Thanks and no thanks

2 Kings 5:15-20 (NRSV, abridged)

Then he Naaman returned to the man of God, he and all his company; he came and stood before him and said, 'Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel; please accept a present from your servant.' But he said, 'As the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will accept nothing!'... But when Naaman had gone from him a short distance, Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, thought, 'My master has let that Aramean Naaman off too lightly... I will run after him and get something out of him.'



Naaman, with commendable honesty and humility, came back to say thanks. Once again the chariots rolled up Elisha's street. This time the prophet came out to meet the general and Naaman offered him wealth and plenty. He was not trying to buy God's favour, but just wanted to say a proper 'Thank you'.

Elisha declined the offer. He did not need the gifts and would not take credit for the healing. Naaman had started his journey with the promise that the prophet would cure him physically (v. 3), but, once he is healed, he starts to talk about God (v. 15). Elisha wanted Naaman to remember the Lord. Refusing the gifts would remind him of where the glory belonged.

Gehazi is a tragic figure. He helped Elisha for a while, but his master's faith and character never quite rubbed off on him. Working for the prophet had given him a position in life, to exploit for his own ends. Possibly Gehazi did not start like this and perhaps this was an isolated mistake, but it was a terribly bad one. He made a holy moment an occasion for deceit and profit.

When Gehazi got back home, Elisha knew what had happened. Prophets are like that. The chapter ends with Naaman's leprosy attaching itself to Gehazi (v. 27). Gehazi is a warning to us to watch our honesty and deal straightforwardly with everyone. The reasoning that goes something like, 'I deserve it. They can afford it. There's no harm in it' seems very plausible at times-it did to Gehazi-but it can be a very unreliable moral compass.


Prayer

Lord, when I keep company with good and faithful people, help me to learn from the best in their lives and grow in wisdom and truth.


John Proctor

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