silver and raiment, whatever you are pleased to accept.’ He valued the cure and would gladly pay for it. But Elisha generously refused the fee, though urged to accept it; and, to prevent further attempts to persuade him, Elisha backed his refusal with an oath. “The prophet answered, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.’ And even though Naaman urged him, he refused.” This was not because he did not need it, for he was poor enough, and knew what to do with it to benefit the sons of the prophets. Neither did he decline it because he thought it wrong, because on other occasions he received presents, but he did not want to be obligated to an Aramean, or allow him to say he had made Elisha rich.

He evidently thought it would be much more for the honor of God to show this new convert that the servants of the God of Israel were not eager for the wealth of this world. This might even more deeply impress Naaman that there was no God but in Israel! I believe there is a lesson here for servants of God today. If someone offers us money, let’s ask God if this is a time for receiving it or not. The Bible says in Galatians 6:6 that those who are taught in the Word of God should pay for the teaching or in some way give something to benefit the servant of God. It says, “Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.” So it is not always wrong to receive a gift from someone who benefits from our ministry, but Elisha’s example implies that there will be times when it is not appropriate. Let’s let God tell us whether to accept the gifts or not. And certainly we must learn not to be preoccupied with getting what we might get out of a ministry or miracle that God does.

This is a wonderful missionary story. We usually refer to this as missions by attraction. The story of the Queen of Sheba coming to visit Solomon with her many questions is another illustration. Most of the time missionaries go abroad to serve, but Elisha and Solomon had opportunities to do crosscultural, international missions by ministering to those who came to them. Today, when international students come from abroad to any more developed country, to receive their educations, local Christians have a similar opportunity. Naaman was converted to the worship of the God of Israel. He will not only offer a sacrifice to the Lord in thanks for his present cure, but he resolves he will never offer sacrifice to any other god. Verse 17 says,  “. . . please let me, your servant, be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the Lord.” It was a joyous cure of his leprosy which cured him also of his idolatry, which certainly was an even more dangerous, destructive and contagious disease . . . all the more dangerous because it often goes unrecognized or even denied when clearly pointed out.

But here are important lessons that the wise and sensitive Elisha handled correctly. Naaman said he would not only worship the God of Israel, but that in order to remind himself of his decision, he would change the way he worshipped. To declare openly that he was a worshipper of the true God, he would have earth taken from Israel and when he got back home he could stand or kneel on it when he would worship the true God. It does not say he would build an altar, but it does say he would take as much earth as two mules could carry. Ha! Just awhile ago had spoken disparagingly of the waters of Israel but now changes his tune and highly values the earth of Israel. Of course, we know that this effort to take earth to Aram for worship purposes was unnecessary, since the true God of all the earth can be worshiped anywhere on any ground and all the earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof, but Elisha was wise to work with the new convert in such a way as to encourage, rather than discourage, him.

Naaman may have needed the reminder or even in his mind enjoy the souvenir from Elisha’s neighborhood. Ha! Maybe his affection and respect for the prophet, on account of the miracle of healing and the example he observed when Elisha declined the silver and garments, made him, so to say, love the very ground he walked on and want to take some of it home with him. The modern compliment equivalent to this today would be something like, “Please, sir, can I take a selfie with you?” The next aspect of Naaman’s request requires some discernment and understanding of crosscultural matters in order to appreciate it. The meaning of an act, behavior or event takes place in the mind of the actor; not so much in the nature of the action as what is going in the mind of the person when he or she does the action. Naaman did not want to worship Rimmon, but his official responsibilities included aiding his master when his master worshipped Rimmon. For him to request that he be able to perform his duty was a wise request. He was not going to worship in his heart, but he was going to help his master since helping his master was part of his responsibility. His master had the same power of choice that he himself did. He himself choose the God he wanted to serve and his master had the same freedom and would probably continue to choose Rimmon. So Naaman reserved to himself a liberty to bow in the house of Rimmon, in complaisance to the king, his master, according to the duty of his place at court. Naaman admits that it is not ideal for a worshipper of the God of Israel to be bowing in the temple of Rimmon, but pleads that in his official position he cannot not do it.

