…Naaman said, “If you won’t accept my gift, then let me have two mule-loads of earth to take home with me, because from now on I will not offer sacrifices or burnt offerings to any god except the Lord. So I hope that the Lord will forgive me when I accompany my king to the temple of Rimmon, the god of Syria, and worship him. Surely the Lord will forgive me!”
“Go in peace,” Elisha said. And Naaman left.
Naaman’s understanding was inaccurate: the Lord is not tied to the land as many had thought (Psalm 137:4). But it doesn’t matter! Our understanding of truth and reality will always be as such prior to our ascension (1 Corinthiens 13:12).
He had gone only a short distance, when Elisha’s servant Gehazi said to himself, “My master has let Naaman get away without paying a thing! He should have accepted what that Syrian offered him. By the living Lord I will run after him and get something from him.”
SELF. Entitlement. What did in Judas – getting his “rightful” piece of the pie (Matthew 19:16-22; Mark 14:10-11).
…Gehazi answered. “…my master sent me to tell you… he would like you to give them three thousand pieces of silver and two changes of fine clothes.”
“Please take six thousand pieces of silver,” Naaman replied. …Gehazi took the two bags and carried them into the house. Then he sent Naaman’s servants back. He went back into the house, and Elisha asked him, “Where have you been?”
“Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9). The list is long of all those who have fallen into the trap of the love of money (Acts 5:1-11). May it never get a hold on me, Lord!
“Oh, nowhere, sir,” he answered.
*oops*
But Elisha said, “Wasn’t I there in spirit when the man got out of his chariot to meet you? This is no time to accept money and clothes, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, or servants! And now Naaman’s disease will come upon you, and you and your descendants will have it forever!”
When Gehazi left, he had the disease—his skin was as white as snow.
The prophetic vision (John 1:47-49). It indeed wasn’t the time as the entire culture would soon be wiped off the map (2 Kings 17:5-6).