The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 2 Kings 5:17,
"...your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the Lord."
These are the words of Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram. He had leprosy and had gone to the prophet Elisha, in Israel, to be healed. Aram and Israel had been fighting one another, but with this turn of events, this military man went in search of a cure for his life.
There is another man in this account, Gehazi, Elisha's servant. When Naaman went to Elisha and was healed, Elisha refused to take anything from Naaman, who had brought significant wealth with him to pay for his healing. Following the healing, Gehazi decided, on the sly, to get some of the wealth that Naaman had brought with him for himself. Gehazi devised a story, putting words in Elisha's mouth, and got himself some loot.
But... Elisha was a prophet!
When Gehazi returned home with his new found wealth he was confronted by Elisha, "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—or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves? Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever." Verses 26-27a. This is just what happened. "Gehazi went from Elisha's presence and his skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow." Verse 27b.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
"...your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the Lord."
These are the words of Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram. He had leprosy and had gone to the prophet Elisha, in Israel, to be healed. Aram and Israel had been fighting one another, but with this turn of events, this military man went in search of a cure for his life.
There is another man in this account, Gehazi, Elisha's servant. When Naaman went to Elisha and was healed, Elisha refused to take anything from Naaman, who had brought significant wealth with him to pay for his healing. Following the healing, Gehazi decided, on the sly, to get some of the wealth that Naaman had brought with him for himself. Gehazi devised a story, putting words in Elisha's mouth, and got himself some loot.
But... Elisha was a prophet!
When Gehazi returned home with his new found wealth he was confronted by Elisha, "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—or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves? Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever." Verses 26-27a. This is just what happened. "Gehazi went from Elisha's presence and his skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow." Verse 27b.
A tale of two men. At the beginning of the tale, there is Naaman, who had a terminal condition and no Lord. Gehazi, who, as Elisha's servant, had the Lord and no terminal condition. At the end of the tale, however, the roles are reversed: Naaman no longer had a terminal condition but had the Lord. Gehazi now had a terminal condition and no Lord.
Somewhere along the way Gehazi traded all that came with being the servant of one of the most astonishing prophets of the Lord for some silver, employing deceit, dishonesty and prevarication to obtain it. Naaman, along the way in this account, found the Lord.
Which man shall we emulate?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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