II Kings 5:20-6:7
Good morning! We continue today with our series on the prophet Elisha. Last week, Carl took us through the account of the miraculous healing of Naaman the commander of the army of Aram. Elisha brought about this amazing miracle to heal Naaman of leprosy or a similar debilitating and fatal skin disease. It wasn’t Elisha that healed Naaman, of course. The Lord healed, but Elisha was one of the people that God worked through to bring about Naaman’s healing. Even more exciting than the healing is the transformation of the heart of Naaman. This idol-worshiping pagan from Aram comes to Israel as a last resort to seek healing. What he finds instead is the wonder-working power of God. He will no longer bow to idols who fail to heal. He even takes back dirt from Israel so that he can worship the true God in Aram on the blessed soil of God’s chosen land.
After his healing, Naaman returned to Elisha’s house in joy to bless him with gifts, literally a king’s ransom in gold, silver, and royal clothing. Yet, Elisha would not accept even one gift. We’re going to pick up the narrative after Elisha has turned him down and told Naaman to “Go in peace,” but first, let’s pray.
Lord, we rejoice that you are the LORD who heals us. Speak to us today as we continue reading of the life of your servant Elisha. Guard us against temptation so that we would not fall into sin. Guide us to seek You in our every activity. Thank You that You make our paths level, You cover our iniquities, and You rescue us from our troubles. Teach us now we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
After trying to get Elisha to take something, any of the gifts he’d brought, Naaman respecting Elisha gives up and receives a blessing, and sets out on his return to Aram. Let’s go to II Kings 5:19:
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.” II Kings 5:19-20
Mmmph. I don’t know about you, but I like Gehazi. I had high hopes for him. The first time we heard of him was when Elisha wanted to bless the Shunnamite woman for her kindness. Gehazi was the one who told Elisha that she had no son and her husband was old. God worked in part through Gehazi to bring about a miraculous birth. Then, when the Shunnamite’s son had died, Gehazi was sent by Elisha to run and put his staff on the boy as an act of faith in restoring the child’s life. Even though the boy didn’t come back to life at that moment, I don’t see it as a failure by Gehazi, but rather one step in the restoration.
Then, Elisha was Elijah’s servant before he became a prophet and was known as the man of God, right? Could something similar have happened to Gehazi? We talked about that in one of the earlier messages. It is highly unusual that a servant should succeed his master, and yet that’s exactly what happened to Elisha. Come on Gehazi, what about you? Are you the next generation man of God?
Well, no. That’s not going to be the case, is it? Let’s go to the verse.
Step 1 in the trouble was what? Gehazi did what? He “said to himself.” Each time that phrase occurs in Scripture, it either involves doubt, deception, shrewdness or an untruth. Nobody in the Bible ever “says to himself” something good or pure or right.
Abraham said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man 100 years old?” He was. Esau said to himself, “I will kill my brother Jacob.” He didn’t. King Saul said to himself, “I will not raise a hand against David.” He did. Achish the Philistine said to himself, “David has been so obnoxious to Israel, he will be my servant for life.” He wasn’t.
The Pharisees who invited Jesus to dinner where the woman poured perfume on Jesus’ feet said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he’d know who was touching him.” He was more than a prophet and he did know who was touching him.
I find that I do battle with this kind of thinking. I think I know what is best, so I say to myself this or that or the other. Whenever we take counsel with ourselves, we are apt to be deceived. What did David (and other godly kings) do when he made decisions? He “inquired of the Lord.” At the very least, Gehazi could have inquired of Elisha.
Step 2 was? He invokes a “formula oath.” “As surely as the Lord lives” is in the Bible at least 40 times. Sometimes, it’s used before the statement of a fact: the widow of Zarephath told Elijah she had no bread. Sometimes, it’s used in the face of immediate action: Elisha told Elijah I will not leave you. In this case, Gehazi takes an oath to the Lord for what he’s already decided to do on his own.
Do you ever make a decision, and then come back and ask the Lord to bless it? Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” It doesn’t say, “Do whatever you want, commit that to the Lord and then you will succeed.” We’re supposed to do the committing at the planning stage, not after the doing has started. We can always come back to the Lord and repent if we’ve taken action without His input. If you’re in a situation like that, I encourage you to seek the Lord.
Step 3, he says, “I will run and I will get.” Gehazi is going solo. He’s got it figured out and he’s going to take care of it. Three different Proverbs talk about the need and blessing of an abundance of counselors: with many counselors plans succeed, with many counselors there is victory. (Proverbs 11:14, 15:22, 24:6). Without consultation plans are frustrated, without guidance people fall.
