Hello everyone.
In our last blog post, we went over the story of Naaman being healed from leprosy and some spiritual Insights that can be gleaned from this story.
We will now continue on with the story of Naaman that can be found in 2 Kings 5:15-27.
“And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.
But he said, As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused.” 2 Kings 5:15-16 (KJV)
Naaman was so grateful to God for healing his leprosy that he wanted to give the man of God a gift. However, the man of God (his name was Elisha-verses 8&9) refused the gift.
God was the One Who had healed Naaman. Elisha had merely cooperated with God and expressed God’s command to Naaman. The healing that had occurred had been solely performed by God Himself. None of the glory for the healing was due to Elisha.
(Please see James 1:17 and Psalms 103:1-2)
“And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules’ burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD.
In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon thy servant in this thing.
And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way.” 2 Kings 5:17-19 (KJV)
The rest of the story in verses 20-27 is a sobering account that teaches us the dangers of greed and of lying.
Gehazi, the prophet Elisha’s servant, wanted the gifts that Naaman could bestow. Even though Elisha had already declined the gifts, Gehazi was determined to get them.
Gehazi ran after Naaman. Naaman “lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?” 2 Kings 5:21 (KJV)
Gehazi then told a complete and total lie.
“And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.” 2 Kings 5:22 (KJV)
Naaman provided ” two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments…” 2 Kings 5:23 (KJV)
The scriptures tell us that “the eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” Proverbs 15:3 (KJV) It’s true. God sees everything. We can hide our sins from people many times, but we can never hide our sins from God.
God told the prophet Elisha what Gehazi had done.
“And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.
But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.
And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?
The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.” 2 Kings 5:24-27 (KJV)
Greed is not from God.
“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1 Timothy 6:10 (KJV)
Lies are not from God.
In John 8:44, Jesus had this to say when talking to religious leaders who were rebelling against God and choosing to do Satan’s will:
“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” John 8:44 (KJV)
So, what are the antidotes for the terrible diseases of greed and deceit?
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5 (KJV)
“Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.” Psalm 119:29 (KJV)
We need to trust God and allow Him to put His law in our hearts. He knows what we need in every situation, and He doesn’t want us to be always longing for more than we need, feeling insecure and/or indulging in unhealthy defensiveness.
May God help us all to bask in His love and to trust Him fully. May we all allow God to do His beautiful work in us so that His law of love may become deeply embedded in our hearts.
Learn and Grow 4ever 