WHEN Elisha, the prophet of Jehovah, gave the word of healing to Naaman the leper, he acted by divine authority, and served the Prince of Syria in a way that became God. Naaman had come to be healed, full of his own proud thoughts, and also burdened with a great reward for his healer. Elisha would not so much as show himself to the prince, but sent him a message from God, which, while it proclaimed to him perfect healing, humbled him to a degree. At length Naaman yielded; he went to the Jordan, and he washed, and he became clean.
On his return he stood before Elisha, proclaimed his belief in the power of the God of Israel, and besought the prophet to take a blessing of him! And though he urged his request, Elisha, in the name of Jehovah refused. It would not have been consistent with God's grace to Naaman had a present been taken as a reward for the grace, and Elisha, as Jehovah's servant, was careful to guard his Lord's character.
But Elisha's servant had not learned God! Alas, though in close attendance on such a master as the prophet, he was in mind far from right and holy thoughts. “Behold," said he, "my master hath spared this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but"—and then he, uttered the words the prophet used as God's spokesman with shameless presumption—" as the Lord liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him."
So he hastened after the Syrian, who lighted down from his chariot and came to meet him. Gehazi had a shrewd lie ready to cover his covetousness, and Naaman gave him a costly gift, believing it was for some sons of the prophets that were paying the prophet a visit.
It is often remarked how one sin leads to another, and how the sinner tries to hide one iniquity by covering it over with another iniquity. Three of the Ten Commandments did Gehazi break in his short course of sin: He coveted; he took the name of the Lord in vain; he stole.
He came back with his riches, and full of ne prospects, "oliveyards and vineyards, and sheep and oxen, and menservants and maid-servants," and having disposed of his wealth he once more stood as servant before Elisha! There he capped all his evils by the familiar n that is supposed to hide our wickedness from the eyes of our fellow-men—a lie. And in a moment the judgment of God fell upon him. "The leprosy therefore of Naaman fall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ver. And he went out from his presence a leper, as white as snow."
This terrible descent from sin to sin arose from the heart being full of covetousness he sin of the heart led to sins of action and of words, until the servant of the prophet, afflicted with the disease which is in the Bible typical of sin, was banished from the presence of the prophet.
We have also in this story a remarkable instance of God's way of leaving for its own explanation man's misrepresentations of His rays. Naaman would have to learn by the dings of Gehazi's punishment of Gehazi's sin.