This independent action reminds me of Hezekiah when the Babylonian envoys came to visit him. You can read about Hezekiah in II Chronicles 29-32. He was a good king who did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. However, he did make some mistakes. In II Chronicles 32:31, it says, “But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart.” Here’s Gehazi, the carrot is dangling, wealth beyond what Gehazi has ever seen. What’s in your heart Gehazi? What’s in our hearts?
Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to us as a comforter and counselor for all who believe. So, God doesn’t leave us; He can’t leave us. However, believers can tune God out. We can tune in to the things of this world. We can feed our flesh. Even things that aren’t sin by themselves: watching movies, playing games, reading books, work, school, projects, activities; these things can interfere with our relationship with God. If we pursue these things or even entertain thoughts about them to the exclusion of what God has for us, then we’re going to be tested. I’m not talking about the thoughts that pop into our heads. I’m talking about consistent planning and arranging of our schedules and dwelling on things to bring about our own ease and pleasure. If we’re thinking about what makes me happy rather than what makes God happy, then we’re at the risk of pursuing the wrong goal.
It’s also an interesting thought to me that Gehazi might have been gifted at running. Elisha had him run when the Shunnamite’s son had died. He must have been decently quick because he got there, put the staff on the boy, waited to see what was going to happen and then made it back to Elisha and the woman while they were still on the way. In today’s passage, Naaman has been healed from a terminal illness and he’s headed home. I’m thinking he’s probably not moving slow. It’s the kind of day where he’d get pulled over and not even realize he was speeding. And yet, Gehazi has no concern that he can catch up with Naaman.
I don’t want to put something into the text that isn’t there, but I will put out a warning. It’s easier for us to operate in our own strength, to go solo, to step away from God, when we’re doing something that we’re good at. It’s like we put our hand up to God and say, “I’ve got this one.” I encourage you to be sensitive to that thinking.
So the warnings are, (1) we need to inquire of the Lord before we inquire of ourselves, (2) we shouldn’t take oaths (let your yes be yes and your no be no) especially not oaths to the Lord over plans we cooked up on our own, and (3) we should submit our plans to the Lord and other counselors before we take action.
What happens next:
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. “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 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. 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. II Kings 5:21-24
It just doesn’t get better does it. Gehazi has formulated a lie to get Naaman to give him something. Can you imagine these two young men (if in fact they did exist) standing next to Elisha in their new clothes? Elisha is standing there wearing the mantle from Elijah likely made of fur and now decades old. Next to him, you’ve got these two guys standing in royal garments of Aram. It would look absurd. The lie is not even plausible or believable.
The other thought is the whole thing about why Elisha wouldn’t accept a gift from Naaman to begin with. You ever see or hear in the media how they talk about tourism as an industry. Well, people may not say it, but religion has been and is still an industry in the way that tourism is an industry. At the time of Elisha, there were “priests and prophets” of every kind of god that people could think up. Kings even made up gods in order to promote national unity. That was the sin of Jeroboam. In order to keep the Israelites from returning to Judah to worship God at the temple in Jerusalem, he made calf gods and put them in Bethel and Dan. That is the chief sin of Jeroboam son of Nebat.
There was this belief in a cause and effect kind of relationship with these make-believe gods. If you do this, then that will happen. Or especially if you don’t do this, then this bad thing will happen. These little “g” gods had all sorts of different specialties. So you would seek out a certain god that seemed to have something to do with what area you needed, and then make an offering to that god. Likely, Naaman had been pursuing this kind of “worship” of false gods in an effort to find healing from his disease. After being healed, he told Elisha, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel.” He had probably tried to offer something to all the others he could find up to that point.
So amidst the culture of worshiping false gods with priests and prophets who will be glad to do anything for a fee, Naaman comes to purchase healing from the one true God in the customary way. Elisha won’t accept these gifts either before or after the healing. It seems most likely that Elisha doesn’t want Naaman to have any confusion about the one true God. We’re not talking about a consumer relationship where we buy things off of God. We have a love relationship with God.
Now, Gehazi is putting correct understanding at risk for Naaman. Here is Naaman, quite likely, a new child of God. And here’s Gehazi putting a stumbling block in his way. Jesus’ condemned this attitude in three of the gospels. Here’s Mark 9:42, “And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.”
It’s not a good situation, but unfortunately it’s going to get worse …
Then he went in and stood before his master Elisha. “Where have you been, Gehazi?” Elisha asked. “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, olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, or menservants and maidservants? Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever.” Then Gehazi went from Elisha’s presence and he was leprous, as white as snow. II Kings 5:25-27
Okay so, the deception grows. Do you guys remember the Veggie Tales episode, “Larry Boy and the Fib from Outer Space?” The story is based on a small alien that appears and gives one of the young characters named Junior some bad advice. Every time Junior tells another lie, the alien gets bigger and bigger and bigger. At the end, the only way to defeat the then giant alien is for Junior to tell the truth. Gehazi has lied to Naaman. He’s hidden the loot. Now, he must face his master. Gehazi has walked with Elisha. He’s seen the miracles. He knows Elisha walks with God.
