Click to read 2 Kings 5
Synopsis
Aram was Israel's north-eastern neighbor which was growing stronger and often harassed Israel by sending bands of raiders. The Israelite girl was one of those slaves who was captured during one of such raids. Naaman was an important man in the king's army. But he was infected with leprosy, a dreaded disease at that time. When he sought healing from the prophet in Israel because the Israelite slave girl told his wife of Elisha, he had expected a respectable welcome and grand treatment from the king of Israel and Elisha. But that was not to be.
Elisha's command was simple - dip in the river seven times and be healed. This story tells of Naaman's conversion from anger to reverence to the God of Israel. It also tells of the tragic end of Gehazi, Elisha's servant.
Major Verses
V7 - 8 - The king of Israel thought of only the worst when Naaman presented the letter from the king of Aram. Instead of trusting in God, he simply concluded that Aram was using this as an excuse to start a war. On the other hand, Elisha was well aware that God was going to use this for His glory and Elisha volunteered to handle Naaman.
What I learn
When challenges come, do we look at our weakness and panic or do we look to the power of God and trust Him? To be able to trust Him when challenges come our way, we need to be sure of His unconditional love for His children, and that He will always protect them. The king of Israel panic because he was not sure of God's love for him. Elisha acted totally in the reverse because he knew that all was under God's control.
V9 - 13 - As someone who was important in man's eyes, Naaman expected Elisha's personal attention. After all, he was the commander of Aram's army. He was angry that Elisha gave him a simple instruction for healing and even that was only through a messenger. To him, this was an insult. But his servant was wise and told him "what is there to lose, just follow the prophet's instruction and see what happens."
What I learn
When we think more highly of ourselves that we ought to, our pride dilutes our objectivity. Naaman's pride almost denied him of receiving his healing. When we come to God, we must realize who He is, and not let our pride put a barrier to His good intentions. The safest way for us is to simply obey what God tells us to do, knowing that His ways are higher than our ways and that His plans for us are to give us success and not to harm us but give us a hope and a future.
V15 - 18 - Naaman returned to Elisah and acknowledged God. He did it with words and deeds - he wanted to give Elisha gifts but Elisha refused. Elisha was not "selling" God's healing nor accepting credit for His healing upon Naaman. He further went on to "seal" his belief by asking for a memorial (the earth) to continue to worship God back in Aram.
What I learn
Naaman's pride gave way to humility and reverence to God, he acknowledged Him and wanted to immediately give an offering. We must always acknowledge God in our lives and be grateful to Him for His love and blessings upon us. We must also learn from Elisha not to rob God of His credit.
V20 - 27 - Gehazi's greed caused him to lie to both Naaman and Eisha. The consequence was heavy - he was inflicted with leprosy, which was then like a death sentence. Gehazi was given a chance to repent when Elisha, who already know what he had done, asked him where he had gone to. Instead of repenting, Gehazi lied to cover up.
What I learn
Greed is the love of money - we can only serve one master, God or mammon. The love of money will drive us away from God. But the love of God will give us abundant life. God gives us opportunity to repent when we have done wrong. Let us be careful not to sin but if we do fall, let us quickly confess and repent and receive God's forgiveness.
Summary
The story of Naaman and Gehazi teaches us the importance of revering God, because He is God. Let us be careful not to allow pride and greed to mess up our relationship with God.
Up next ...
Aram warred against Israel but Elisha knew of their moves. Coming up next Monday.
Leave you comments to help us all learn
Synopsis
Aram was Israel's north-eastern neighbor which was growing stronger and often harassed Israel by sending bands of raiders. The Israelite girl was one of those slaves who was captured during one of such raids. Naaman was an important man in the king's army. But he was infected with leprosy, a dreaded disease at that time. When he sought healing from the prophet in Israel because the Israelite slave girl told his wife of Elisha, he had expected a respectable welcome and grand treatment from the king of Israel and Elisha. But that was not to be.
Elisha's command was simple - dip in the river seven times and be healed. This story tells of Naaman's conversion from anger to reverence to the God of Israel. It also tells of the tragic end of Gehazi, Elisha's servant.
Major Verses
V7 - 8 - The king of Israel thought of only the worst when Naaman presented the letter from the king of Aram. Instead of trusting in God, he simply concluded that Aram was using this as an excuse to start a war. On the other hand, Elisha was well aware that God was going to use this for His glory and Elisha volunteered to handle Naaman.
What I learn
When challenges come, do we look at our weakness and panic or do we look to the power of God and trust Him? To be able to trust Him when challenges come our way, we need to be sure of His unconditional love for His children, and that He will always protect them. The king of Israel panic because he was not sure of God's love for him. Elisha acted totally in the reverse because he knew that all was under God's control.
V9 - 13 - As someone who was important in man's eyes, Naaman expected Elisha's personal attention. After all, he was the commander of Aram's army. He was angry that Elisha gave him a simple instruction for healing and even that was only through a messenger. To him, this was an insult. But his servant was wise and told him "what is there to lose, just follow the prophet's instruction and see what happens."
What I learn
When we think more highly of ourselves that we ought to, our pride dilutes our objectivity. Naaman's pride almost denied him of receiving his healing. When we come to God, we must realize who He is, and not let our pride put a barrier to His good intentions. The safest way for us is to simply obey what God tells us to do, knowing that His ways are higher than our ways and that His plans for us are to give us success and not to harm us but give us a hope and a future.
V15 - 18 - Naaman returned to Elisah and acknowledged God. He did it with words and deeds - he wanted to give Elisha gifts but Elisha refused. Elisha was not "selling" God's healing nor accepting credit for His healing upon Naaman. He further went on to "seal" his belief by asking for a memorial (the earth) to continue to worship God back in Aram.
What I learn
Naaman's pride gave way to humility and reverence to God, he acknowledged Him and wanted to immediately give an offering. We must always acknowledge God in our lives and be grateful to Him for His love and blessings upon us. We must also learn from Elisha not to rob God of His credit.
V20 - 27 - Gehazi's greed caused him to lie to both Naaman and Eisha. The consequence was heavy - he was inflicted with leprosy, which was then like a death sentence. Gehazi was given a chance to repent when Elisha, who already know what he had done, asked him where he had gone to. Instead of repenting, Gehazi lied to cover up.
What I learn
Greed is the love of money - we can only serve one master, God or mammon. The love of money will drive us away from God. But the love of God will give us abundant life. God gives us opportunity to repent when we have done wrong. Let us be careful not to sin but if we do fall, let us quickly confess and repent and receive God's forgiveness.
Summary
The story of Naaman and Gehazi teaches us the importance of revering God, because He is God. Let us be careful not to allow pride and greed to mess up our relationship with God.
Up next ...
Aram warred against Israel but Elisha knew of their moves. Coming up next Monday.
Leave you comments to help us all learn
Dear Steven, I read your sharing and was blessed with your points about trusting God and not panicking. Also, regarding Naaman's healing it is instructive how he needed to be humbled but after his healing he acted in a God fearing manner. Gehazi, however, saw the miracle happen and acted with no fear of God. Gehazi had seen many miracles. Why wasn't he changed by what he had seen of the power of God? We as Pentecostals also are very familiar with the power of God. We must live in such a while that shows that we revere God and trust Him to meet our needs - Pastor Peter. Please comment if you read this
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