He does not seek to honor the idol Rimmon, but only to honor the king and therefore he hopes God will forgive him. That the prophet said “Go in peace,” tells me that the request was okay and that this wise prophet poured oil on troubled waters by recognizing what Naaman was getting at and told him not to worry about it. God is practical. On the other hand, if, in our convert’s relationship with God, we make an exception for any known sin which they want to continue to do, that should not be approved by any of God’s ministers. We all, even recent converts, must cast away all our transgressions and not even want to go to any house of Rimmon.

Though we are encouraged to pray for the forgiveness of sins we have committed, yet, if we ask for permission to go on in any sin in the future, we mock God, and deceive ourselves. Any of us who do not know how to quit a place at court or some other kind of employment when they cannot keep it without sinning against God and wronging their consciences, do not rightly value, understand or appreciate God’s favor; they scorn it by brazenly proceeding knowingly in sin. Those who truly hate evil will make certain to avoid all appearances of evil. Though Naaman’s position in this matter may have caused a question in the minds of some observers, or in us who read this story, yet because of his promise to offer no sacrifice to any god but only the God of Israel was a great point gained with this Aramean. Because, by asking pardon in this matter, he showed an awareness of the issues and such a high degree of conviction and insight, it would give any observer present hope for Naaman’s continued improvement. So the prophet released him and told him to “Go in peace.” New converts need our encouragement.

2. 2 Kings 5:19b -27  After Naaman had traveled some distance, 20 Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, “My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.” 21 So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him. “Is everything all right?” he asked. 22 “Everything is all right,” Gehazi answered. “My master sent me to say, ‘Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.’” 23 “By all means, take two talents,” said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and then tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi. 24 When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the things from the servants and put them away in the house. He sent the men away and they left. 25 When he went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” “Your servant didn’t go anywhere,” Gehazi answered. 26 But Elisha said to him, “Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money or to accept clothes—or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves? 27 Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever.” Then Gehazi went from Elisha’s presence and his skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow.

Naaman, an Aramean, a distinguished member of the king’s court and a soldier, had many servants, and we read earlier in verse 13 about how wise and good they were when their master was angry about Elisha telling him to wash in the Jordan River. That verse says, “Naaman’s servants went to him and said, ‘My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, “Wash and be cleansed!”’” In contrast to this, Elisha, a holy prophet, a man of God, has but one servant, and he proves in this part of the story to be a base, lying, selfish and materialistic person. Those who had heard of Elisha at a distance honored him, and received good by what they heard about and from him; but this servant who stood continually before him and could have heard Elisha’s wisdom if he only listened, received little if any of value from the good impressions he could have enjoyed. Elisha’s teaching and miracles seemed to have been of no benefit to this man.

One would have expected that Elisha’s servant would be a good man. Even Ahab’s servant, Obadiah, was, but then we all know that even Jesus Himself had Judas among His followers. It is a profound truth that the means of grace cannot give grace. The best men, the best ministers have often had those around them who have been their grief and shame. Some live near a church but remain far from God. A group of wise men made a long trip from the east to seek and find the new King Jesus, but the scholars living at Jerusalem at the time who told them to go to Bethlehem, even those very scholars of the Hebrew prophets, did not make the 10 kilometer trip to Bethlehem.

Gehazi’s sin was complicated. The love of money, that root of all evil, was at the bottom of it. His master refused to accept Naaman’s treasures, but Gehazi coveted them. Gehazi imagined the wealth of clothes and silver in Naaman’s chests, and he must run after him to get some of it. The Bible does not say it is wrong to have wealth. In fact, the principles of the Bible, when followed obediently, leads to having wealth. But the Bible does say we are not to love it. Gehazi blamed his master for refusing Naaman’s present, condemned him as foolish in not taking silver and fine garments when he might have it.