Elisha’s question is very pointed. It gives Gehazi one last chance to confess, but Gehazi has hardened his heart. Surely, he’s been gone for a while. “I didn’t go anywhere” was not a truthful or even a logical answer. Regardless of the lie Gehazi could have chosen, Elisha has insight by the spirit which sees through the deception.
Elisha’s insight is both into what Gehazi has done as well as what he was thinking. The second question likely represents what was on Gehazi’s mind. Two talents of silver is 150 lbs of silver. It’s no small sum, and likely was a fortune to Gehazi. The answer, “Your servant didn’t go anywhere,” and Elisha’s question about money, clothes, and other things show Gehazi’s true intent from the beginning. Why should Naaman get off easy and I have nothing?
That serves as another warning for us. Whenever you’re thinking about doing something “good” and then thinking about what angle you can take to your advantage, that’s going to lead to sin or just be outright sin.
We went to visit my parents during the Memorial Day week, and my Dad reminded me of a time I sinned like this. He wasn’t deliberately trying to remind me of something I did wrong. In fact, he doesn’t even know this story. He just made an observation while we were visiting that took me back to a crafty decision I had made.
You see, I gave my parents a hammock from Ecuador about 8 years ago. I bought the hammock during a mission trip. A hammock is not so remarkable except this one was a hand woven rope hammock with poles on either end more than 3 feet long. The poles keep the hammock from collapsing, so it’s always flat and open. Last week when we were visiting my parents, we had the hammock out and the kids were laying in it and swinging on it. All my Dad said was, “It must have been tough to bring this hammock back as big as it is.” I told him that one of our team members had a big bag, I put it in the bag and I just checked it as luggage like everything else. Which was true, but now I’m going to tell you the rest of the story.
When I think about it, I can hardly stand it. If God hadn’t specifically brought it to mind through my Dad, I probably wouldn’t even be telling you now. Even if it had come to mind on its own, I would have found a way to wiggle out of telling you.
For part of our mission trip, we stayed at a Christian camp on the coast. From there, we did outreach in the surrounding villages. One morning, we had gone to a nearby touristy spot just to look around and relax. It was a pretty unusual time of year for tourists there, so a bus full of gringos made a big splash. People were constantly offering us stuff to buy. I saw the hammock shortly after I got off the bus. I decided I wanted it, but it wasn’t critical to me. So, I figured I would try to get it for the lowest price I possibly could. I don’t even remember their initial price. I negotiated with these guys on and off for probably an hour. Literally, they came on the bus as we were leaving and finally agreed to sell it for $20. The Ecuadorians on our team were all very complementary of my negotiating: “That is a very good price.” I was pleased with myself. But after I bought it, I was stuck wondering how I was going to get it home.
We had brought a bunch of clothes and other items with us to distribute to poor people that we met in the villages. We literally had weighed our bags before we left to get them as close to the 70 lb limit as possible. One of our team members had brought a huge bag even bigger than a normal duffle bag. The bag was big enough that I could tell the hammock would fit without even checking. So, it didn’t take me long to come to the idea that his bag was the way to get my hammock home. If there hadn’t been any complications, it would have worked out that way and it would have been fine, except it didn’t work out that way.
At the end of our trip, we were staying in a different village more inland, hilly but not mountainous. In fact, on the only map I’ve seen that has this town on it, there is only one road going to it. If you look it up on Google Maps today, it just shows a circle but no roads at all. It’s a very isolated place. Long story short, a local Ecuadorian from this village who had contact with our team experienced a poignant spiritual turn around during our visit. He was estranged from his wife who was then living in Spain. He was committed to go, ask forgiveness, be reconciled and by God’s grace bring her home. He either asked or someone else had asked about getting a large piece of luggage from our team to bring things back.
I had brought this huge hard suitcase on the trip. It had been given to me years before, but I never used it. In fact, the only time I remember using it was on this mission trip. The bag the Ecuadorian needed was the black duffle bag which would collapse and pack easily when empty, the same bag I wanted to put my hammock in. I had a huge suitcase I didn’t even want that takes up a ton of space even when it’s empty. I think you know where this is going.
So, I offered him my suitcase that I didn’t want. Everyone was impressed at my giving spirit. By my craftiness, I managed to keep the big bag for the hammock. The hammock came home and we all lived happily ever after, right? What I did wasn’t a sin was it? Taken at face value, in other words, if you didn’t know what I was thinking, you might not call it sin. However, what was going on in my heart at the time was sin for sure. I knew what the most loving thing was in that situation but I didn’t want to do that. I manipulated people to do what I wanted without talking to them about it. I was afraid to confess my concern: how to get the hammock home. I can still remember the look on the guy’s face when we gave him the suitcase. His neighbors were smiling and congratulating him on his good fortune, but he was probably the only person there who had traveled internationally. His face had this expression like, what on earth am I going to do with this casket? Who knows what kind of travel he would face? Buses, carts, airplanes, trains … I hope he sold the suitcase and got enough money to buy the kind of bag he needed.
