| Went not mine heart with thee? (2 Kings 5:20-27)
We're all probably familiar with this account of Naaman
the leper being healed by God through Elisha the prophet. As we will see the events
afterward takes a serious turn, which I believe, will be a valuable lesson for us all!
"But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God,
said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that
which he brought: but, [as] the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of
him." (2 Kings 5:20).
Let's say that Gehazi would be a type of lukewarm or
worldly Christian, and Elisha would be a type of Christ. Gehazi's name means "valley
of vision" and Elisha's name means "God is salvation." As we read in verse
20 Gehazi was thinking about going after Naaman to get something from him, but why would
he want to do this? Well, let's look at chapter five verse sixteen.
"But he said,(that is Elisha) [As] the LORD liveth,
before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take [it]; but he
refused."
Surely, Gehazi was present at this time with Elisha and
heard what he had said? So, we see again in verse 20 that he reasons within himself to go
and get something from Naaman, notice not for the Lord or for his master Elisha, but for
himself! He said that Elisha spared Naaman in not receiving something from him.
The word spared in Hebrew means "to keep back
or withhold." Gehazi believed Elisha should have received something from Naaman. Do
you see covetousness working here? Do you see how the servant thinks he knows better than
his Master? He believes, as the servant of Elisha that he has the right to make a decision
even if it's against the masters word. Many, many Christians today are doing this very
thing--doing and plotting things that are totally against God's word.
The word Lord is Jehovah it
literally means the Existing One and Gehazi says, "As the
LORD liveth" or "As the Existing One lives," he will run after Naaman and
receive something. In saying this he was literally saying "as the LORD is alive and
always existing" he will go and receive something. In other words, nothing will stop
him or get in his way of doing this act based on the premise that the LORD will never stop
existing! Pretty strong vow don't you think? Gehazi was so determined to get what he
wanted--it was a premeditated act it was not something he was seduced into doing—and
in so doing he vows a vow that was forbidden.
"Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in
vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain" (Exodus
20:7)
And goes against basic Christian practice.
"[Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness;
[and be] content with such things as ye have." (Hebrews 13:5)
So here at the end of verse 20 we see him run after
him. This word run can also be translated "run speedily" he
did not just casually go after him he "ran speedily after him" how shameful.
It's indicative of running after the world and the things therein.
"An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet
that be swift in running to mischief." (Proverbs 6:18)
"Their feet [are] swift to shed blood: Destruction
and misery [are] in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear
of God before their eyes." (Romans 3:15-18)
"Love not the world, neither the things [that are]
in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1
John 2:15)
Gehazi was supposed to be following the Lord. He was
supposed to be a servant of Elisha. He was to be about learning the ways of God; not the
ways of the world. How is your discipleship coming? So Gehazi follows after Naaman. Follows
means pursued or chased he literally chased him down to get what he wanted. Why do we,
as followers of our Lord Jesus, follow men? Why do we chase after them? Oh, we must run to
the miracle crusades, promise keeper rallies, and the new prophet in town to find out the
latest from the throne room of God. As if we are less than they? As if we do not have
God's ear? We do not need the pope or a Protestant pope. Gehazi ran to man and not to God
for the things he wanted; don't let this be said of you!
"So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman
saw [him] running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, [Is]
all well? And he said, All [is] well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now
there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give
them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments." (5:21,22).
As Naaman turns to Gehazi so to will the world turn to
you if you're after it. Naaman, at this point, thinks there is something wrong he says is
all well this is shalom-- peace. In verse 22 Gehazi's response is all is
well how can it be with him? Is he not convicted? No, he is aware of what he's doing.
At this point he could have turned back and so can you if you are on the edge of making a
mistake.
Perhaps God is using this message right now to turn you
back, if so, do it; he will receive you! Please note, at this point to validate his claim
he sets forth a series of lies. Lie one, my master hath sent me. Don't bring
Jesus into your plots and don't include him in your lies. The devil is a liar not Jesus
Christ!
"Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of
your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth,
because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he
is a liar, and the father of it." (John 8:44)
Lie two, behold, even now there be come to me from
mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets, including others? Remember
misery loves company. Now he gets to what he wants by telling lie three, give them, I
pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments. Three lies to help his
cause, and please note, he is supposed to be a servant of the man of God! We as Christians
need to evaluate our actions and motives in service to our Lord Jesus. Can we be caught in
lies?
"Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off
the old man with his deeds." (Colossians 3:9)
"They profess that they know God; but in works they
deny [him], being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." (Titus
1:16)
He asks for a talent of sliver and two changes of
garments. A talent was a round weight of money it was equal to about $2176! He was not
asking much was he? But what about Christian ministries that are asking for a certain
dollar amounts, "I need one million dollars or God is going to call me home"! or
asking for $1,000 donations from people, but I ask you what about free will giving to
the Lord?
"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart,
[so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."
(2 Corinthians 9:7)
"And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And
he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments,
and laid [them] upon two of his servants; and they bare [them] before him." (5:23)
In verse 23 Naaman says, be content. The word content
means to agree or be willing. Do you see how generous the innocent party is? Do you
see how Gehazi plays a game with him? Notice he urged him. Gehazi is trying to act
humble as if he did not want that much he is a LIAR!
"And when he came to the tower, he took [them] from
their hand, and bestowed [them] in the house: and he let the men go, and they
departed." (5:24)
Note, in verse 24 how he bestows them in the tower also
translated stronghold who in the world is he hiding them from? Does not our Lord
Jesus see everything? Does he not know his master is a prophet? What are the things hidden
in your heart that you're keeping from the Lord?
"For every one that doeth evil hateth the light,
neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth
cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest , that they are wrought in
God." (John 3:20,21)
"But he went in, and stood before his master. And
Elisha said unto him, Whence [comest thou], Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no
whither." (5:25)
Do you see the boldness of Gehazi that after his theft
he's not repentant at all, and even goes before his master? So it is with us, after doing
something we know to be wrong, we go into prayer. But the Master knows what's in your
heart. Notice Elisha confronts him right away--so to bring him to repentance--so also
Jesus will confront you on matters in your heart. We must repent of the things in
our life that offend him.
Gehazi puts forth lie four, thy servant went no
whither. Instead of repenting he tries to cover it up with more lying. Hear what the
Scripture says to this.
"And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing
that defileth, neither [whatsoever] worketh abomination, or [maketh] a lie: but they which
are written in the Lamb's book of life." (Revelation 21:27)
"And he said unto him, Went not mine heart [with
thee], when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? [Is it] a time to receive
money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and
menservants, and maidservants?" (5:26)
The word heart means the mind or the conscience.
Elisha is saying, not that his heart went with him, but his conscience, his feelings, his
way of thinking! Do you get it? In other words, Gehazi should have been filled with the
thinking of Elisha, he should have remembered what Elisha had taught him. Beloved, it's
important to keep in mind the words of our Lord and the teaching of the Bible.
"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not
sin against thee." (Psalm 119:11)
"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by
taking heed [thereto] according to thy word." (Psalm 119:9)
Elisha asks Gehazi a series of questions [Is it] a
time to receive money, and to receive garments. Money and garments are first on the
list of the things he received. Elisha is trying to convict him; he's trying to bringing
the things of sin to Gehazi's attention. No, it's not a time to receive these things if
you are in service to Christ. You're not to do the things Gehazi did.
The most important thing is that we be about
the work of Jesus and keeping ourselves separate from the world. He then
continues to ask him and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and
menservants, and maidservants? In other words, will you become wealthy at someone
else's expense? That's being a pimp.
"The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto
thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper [as white] as
snow." (5:27)
Elisha gives this stinging prophecy to Gehazi as to the
perpetual leprosy that will be imposed upon him and to his seed for ever. Someone
will say "but that is cruel" or "why would God allow this?" notice in
all of Gehazi's plots he had chances given to him to repent and he did not. Even to the
end when asked by Elisha about the money and garments he refused to acknowledge his fault.
We find many men and women with leprosy. Even now, today,
there is leprosy--sin is there not? What is implied is that the generations of the sons of
Gehazi had, did have, and will continue to have leprosy to this day. There will be
consequences in your wrong actions, and devastating results that can be far reaching. What
do we learn from this message?
We are to be working for Christ, and not allowing
ourselves to get involved in the world. Stop the lying and the cover up. We must be
credible people in our witness for our Lord. Understand nothing you do as a Christian will
go unnoticed by the Lord Jesus; all your thoughts and intentions He knows very well.
Before you act think about what it is you are going to do; it could very well have long
lasting effects. God loves you and desires to see all His children walk in truth.
"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light,
we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us
from all sin." (1 John 1:7)
"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children
walk in truth." (3 John 1:4)
God bless you, and keep you, go to Him in truth!
Amen?
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