“Gehazi pursued Naaman” 2 Kings 5:21
Before the act was pursuit the mind was made up. The eyes saw, the heart coveted and the mind processed. We have to read the full chapter of 2 Kings 5 to understand the context in all its nuances.
Here was Naaman the commander of the Syrian army. He was sent to the man of God Elisha in Israel to find a cure for his abominable disease, Leprosy (But that is another story). And he was cured, his flesh becoming like that of a baby. Naaman was ever so grateful for the miracle but his offer of gifts was summarily turned down by Elisha.
Now, we know that Gehazi was Elisha’s trusted representative and messenger who had been with him for several years. Gehazi knew Elisha was a prophet of the one true God. He had personally witnessed God’s power in the miraculous raising of the Shunammite woman’s son from the dead. (But that is yet another story!)
This time too, Gehazi was privy to the whole proceedings of Naaman’s healing. Though in the earlier instance Gehazi had played a perceptive and positive role, over a period of time his mind had become corrupted and he started looking for personal gain from the mighty acts of God.
A familiar story in these times! If Catholicism can be faulted for minimizing the period of purgatory for a price, some modern evangelists see nothing wrong in attaching a price tag to blessings of various kinds. Gehazi saw an opportunity and his brain whirred. He would be a fool to let opportunity go this time without milking it.
20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, while not receiving from his hands what he brought; but as the Lord lives, I will run after him and take something from him.”
And the story goes:
21 So Gehazi pursued Naaman. When Naaman saw him running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him, and said, “Is all well?”
22 And he said, “All is well. My master has sent me, saying, ‘Indeed, just now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the mountains of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of garments.’ ”
Lies flowing feely like water.
A little untruth here, some fudging there and a conveniently vague cover-all statement, may benefit a man at the expense of his soul. It is not for nothing that the The Bible asks, ” what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” Mark 8: 36
Naaman was both generous and unsuspecting. He loads Gehazi with benefits and handed them to two of his servants. But குற்றமுள்ள நெஞ்சு குறுகுறுக்கும் . So when they drew near “Gehazi took them from their hand, and stored them away in the house.” 2 Kings 5:24
Is ill-gotten wealth in your house? Can you readily open it for investigation should that be necessary?
25 then Gehazi went in and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, “Where did you go, Gehazi?”
And he said, “Your servant did not go anywhere.” What a facile answer ! Rather stupid of Gehazi to assume that the man of God would not know the truth. Check out Prov. 15:3 “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good.”
And in the New Testament (Acts 5) we read: “But a certain man named Ananias, sold a possession. 2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit …? 4 … Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
In our story 26 Elisha said to Gehazi, “Did not my heart go with you when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? 27 Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever.” And he went out from his presence leprous, as white as snow.
Sad