Why did I take the time to tell you that story? Well, God told me to, so that’s enough reason for me. Maybe it helps some of you to understand sin a little better. Of course, I am a sinner, saved by grace. I’ve confessed my wrong attitude and actions to the Lord. I’m forgiven by his grace. His Spirit working in me has helped me to improve in trusting God rather than trusting me. But, I know as long as I am in this body, there will be work to do. I pray often that God would transform me by the renewing of my mind.
Bob and Carl and I were talking last Sunday before church. Bob drew a line on a piece of paper showing how we often think about our spiritual growth, our spiritual maturity. It was a steady upward slope with small up and down waves but generally increasing. Then, he drew a sharp drop off. He was talking about how we need to be conscious of how quickly we can fall. I’m not talking about loss of salvation. I’m talking about fathers failing their wives and children. I’m talking about work problems, relationship problems, reputation problems, big life-changing problems.
Gehazi walked with the man of God, but he didn’t trust God to meet his needs. He saw an opportunity for quick personal gain, and he took it. I know it sounds like a silly thing, but I didn’t trust God to bring that hammock home for me. Instead, I took matters into my own hands and made it work out my way. Just when you think you’ve got it worked out on your own, a complication arises, another compromise is made, another lie is told and that little down turn in spiritual maturity suddenly looks like a steep cliff. You can see the danger signs at the top, but you’ve got to humble yourself and repent before it’s too late to turn back.
You know what’s funny. We went back to Ecuador the next year. I had to leave a day early to get back for my sister’s wedding. They had decided that last day would be a shopping day. I left some money with Christine to buy a few things. I think she bought a blue necklace that Melissa still has and wears. She also bought three or four stick horses for our kids. You know what I mean, the horse head on a stick that kids ride. I have to laugh that I was worried about getting that hammock home, and Christine brought twice as many sticks home for me the very next year.
Jesus said that not one sparrow falls from the sky apart from God’s will and we are worth many sparrows. We do not need to put ourselves first. We need to put the Lord first. Then, we should put others first. Our spouse, our children, our family, our friends. God will take care of the rest.
Let’s go back to our text and finish up today’s passage:
The company of the prophets said to Elisha, “Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to live.” And he said, “Go.” Then one of them said, “Won’t you please come with your servants?” “I will,” Elisha replied. And he went with them. II Kings 6:1-4
I find it interesting that the whole company of the prophets asked Elisha about going, but only one asked Elisha to come with them. This is another step of maturity. Wherever we go, we should seek to go with God’s permission. One step better, we ought to ask God to go with us wherever we go. And just like Elisha here, if we invite God to come, he will come, too.
They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees. As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water. “Oh, my lord,” he cried out, “it was borrowed!” The man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float. “Lift it out,” he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it. II Kings 6:4-7
Even at this time in history, iron tools were costly. In this case, one of the sons of the prophets borrowed an ax for the work. The ax head was going to have to be paid for. Aren’t they glad now that one man had invited Elisha along? I think the man was so astonished to see the ax head float that Elisha had to tell him to pull it out.
God certainly cares for his faithful followers and he will provide for them even and especially at a time of loss.
Of course, there is the miracle of making an object heavier than water float. In Jesus, we see this miracle perfected as Jesus himself and then Peter walk on water. The Lord can more than resolve individual problems in our lives, the ax heads in the water. He can also sustain our whole lives and keep them from being overwhelmed.
Today’s message was titled “Bringing Up the Next Generation.” The focus today has been mostly on warnings. May we take note of God’s warnings to us and stay on the narrow path. God doesn’t look at outward appearances. He’s not concerned with how much bling we have. I would even say that God’s not concerned with how happy we are. Happiness can be dangerous. We can be happy when we are distracted. May we not be deceived by the riches of this world or the praise of men. God wants the very best for each one of us. We need to trust that He has the best for us. We are at risk of a fall when we take things in our own hands and tell God to step back, we’ve got this one on our own. The faith we need is like the faith of a little child.
The company of the prophets wanted Elisha’s permission to build a new meeting place. Only one had the faith of a little child. Elisha, will you come with us. Just like a small child doesn’t want to go anywhere without his Mom or Dad, we should also say, Abba Father, Daddy, will you come with us, and He will.
