We will be concluding the segment on Naaman the leper in today's study. He dipped himself in the muddy waters of the Jordan River seven times and was healed, then he went back to Elisha's house and said that from now on he will worship no god except the God of Israel. He offered Elisha a gift from the riches supplied to him by the king of Aram who had sent him to Israel with ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of the finest designer clothing available. Elisha was polite about the offer but refused any type of gift.
Now Naaman and his entourage are on their way back to Aram and Elisha's servant, Gehazi, allows himself to be overcome by greed. "After Naaman had traveled some distance, 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.'" (2 Kings 5:19b-20)
What makes Gehazi behave this way? He has been a faithful servant, as far as we know, to Elisha for many years. What motivates him to run after the caravan and ask Naaman for something, knowing that Elisha would not approve?
Greed appears to be a part of it. The items in Naaman's possession represent more accumulated wealth that Gehazi has ever seen in his lifetime---more than he will ever see again. Greed may always have been lurking under the surface but perhaps it wasn't until he saw all these fine things in one place that he allowed himself to picture what life might be like if he had these things. He has thus far never stolen anything due to greed, at least not that we are aware of, and he doesn't exactly plan to steal anything now. He knows Naaman will gladly and gratefully give him something if he asks for it.
Another thing motivating Gehazi's behavior may be prejudice against Gentile foreigners. It's notable that when he deplores the fact that Elisha sent Naaman away in peace without accepting a gift, he refers to Naaman as "this Aramean". If the man who came to Elisha for help had been a fellow Israelite, I tend to think Gehazi would have been okay with Elisha not accepting a gift of gratitude. But because Naaman is an Aramean, Gehazi has no qualms about taking anything he can get from him.
And yet another motive may have to do with the fact that there is famine in the land (2 Kings 4:38) and the famine is severe, which is why in Chapter 4 we found the company of prophets at Gilgal gathering wild vegetables and herbs to try to make a pot of stew big enough for all of them to share. The wealthy always get by even in times of famine because their wealth allows them to get supplies from regions where there is no famine. Gehazi may be thinking that with some money he can obtain more and better foods from outside of Israel.
Whatever the reason for Gehazi's treachery, he goes after Naaman and tells him a lie. "So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him. 'Is everything all right?' he asked. '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.' 'By all means, take two talents,' said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and 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. 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." (2 Kings 5:21-24)
Naaman is a famous man in Aram, second only to the king, but he shows a great deal of courtesy to the servant of Elisha, getting down from his chariot as if he and Gehazi are social equals. He even sends two of his own servants with him to help him carry the goods. Gehazi allows them to assist him only until he reaches the hilltop, likely for fear Elisha will see them with him. He hurries home and hides his ill-gotten gains before rejoining his master.
"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. 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 or vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves? 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." (2 Kings 5:25-27)
Elisha isn't saying that the Lord doesn't want us to enjoy the fruits of our labors here on earth or that it's sinful to have any money in our bank accounts, extra clothing in our closets, or a house or a farm. Gehazi obtained the two talents of silver and the two sets of clothing by dishonest means and the Lord does have something against that. In addition, greed is a form of idolatry (Colossians 3:5) and Gehazi displayed more interest in heaping up treasures on earth than in doing what is right and being rewarded with treasures in heaven. As the Lord Jesus said, "Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:20-21)
Gehazi sinned against the Lord and against the unsuspecting Naaman and against his master Elisha. If Elisha had not reproved him, it would have tarnished his reputation as a prophet (and the reputations of other prophets and the holy name of the Lord Himself) if he had allowed his servant to get away with this sin. The leprosy which formerly afflicted the foreigner whom Gehazi despised and defrauded has now afflicted Gehazi himself as a judgment against him and as a warning to anyone who commits the idolatry of greed. Gehazi despised "this Aramean" as an unclean Gentile and former idolater but Naaman experienced a true conversion and has been made right with the Lord by faith, receiving the healing of his body as the outward sign that his soul has been cleansed. But Gehazi, who looks like a man faithful to God on the outside but who is unclean on the inside, now bears the outward symbol of the uncleanness of his soul.
The Aramean who came to see Elisha is commonly called "Naaman the leper" but his leprosy was only on the outside; on the inside I think he had a spiritual hunger for the Lord. Now he has been made whole on both the inside and the outside. But Gehazi has a leprosy of the soul and is not repentant of it, so now his outside matches his inside for all the world to see. It's far better to have little in this world and to have much stored up in heaven than to have more silver than we can carry and to be destitute at our core.
No comments:
Post a Comment