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Royalty and Ruin
And God honored his faith: “His flesh was restored like the flesh of
a little child, and he was clean.”
Gratefully “he returned to the man of God, he and all his aides,”
and acknowledged, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth,
except in Israel.”
In keeping with the custom of those days, Naaman asked Elisha
to accept a costly present. But the prophet refused. It was not fitting
for him to take payment for a blessing given by God. “So he departed
from him.”
Elisha’s Servant Has the Spirit of Judas
Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, had had opportunity to develop the
spirit of self-denial that characterized his master’s lifework. The
best gifts of Heaven had been within his reach for a long time; yet,
turning from these, he had instead coveted worldly wealth. And now
the hidden longings of his greedy spirit led him to yield to a great
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temptation. “My master has spared Naaman this Syrian, while not
receiving from his hands what he brought; ... I will run after him and
take something from him.” In secrecy “Gehazi pursued Naaman.”
“When Naaman saw him running after him, he got down from
the chariot to meet him, and said, ‘Is all well?’ And he said, ‘All is
well.’” Then Gehazi told an absolute lie. “My master,” he said, “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.’” Naaman
gladly agreed to this request, pressing upon Gehazi two talents of
silver instead of one, “with two changes of garments,” and sending
servants to carry the treasure back.
As Gehazi neared Elisha’s home, he dismissed the servants and
placed the silver and the clothes in hiding. With this done, “he
went in and stood before his master.” In response to Elisha’s inquiry,
“Where did you go, Gehazi?” he answered, “Your servant did not go
anywhere.”
Elisha knew all. “Did not my heart go with you,” he asked,
“when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? Is it
time to receive money and to receive clothing, olive groves and
vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants? Therefore the