April 25th

April 25th -- 2 Kings 5 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%205&version=NLT)

The healing of Naaman ; The greed of Gehazi

Aram's king greatly admired Namaan, the commander of his army, as through him God had given Aram great victories, but Namaan suffered from leprosy. Raiders from Aram invaded Israel, and one of the women taken captive was given to Namaan's wife as a maid, and this girl mentions a prophet in Samaria who would heal Namaan. Namaan tells the king what he heard, and the King tells him to go, saying he will give him a letter of introduction to bring. When Israel's king reads the letter he tears his clothes, thinking that Aram's king must just be picking a fight as he cannot heal any man of leprosy. Elisha, though, hears about this and sends a message to the king saying to send Namaan to him and he will learn there is a real prophet in Israel. Namaan goes to Elisha's and waits at the door, but Elisha sends a messenger saying that Namaan is to go and wash in the Jordan River seven times and then his skin will be restored/he will be healed. Namaan got mad, though, thinking he would have a hand waved over his as Elisha called on the Lord and then he would be healed. He reasons the water in the rivers are all the same so why should he not wash in those rivers. He gets mad and leaves. His officers, though, finally convince him to do as he had been told, and he was, indeed, healed. They then all return to Elisha, telling him they know no there is no other God except God. Namaan offers a gift, and Elisha, even when it is insisted he take it, refuses to. Namaan then asks that he may load two mules with earth from there and bring it back with him. He says he will not offer burnt offerings or sacrifices to any other God ever again. He also asks the he be pardoned for bowing, too, when the king leans on him for support to bow to worship the god Rimmon. Elisha tells him to go in peace and he does so.

Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, though, thinks that Elisha should not have turned down the gifts, so he goes after Namaan. Gehazi lies upon finding Namaan, saying Elisha told him to ask for 75 pounds of silver and 2 sets of clothing to be given to two prophets from Ephraim who just arrived. Namaan insists he take twice that much silver. When Gehazi gets back, he takes the gifts from the men sent to bring them, and hides it all in the house. Elisha returns and asks where he's been and Gehazi lies, saying nowhere. Elijah then explains that he was there in spirit when it all happened. Elisha says that because of what he has done, he and his descendants will suffer from leprosy forever. When Gehazi leaves the room, his skin is already as white as snow.

Like Gehazi, we sometimes deliberately sin and then we try and hide it, or cover it up so it looks like we didn't do anything. Gehazi took gifts from Namaan when he should not have, and he hid them when he got back, hoping Elisha would not find out. However, Elisha had been there in spirit, so he knew all of it, including that Gehazi had lied to him. This just caused a bad end for Gehazi. Sometimes, though, we're a lot like him. We sin deliberately, justifying to our self it's okay, or just because we want to do it, and then we try and hide it/cover the evidence we did it. We may not have an Elijah who's there in spirit, but we have God who's with us always in spirit. We may be able to hide our sins from earthly eyes by, say, deleting our internet history, or making sure that the TV goes off before our parents see what we were watching, or simply making sure that the movie we know we shouldn't watch but did goes back where it came from so it looks like it never left - maybe wipe off the fingerprints to be safe. See? We somehow think, sometimes, that it's all okay so long as we hide it. NOT TRUE. For one, that doesn't make that sin go away - it makes it instead easier to keep sinning in secret. For another point, God sees it all. We can NEVER hide ANYTHING from Him. Also, like Elisha punished Gehazi, God will punish us for our sins. BUT, we should repent and own up to them instead of trying to hide them. God is also merciful, and if you go to Him with a truly repent-filled heart, He will likely just forget it happened and move on - no punishment and no questions asked. So don't be like Gehazi and try and hide your sins when you give in to temptations - own up to them and ask for that forgiveness.

That will be all for this fine evening/night! God bless! Shalom!