THE MAN WHO KNOWS WHAT IS RIGHT, BUT DID OTHERWISE (2 KINGS 5:1-14)

Dear Members in Christ,

The man who knows what is right, but did otherwise (2 Kings 5:1-14)

No retelling of the encounter between Elisha and Naaman is complete without the mention of a man by the name of Gehazi. He is a man who knows what is right, but does otherwise. Is this not typical of many who fall into sin, and then lament afterwards? Do we not sometimes hear this said in sorrow, “I knew what was right, but I fell into sin anyway!” This is the regret of many a fallen man or woman. Today’s meditation is a warning and a remedy for us to take heed. We read 2 Kings 5:15 that after Naaman was healed, he returned to give a great reward to Elisha. We are told that this was no small gift from the king of Syria,

“And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.” 2 Kings 5:5                                                  

This was by no means a token gift. The silver and gold alone would have been a handsome sum in those days. Did Elisha gladly receive this gift? 

“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 5:16                                                   

Elisha had a godly purpose for this refusal. The healing of Naaman was to testify that there’s a true and living God in Israel. The healing of Naaman was by the LORD God alone, and not by Elisha, and he had no intention to usurp the glory which is due to God. But this did not go unnoticed.

A.  The man who knew what was right 

Gehazi was a man who served as Elisha’s aide. He was witness to many of Elisha’s miracles. Amongst the many miracles, he would have seen the one great miracle of resurrection that God had worked through His servant Elisha.

“And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son. Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.” 2 Kings 4:36, 37

Gehazi would likely have witnessed or at least heard of the power of God, whom Elisha called upon. Many of Elisha’s miracles were displayed for all to see. The ever-flowing oil for the prophet’s widow, restoration of the poison stew, iron that float, etc. It is safe to say that this man would have the knowledge of who God is and what God’s servant can accomplish by the power God. He would have known (unlike the idol worshipping Syrians such as Naaman before his conversion), that the True and Living God is the LORD God of Israel!

Dearly beloved, this is a lesson for today’s Christians. The so-called miracles, healing etc, that are touted by the Charismatic churches are not God’s way of converting the soul. Gehazi is a good illustration of a man who knew of God’s power, yet blatantly he committed sin against God. What was his sin? Read on…

B.  Knowing what’s right does not guarantee deeds that are right

Gehazi, having heard of Elisha’s refusal of the handsome reward by Naaman, was probably surprised. He likely thought to himself, “Why would anyone refuse such a good gift and riches?

Covetousness got the better of him. Gehazi succumbed to the temptation of greed.

“But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.” 2 Kings 5:20

He ran after Naaman, and was rewarded with a fraction of the whole amount. Even Naaman could sense the greed of this man for he said to Gehazi, “And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents” (2 Kings 5:23). The result we all know too well. First, he lied to Elisha, saying “Thy servant went no whither.” Then, he was cursed with leprosy, and “he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow”. Elisha had rebuked him thus,

“…Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?” 2 Kings 5:26b

Dearly beloved, it is never the time to exercise covetousness. It is never a good thing to allow material greed to replace our love and service for God. Gehazi was an example of one who has head knowledge about God, but does not submit his life to obey God. Beloved, having known the power of God and the free gift of eternal life, let us live and be content. Let us be warned, and let us learn this very pointed lesson about shunning greed for the things of this earth. Amen.

In His Service,
Rev. Lim Seh Beng, Pastor