Let’s pray …
Father God. I confess that I do not seek your counsel often enough. I confess that I think that I’ve got if figured out, but I don’t. I confess that I do not seek you to come with me everywhere I go. I pray that you would keep me humble. I confess that I want what is easy and painless. I confess that I want the praise of men. But, those are not Your best. I want to and need to grow up in You. I pray for Your Holy Spirit to work in me, be in charge of my life. Have Your way O Lord with me. Make me be like You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
After his healing, Naaman returned to Elisha’s house in joy to bless him with gifts, literally a king’s ransom in gold, silver, and royal clothing. Yet, Elisha would not accept even one gift. We’re going to pick up the narrative after Elisha has turned him down and told Naaman to “Go in peace,” but first, let’s pray.
Lord, we rejoice that you are the LORD who heals us. Speak to us today as we continue reading of the life of your servant Elisha. Guard us against temptation so that we would not fall into sin. Guide us to seek You in our every activity. Thank You that You make our paths level, You cover our iniquities, and You rescue us from our troubles. Teach us now we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
After trying to get Elisha to take something, any of the gifts he’d brought, Naaman respecting Elisha gives up and receives a blessing, and sets out on his return to Aram. Let’s go to II Kings 5:19:
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.” II Kings 5:19-20
Mmmph. I don’t know about you, but I like Gehazi. I had high hopes for him. The first time we heard of him was when Elisha wanted to bless the Shunnamite woman for her kindness. Gehazi was the one who told Elisha that she had no son and her husband was old. God worked in part through Gehazi to bring about a miraculous birth. Then, when the Shunnamite’s son had died, Gehazi was sent by Elisha to run and put his staff on the boy as an act of faith in restoring the child’s life. Even though the boy didn’t come back to life at that moment, I don’t see it as a failure by Gehazi, but rather one step in the restoration.
Then, Elisha was Elijah’s servant before he became a prophet and was known as the man of God, right? Could something similar have happened to Gehazi? We talked about that in one of the earlier messages. It is highly unusual that a servant should succeed his master, and yet that’s exactly what happened to Elisha. Come on Gehazi, what about you? Are you the next generation man of God?
Well, no. That’s not going to be the case, is it? Let’s go to the verse.
Step 1 in the trouble was what? Gehazi did what? He “said to himself.” Each time that phrase occurs in Scripture, it either involves doubt, deception, shrewdness or an untruth. Nobody in the Bible ever “says to himself” something good or pure or right.
Abraham said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man 100 years old?” He was. Esau said to himself, “I will kill my brother Jacob.” He didn’t. King Saul said to himself, “I will not raise a hand against David.” He did. Achish the Philistine said to himself, “David has been so obnoxious to Israel, he will be my servant for life.” He wasn’t.
The Pharisees who invited Jesus to dinner where the woman poured perfume on Jesus’ feet said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he’d know who was touching him.” He was more than a prophet and he did know who was touching him.
I find that I do battle with this kind of thinking. I think I know what is best, so I say to myself this or that or the other. Whenever we take counsel with ourselves, we are apt to be deceived. What did David (and other godly kings) do when he made decisions? He “inquired of the Lord.” At the very least, Gehazi could have inquired of Elisha.
Step 2 was? He invokes a “formula oath.” “As surely as the Lord lives” is in the Bible at least 40 times. Sometimes, it’s used before the statement of a fact: the widow of Zarephath told Elijah she had no bread. Sometimes, it’s used in the face of immediate action: Elisha told Elijah I will not leave you. In this case, Gehazi takes an oath to the Lord for what he’s already decided to do on his own.
Do you ever make a decision, and then come back and ask the Lord to bless it? Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” It doesn’t say, “Do whatever you want, commit that to the Lord and then you will succeed.” We’re supposed to do the committing at the planning stage, not after the doing has started. We can always come back to the Lord and repent if we’ve taken action without His input. If you’re in a situation like that, I encourage you to seek the Lord.
Step 3, he says, “I will run and I will get.” Gehazi is going solo. He’s got it figured out and he’s going to take care of it. Three different Proverbs talk about the need and blessing of an abundance of counselors: with many counselors plans succeed, with many counselors there is victory. (Proverbs 11:14, 15:22, 24:6). Without consultation plans are frustrated, without guidance people fall.
This independent action reminds me of Hezekiah when the Babylonian envoys came to visit him. You can read about Hezekiah in II Chronicles 29-32. He was a good king who did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. However, he did make some mistakes. In II Chronicles 32:31, it says, “But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart.” Here’s Gehazi, the carrot is dangling, wealth beyond what Gehazi has ever seen. What’s in your heart Gehazi? What’s in our hearts?
Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to us as a comforter and counselor for all who believe. So, God doesn’t leave us; He can’t leave us. However, believers can tune God out. We can tune in to the things of this world. We can feed our flesh. Even things that aren’t sin by themselves: watching movies, playing games, reading books, work, school, projects, activities; these things can interfere with our relationship with God. If we pursue these things or even entertain thoughts about them to the exclusion of what God has for us, then we’re going to be tested. I’m not talking about the thoughts that pop into our heads. I’m talking about consistent planning and arranging of our schedules and dwelling on things to bring about our own ease and pleasure. If we’re thinking about what makes me happy rather than what makes God happy, then we’re at the risk of pursuing the wrong goal.
It’s also an interesting thought to me that Gehazi might have been gifted at running. Elisha had him run when the Shunnamite’s son had died. He must have been decently quick because he got there, put the staff on the boy, waited to see what was going to happen and then made it back to Elisha and the woman while they were still on the way. In today’s passage, Naaman has been healed from a terminal illness and he’s headed home. I’m thinking he’s probably not moving slow. It’s the kind of day where he’d get pulled over and not even realize he was speeding. And yet, Gehazi has no concern that he can catch up with Naaman.
I don’t want to put something into the text that isn’t there, but I will put out a warning. It’s easier for us to operate in our own strength, to go solo, to step away from God, when we’re doing something that we’re good at. It’s like we put our hand up to God and say, “I’ve got this one.” I encourage you to be sensitive to that thinking.
So the warnings are, (1) we need to inquire of the Lord before we inquire of ourselves, (2) we shouldn’t take oaths (let your yes be yes and your no be no) especially not oaths to the Lord over plans we cooked up on our own, and (3) we should submit our plans to the Lord and other counselors before we take action.
What happens next:
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. “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 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. 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. II Kings 5:21-24
It just doesn’t get better does it. Gehazi has formulated a lie to get Naaman to give him something. Can you imagine these two young men (if in fact they did exist) standing next to Elisha in their new clothes? Elisha is standing there wearing the mantle from Elijah likely made of fur and now decades old. Next to him, you’ve got these two guys standing in royal garments of Aram. It would look absurd. The lie is not even plausible or believable.
The other thought is the whole thing about why Elisha wouldn’t accept a gift from Naaman to begin with. You ever see or hear in the media how they talk about tourism as an industry. Well, people may not say it, but religion has been and is still an industry in the way that tourism is an industry. At the time of Elisha, there were “priests and prophets” of every kind of god that people could think up. Kings even made up gods in order to promote national unity. That was the sin of Jeroboam. In order to keep the Israelites from returning to Judah to worship God at the temple in Jerusalem, he made calf gods and put them in Bethel and Dan. That is the chief sin of Jeroboam son of Nebat.
There was this belief in a cause and effect kind of relationship with these make-believe gods. If you do this, then that will happen. Or especially if you don’t do this, then this bad thing will happen. These little “g” gods had all sorts of different specialties. So you would seek out a certain god that seemed to have something to do with what area you needed, and then make an offering to that god. Likely, Naaman had been pursuing this kind of “worship” of false gods in an effort to find healing from his disease. After being healed, he told Elisha, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel.” He had probably tried to offer something to all the others he could find up to that point.
So amidst the culture of worshiping false gods with priests and prophets who will be glad to do anything for a fee, Naaman comes to purchase healing from the one true God in the customary way. Elisha won’t accept these gifts either before or after the healing. It seems most likely that Elisha doesn’t want Naaman to have any confusion about the one true God. We’re not talking about a consumer relationship where we buy things off of God. We have a love relationship with God.
Now, Gehazi is putting correct understanding at risk for Naaman. Here is Naaman, quite likely, a new child of God. And here’s Gehazi putting a stumbling block in his way. Jesus’ condemned this attitude in three of the gospels. Here’s Mark 9:42, “And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck.”
It’s not a good situation, but unfortunately it’s going to get worse …
Then he went in and stood before his master Elisha. “Where have you been, Gehazi?” Elisha asked. “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, olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, or menservants and maidservants? Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever.” Then Gehazi went from Elisha’s presence and he was leprous, as white as snow. II Kings 5:25-27
Okay so, the deception grows. Do you guys remember the Veggie Tales episode, “Larry Boy and the Fib from Outer Space?” The story is based on a small alien that appears and gives one of the young characters named Junior some bad advice. Every time Junior tells another lie, the alien gets bigger and bigger and bigger. At the end, the only way to defeat the then giant alien is for Junior to tell the truth. Gehazi has lied to Naaman. He’s hidden the loot. Now, he must face his master. Gehazi has walked with Elisha. He’s seen the miracles. He knows Elisha walks with God.
Elisha’s question is very pointed. It gives Gehazi one last chance to confess, but Gehazi has hardened his heart. Surely, he’s been gone for a while. “I didn’t go anywhere” was not a truthful or even a logical answer. Regardless of the lie Gehazi could have chosen, Elisha has insight by the spirit which sees through the deception.
