Second Kings chapter five has a very peculiar story about the healing of a commander army general named Naaman. A man who was greatly admired by his king. A man who had been used by The Lord to achieve great victories for his nation.
[See 2 Kings 5:1-27 NLT]
Through a series of occurrences this great army commander finds himself healed & on his way back to his country. After a simple act of obedience by the word of the prophet. Elisha, one of Israel's true prophets had sent forth instructions for Naaman to receive his healing; & after some hesitation, took heed of it. And this is where I want to bring some light into our story.
Naaman was filled with joy & wanted to bless the prophet with many gifts but Elisha would not have it. Gehazi, Elisha's servant however felt differently. And figured that 'this time', his master had missed it. His master should have at least taken a small gift or something of that sort. Gehazi therefore demonstrates his greed after his conclusion of his master's "mistake."
He says, to himself, "My master should not have let this Aramean get away without accepting any of his gifts. As surely as The Lord lives, I will chase after him and get something from him." Then he takes off in a chase after this man's chariot to insinuate & say to the commanding officer that the prophet, his master had other prophets visiting & will be needing 75 lbs of silver & two sets of clothing. Not only is this servant being deceitful, but also he is making his master look bad. As if the prophet had genuinely changed his mind.
Let's pick up In the last two verses...
v26 "But Elisha asked him, “Don’t you realize that I was there in spirit when Naaman stepped down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to receive money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, and male and female servants? Because you have done this, you and your descendants will suffer from Naaman’s leprosy forever.” When Gehazi left the room, he was covered with leprosy; his skin was white as snow. (2 Kings 5:26, 27 NLT) [Italics used for emphasis]
I love how Elisha is so precise in his conversation with his servant & shows us a timely lesson here. A great reminder to us that for everything there is a time in heaven & on earth. There is not anything inherently wrong with receiving. Jesus does teach us, that it is better to give than to receive. Yes, certainly greater joy comes from giving. True. But also, when someone is giving; on the other end- somebody else is receiving. So again, the error here was not in the receiving of something. It became a heart issue, due to its timing. Timing in its essence represents wisdom. And displays the condition of the heart.
So when the fullness of time has come- "it" - "he or she" will come. It says in the psalms that if we commit everything we do to The Lord & trust Him, then He will help us. [see Ps. 37:5 NLT]
His help is should mean more than anything else. Since His help is a representation of His presence; His empowerment to live how He wants us to live. By His Holy Spirit to do, to say, & to embrace what He wants us to. Ultimately, Him being the end result as our reward. Jesus. And everything He wants to give to us, but all in His time.
Prayer/Commitment:
Father, today. We commit everything, & that means everything to you. And we trust you believing that you will help us causing your favor to be poured out daily in our lives. Allow this lesson about timing to sink deep into our hearts & help us to walk wisely & humbly before you - through Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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