Merchant Of Wrath Chapter 5
In 2 Kings chapter 5, there was a well-respected man and commander of the army of the king of Aram who had leprosy, a disease that affected the skin. While in Israel, a band of raiders from Aram had taken captive a young girl who later became the wife of mistress. Naaman’s wife was aware of his leprosy and said she knew of a prophet in Samaria who could cure Naaman. So, Naaman, with the king of Aram’s permission, journeyed to Israel while the king of Aram sent a letter letting the king of Israel know Naaman was coming and wanted to be healed of his leprosy.
When the king of Israel heard this, he tore his robe in anger questioning why the king would send this man to him to be healed of this. “Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be …show more content…
cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!” (2 Kings 5:7).
Now Elisha, a man of God, heard of the king’s distress and wanted to help. He asked the king to send Naaman to him that he may heal him. So, when Naaman came to Elisha, Elisha instructed Naaman to dip himself in the Jordan river seven times and his leprosy would disappear from his body. This angered Naaman. He was expecting Elisha to “call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure him from his leprosy.”, but he did as Elisha said and was cleansed. Naaman was very grateful for the help of Elisha and told Elisha that he wanted to give a gift to Elisha. Elisha refused and Naaman went his way.
Now Gehazi, the servant of Elisha heard that Naaman was going to give a gift to Elisha, but when he heard that his master refused the gift, Elisha wanted the gift for himself, so he devised a plan to get the gift from Naaman.
So as Naaman began traveling away, Gehazi ran to Naaman and stopped him. Gehazi lied to Naaman, saying that his master sent him to ask for a talent of silver and also two sets of clothing for two of his servants. Naaman was more than happy to give this to Gehazi, thinking that this is what his master requested. Instead of giving the gifts to the two servants, Gehazi kept the gifts for himself, thinking that no one would find out.
Elisha did find out that he lied and took these things from Naaman and because of this, Elisha punished Gehazi with the very thing Naaman was stricken with. Leprosy. So, because of the want of material things and the lie that Gehazi told, he was to forever live his days with this disease. Lying may get people the material things in life, but it does not please God or the people that it may affect. It is not worth gaining the material possessions in life if it means that we lose the trust of others and causes God to be disappointed in
us.
When the king of Israel heard this, he tore his robe in anger questioning why the king would send this man to him to be healed of this. “Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be …show more content…
cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!” (2 Kings 5:7).
Now Elisha, a man of God, heard of the king’s distress and wanted to help. He asked the king to send Naaman to him that he may heal him. So, when Naaman came to Elisha, Elisha instructed Naaman to dip himself in the Jordan river seven times and his leprosy would disappear from his body. This angered Naaman. He was expecting Elisha to “call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure him from his leprosy.”, but he did as Elisha said and was cleansed. Naaman was very grateful for the help of Elisha and told Elisha that he wanted to give a gift to Elisha. Elisha refused and Naaman went his way.
Now Gehazi, the servant of Elisha heard that Naaman was going to give a gift to Elisha, but when he heard that his master refused the gift, Elisha wanted the gift for himself, so he devised a plan to get the gift from Naaman.
So as Naaman began traveling away, Gehazi ran to Naaman and stopped him. Gehazi lied to Naaman, saying that his master sent him to ask for a talent of silver and also two sets of clothing for two of his servants. Naaman was more than happy to give this to Gehazi, thinking that this is what his master requested. Instead of giving the gifts to the two servants, Gehazi kept the gifts for himself, thinking that no one would find out.
Elisha did find out that he lied and took these things from Naaman and because of this, Elisha punished Gehazi with the very thing Naaman was stricken with. Leprosy. So, because of the want of material things and the lie that Gehazi told, he was to forever live his days with this disease. Lying may get people the material things in life, but it does not please God or the people that it may affect. It is not worth gaining the material possessions in life if it means that we lose the trust of others and causes God to be disappointed in
us.