A great scientist once said, “for every action there is an equal reaction.” This is what our chapter in kings reveals concerning several consequences to what originally occurred. This chapter is also a place of celebration and a place of regret. These actions mentioned will be itemized for our learning.
Before we do that, let us recognize the results of yesterday’s elections. It was a pathetic display of a political party’s impotence and arrogance. It was a demonstration of corruption that has been going on for the last two years and the groundwork for probable corruption coming in the next two years. It was not a matter of voting for the least of the worst. It was a matter instead of the public’s frustration and how much the higher powers have manipulated circumstances. The worst is just beginning!
We began with the terrible health of a great and honorable military leader. The rest of the chapter is a reaction to him seeking divine healing. The Syrians brought hostages back to their homeland including a little maid. We would think that her captivity was bad for her. However, God had a purpose placing her there so that God would be glorified and the man healed. We may think our circumstances are objectionable but perhaps God wants to use us under that situation.
Then someone passed the word along to the king that there was a prophet who could bring healing to this mighty man. If that someone had not passed the word along, no healing would take place. It could be that the message we pass along might seem small, but likely will make a great difference to someone else.
When the king of Israel read a letter from the king of Syria, he panicked assuming that the Syrians were trying to pick a fight. He readily admitted his inability to do anything for the man who had leprosy. This left the door open for Elisha to offer his assistance. At each point of this situation someone took action that was unprecedented and unlikely .
Naaman, the mighty soldier who had leprosy, became angry that Elisha would not come out to greet him with the prophet saying only that he should go wash in the river Jordan. The soldier was angry because he was rebuffed by the prophet. As he began to leave, we have our next occurrence. God used servants of Naaman to persuade him to dip himself seven times in the river Jordan. The consequence was that he received immediate healing. Naaman became a silent believer and ask forgiveness ahead of time for when he would pretend to worship an idol in his homeland when in fact, he knew the God of Israel was the real God. We can only hope that his belief was genuine.
Since Elisha refused any payment for the healing, his servant Gehazi chased after Naaman lying about the purpose for the change of mind saying there were young prophets who could benefit from Naaman’s offer. Instead of sharing the gifts with others, Gehazi hid them at his house hoping he would not be found out for his treachery. The consequence for the liar was that he and his descendants would suffer with leprosy. God’s blessings are not for the open market or for selfish means.
What started out as a good consequence ended with a tragic consequence. Our lesson is that we must be consistent with the word of God and the message he would use us to send to the rest of the world.