Elisha’s insight is both into what Gehazi has done as well as what he was thinking. The second question likely represents what was on Gehazi’s mind. Two talents of silver is 150 lbs of silver. It’s no small sum, and likely was a fortune to Gehazi. The answer, “Your servant didn’t go anywhere,” and Elisha’s question about money, clothes, and other things show Gehazi’s true intent from the beginning. Why should Naaman get off easy and I have nothing?
That serves as another warning for us. Whenever you’re thinking about doing something “good” and then thinking about what angle you can take to your advantage, that’s going to lead to sin or just be outright sin.
We went to visit my parents during the Memorial Day week, and my Dad reminded me of a time I sinned like this. He wasn’t deliberately trying to remind me of something I did wrong. In fact, he doesn’t even know this story. He just made an observation while we were visiting that took me back to a crafty decision I had made.
You see, I gave my parents a hammock from Ecuador about 8 years ago. I bought the hammock during a mission trip. A hammock is not so remarkable except this one was a hand woven rope hammock with poles on either end more than 3 feet long. The poles keep the hammock from collapsing, so it’s always flat and open. Last week when we were visiting my parents, we had the hammock out and the kids were laying in it and swinging on it. All my Dad said was, “It must have been tough to bring this hammock back as big as it is.” I told him that one of our team members had a big bag, I put it in the bag and I just checked it as luggage like everything else. Which was true, but now I’m going to tell you the rest of the story.
When I think about it, I can hardly stand it. If God hadn’t specifically brought it to mind through my Dad, I probably wouldn’t even be telling you now. Even if it had come to mind on its own, I would have found a way to wiggle out of telling you.
For part of our mission trip, we stayed at a Christian camp on the coast. From there, we did outreach in the surrounding villages. One morning, we had gone to a nearby touristy spot just to look around and relax. It was a pretty unusual time of year for tourists there, so a bus full of gringos made a big splash. People were constantly offering us stuff to buy. I saw the hammock shortly after I got off the bus. I decided I wanted it, but it wasn’t critical to me. So, I figured I would try to get it for the lowest price I possibly could. I don’t even remember their initial price. I negotiated with these guys on and off for probably an hour. Literally, they came on the bus as we were leaving and finally agreed to sell it for $20. The Ecuadorians on our team were all very complementary of my negotiating: “That is a very good price.” I was pleased with myself. But after I bought it, I was stuck wondering how I was going to get it home.
We had brought a bunch of clothes and other items with us to distribute to poor people that we met in the villages. We literally had weighed our bags before we left to get them as close to the 70 lb limit as possible. One of our team members had brought a huge bag even bigger than a normal duffle bag. The bag was big enough that I could tell the hammock would fit without even checking. So, it didn’t take me long to come to the idea that his bag was the way to get my hammock home. If there hadn’t been any complications, it would have worked out that way and it would have been fine, except it didn’t work out that way.
At the end of our trip, we were staying in a different village more inland, hilly but not mountainous. In fact, on the only map I’ve seen that has this town on it, there is only one road going to it. If you look it up on Google Maps today, it just shows a circle but no roads at all. It’s a very isolated place. Long story short, a local Ecuadorian from this village who had contact with our team experienced a poignant spiritual turn around during our visit. He was estranged from his wife who was then living in Spain. He was committed to go, ask forgiveness, be reconciled and by God’s grace bring her home. He either asked or someone else had asked about getting a large piece of luggage from our team to bring things back.
I had brought this huge hard suitcase on the trip. It had been given to me years before, but I never used it. In fact, the only time I remember using it was on this mission trip. The bag the Ecuadorian needed was the black duffle bag which would collapse and pack easily when empty, the same bag I wanted to put my hammock in. I had a huge suitcase I didn’t even want that takes up a ton of space even when it’s empty. I think you know where this is going.
So, I offered him my suitcase that I didn’t want. Everyone was impressed at my giving spirit. By my craftiness, I managed to keep the big bag for the hammock. The hammock came home and we all lived happily ever after, right? What I did wasn’t a sin was it? Taken at face value, in other words, if you didn’t know what I was thinking, you might not call it sin. However, what was going on in my heart at the time was sin for sure. I knew what the most loving thing was in that situation but I didn’t want to do that. I manipulated people to do what I wanted without talking to them about it. I was afraid to confess my concern: how to get the hammock home. I can still remember the look on the guy’s face when we gave him the suitcase. His neighbors were smiling and congratulating him on his good fortune, but he was probably the only person there who had traveled internationally. His face had this expression like, what on earth am I going to do with this casket? Who knows what kind of travel he would face? Buses, carts, airplanes, trains … I hope he sold the suitcase and got enough money to buy the kind of bag he needed.
