Leperous Greed

The prophet answered, "As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing." ~Elisha

What an exciting healing. An Aramean official had been cured of leprosy because a little girl had told her mistress that a prophet of God in Israel could heal him and he believed her. I've always liked this story in the second book of the kings. Naaman shows up with his horses and chariots to Elisha's house with pomp and pageantry to be healed in what he feels should be some sort of dramatic show and Elisha sends a messenger out to tell him to go swim in the Jordan seven times. He was furious. After getting the king of Aram to send a letter to the king of Israel and traveling with his army to the prophets house, he never was even given an audience but sent away like some leper! It's only after he listens to another one of his servants that he decides to do as instructed and is cleansed. I like Naaman simply for the way he trusted and treated his servants. He wasn't afraid to listen to their council.

The warrior and all his attendants go back to the man of God to reward him for the healing. Elisha refuses to take anything. How could he? Only God can restore someone miraculously. Elisha tells him to go in peace. How filled with joy Naaman must have been as he headed home. Given such a great gift and wanting to share what God had done for him with everyone filled him with excitement I'm sure. A much different spirit was broiling up in Gehazi, the servant of Elisha though.

Gehazi decides he should be paid so he beats feet after the parade and makes up a lie to get Naaman to pay him in silver and clothes. Naaman is eager to give it and doubles the silver. He even sends two of his own servants back with Gehazi to carry the stuff. Before they could be seen from the house, Gehazi takes the booty and dismisses the servants. He then tries to lie to Elisha. The prophet knew the truth though. How disappointing it must have been for Elisha to realize that his servant was a greedy liar: Someone willing to throw away the joy of seeing a miracle done for a sick man while grasping for silver and clothes. After all they had seen and been through together, I'll bet his heart ached for the man as he watched him turn white as snow with the leprosy of Naaman now eating his flesh. Sometimes it's so hard to watch someone you care about reap what they've sown.

"Remember the height from which you have fallen. Repent and do the things you did at first."~Jesus