Gehazi envied and grudged Elisha’s kindness and generosity to this stranger, though it was for the good of the soul of that new convert. Gehazi thought he was wiser than his master. When Naaman, like a person of generous and fine manners, got down from his chariot to meet Gehazi, Gehazi told him a deliberate lie, that his master sent him to him, and so he received the courtesy to himself which Naaman intended for Elisha. Gehazi dishonored his master, and falsely misrepresented him to Naaman as one who had soon changed his mind, was fickle, who did not know his own mind, that would say something and then reverse it, swear and then try to back out, that would say what was honorable and then change it.

His story of the supposed two sons of the prophets was as unrealistic as it was false. If he wanted to beg for something for two young godly scholars, surely much less than a talent of silver might have been a great blessing to them. Naaman was a new convert and here in his foolishness and greed, Gehazi risked alienating Naaman from that life-saving, life-changing faith which he had just received. Gehazi’s greed could have readily changed Naaman’s good opinion of it his new-found faith. Naaman could have reacted as Paul’s enemies might have, by saying what Paul suggested wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:16,17. “Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you?”

Elisha had not burdened Naaman, but did Elisha send Gehazi to get gain from him? Of course not, and we hope Naaman understood afterwards that Elisha had no part in what Gehazi did and that Gehazi was forced to restore what he had unjustly taken from Naaman. Otherwise, it might have driven Naaman to his idols again. Gehazi seeking to hide his sin added to it. (1.) He hid it, as Achan did. He thought to himself he was sure of it, and thought well of his own management of a fraud by which he had taken from Naaman and insulted Elisha’s spirit of discerning, as Ananias and Sapphira had done to the apostles. (2.) He denied it. He went in, and stood before his master, ready to receive his orders. He looked like he was attending to his master, though really he did injury to him. His master asked him where he had been, “Your servant didn’t go anywhere.”One lie often necessitates another and that kind of sin is always down-hill.

Gehazi thought he could trick the prophet, but soon understood that the Spirit of prophecy could not be deceived, and that it was in vain to lie to the Holy Ghost. Elisha could tell him what he had done, even though he had denied it. It is folly to be involved in sin with hopes of secrecy. Does not the eye of God go with you wherever you go? Proverbs 12:19 says, “Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.” We don’t know what he intended to do with his ill-gotten two talents of silver. With that much money he could have purchased ground and cattle. He could have left Elisha’s service, and set up for himself. Did he not realize that all the foolish hopes and selfish efforts of worldly people are open before God?

Elisha tells Gehazi that what he had done was evil. Verse 26 tells us what Elisha asked, “Is this the time to take money or to accept clothes—or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves?” In other words, ‘Is this an opportunity of enriching yourself? Could you find no better way of getting money than by tricking your master and laying a serious stumbling-block before a new convert?” Those who are for getting wealth at any time, and by any ways and means whatsoever, whether difficult or easy, right or wrong, expose themselves to a great deal of temptation. Paul said in 1 Timothy 6:9, “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.” Anyone who chooses to be in Christian ministry had better put to rest the ambition to be wealthy. Good, hard, honest work is commendable, but even then we should examine our motive. We rest so we can work better and we earn more money so we can serve better. John Wesley said: earn all you can, save all you can and give all you can. That seems like good stewardship.

How will Gehazi be punished for his sin? Verse 27 says, “‘Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever.’ Then Gehazi went from Elisha’s presence and his skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow.” Gehazi was hoping to pass lands and cattle on to his descendants, but, instead of that he will pass a loathsome disease to his heirs from generation to generation. The sentence was evidently immediately executed; no sooner was it said than it was done. He now has this stigma on himself and is made infamous. He carries a mark of shame wherever he goes. He loads himself and family with a curse, which will, not only for the present announce his evil, but forever perpetuate its memory.

Proverbs 21:6 says, “A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.” Those who get wealth by fraud and injustice cannot expect any comfort or permanence in it. How was Gehazi benefited, though he gained his two talents, when by it he lost his health, honor, peace, employment, and, if repentance did not prevent it, would also lose his soul forever?

Because this series of teachings is intended to help Christian leaders be better leaders, our most important conclusion in this lesson will not be about Gehazi, but about Elisha and how this great leader handled the Gehazi case.

He did not let Gehazi go free but held him accountable for the sin he had committed. Can we learn from that good example?