Why did I take the time to tell you that story? Well, God told me to, so that’s enough reason for me. Maybe it helps some of you to understand sin a little better. Of course, I am a sinner, saved by grace. I’ve confessed my wrong attitude and actions to the Lord. I’m forgiven by his grace. His Spirit working in me has helped me to improve in trusting God rather than trusting me. But, I know as long as I am in this body, there will be work to do. I pray often that God would transform me by the renewing of my mind.
Bob and Carl and I were talking last Sunday before church. Bob drew a line on a piece of paper showing how we often think about our spiritual growth, our spiritual maturity. It was a steady upward slope with small up and down waves but generally increasing. Then, he drew a sharp drop off. He was talking about how we need to be conscious of how quickly we can fall. I’m not talking about loss of salvation. I’m talking about fathers failing their wives and children. I’m talking about work problems, relationship problems, reputation problems, big life-changing problems.
Gehazi walked with the man of God, but he didn’t trust God to meet his needs. He saw an opportunity for quick personal gain, and he took it. I know it sounds like a silly thing, but I didn’t trust God to bring that hammock home for me. Instead, I took matters into my own hands and made it work out my way. Just when you think you’ve got it worked out on your own, a complication arises, another compromise is made, another lie is told and that little down turn in spiritual maturity suddenly looks like a steep cliff. You can see the danger signs at the top, but you’ve got to humble yourself and repent before it’s too late to turn back.
You know what’s funny. We went back to Ecuador the next year. I had to leave a day early to get back for my sister’s wedding. They had decided that last day would be a shopping day. I left some money with Christine to buy a few things. I think she bought a blue necklace that Melissa still has and wears. She also bought three or four stick horses for our kids. You know what I mean, the horse head on a stick that kids ride. I have to laugh that I was worried about getting that hammock home, and Christine brought twice as many sticks home for me the very next year.
Jesus said that not one sparrow falls from the sky apart from God’s will and we are worth many sparrows. We do not need to put ourselves first. We need to put the Lord first. Then, we should put others first. Our spouse, our children, our family, our friends. God will take care of the rest.
Let’s go back to our text and finish up today’s passage:
The company of the prophets said to Elisha, “Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to live.” And he said, “Go.” Then one of them said, “Won’t you please come with your servants?” “I will,” Elisha replied. And he went with them. II Kings 6:1-4
I find it interesting that the whole company of the prophets asked Elisha about going, but only one asked Elisha to come with them. This is another step of maturity. Wherever we go, we should seek to go with God’s permission. One step better, we ought to ask God to go with us wherever we go. And just like Elisha here, if we invite God to come, he will come, too.
They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees. As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water. “Oh, my lord,” he cried out, “it was borrowed!” The man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float. “Lift it out,” he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it. II Kings 6:4-7
Even at this time in history, iron tools were costly. In this case, one of the sons of the prophets borrowed an ax for the work. The ax head was going to have to be paid for. Aren’t they glad now that one man had invited Elisha along? I think the man was so astonished to see the ax head float that Elisha had to tell him to pull it out.
God certainly cares for his faithful followers and he will provide for them even and especially at a time of loss.
Of course, there is the miracle of making an object heavier than water float. In Jesus, we see this miracle perfected as Jesus himself and then Peter walk on water. The Lord can more than resolve individual problems in our lives, the ax heads in the water. He can also sustain our whole lives and keep them from being overwhelmed.
Today’s message was titled “Bringing Up the Next Generation.” The focus today has been mostly on warnings. May we take note of God’s warnings to us and stay on the narrow path. God doesn’t look at outward appearances. He’s not concerned with how much bling we have. I would even say that God’s not concerned with how happy we are. Happiness can be dangerous. We can be happy when we are distracted. May we not be deceived by the riches of this world or the praise of men. God wants the very best for each one of us. We need to trust that He has the best for us. We are at risk of a fall when we take things in our own hands and tell God to step back, we’ve got this one on our own. The faith we need is like the faith of a little child.
The company of the prophets wanted Elisha’s permission to build a new meeting place. Only one had the faith of a little child. Elisha, will you come with us. Just like a small child doesn’t want to go anywhere without his Mom or Dad, we should also say, Abba Father, Daddy, will you come with us, and He will.
Let’s pray …
Father God. I confess that I do not seek your counsel often enough. I confess that I think that I’ve got if figured out, but I don’t. I confess that I do not seek you to come with me everywhere I go. I pray that you would keep me humble. I confess that I want what is easy and painless. I confess that I want the praise of men. But, those are not Your best. I want to and need to grow up in You. I pray for Your Holy Spirit to work in me, be in charge of my life. Have Your way O Lord with me. Make me be like You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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