The Works of God

As 2 Kings 5 closes, Gehazi lies and cheats Naaman and then lies to Elisha.  Elisha reveals that he knew all that Gehazi had done, and judgment is rendered:

“Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.” So (Gehazi) went out from his presence a leper, like snow. 2 Kings 5:27

Wow.

I use 2 Kings 5 in a business class I teach at a local college because of all the extraordinary lessons on leadership embedded in this chapter, and it allows me to talk about God.  One student commented at this verse, “that’s really harsh!”  Too harsh, in his estimation, for the sin that had been committed.

But think about it.  Gehazi had been closely associated with many proclamations of the truth as he served Elisha.  He had observed God’s power.  He was not, like Naaman, new in his understanding of who God is.  Yet he desired something, money, more than he desired this God.  So he sought his satisfaction in that treasure.

He deserved hell.  He was given leprosy.

If 2 Kings 8:4 is any indication, Gehazi was actually restored to health as he serves the King of Israel, which may indicate (we are not told this) that he repented.

If he was given faith, as Naaman was given faith, then the leprosy in both cases was a grace!  Let us assume that Naaman continued in his newfound faith – and since his death has been enjoying communion with God in heaven ever since.  Do you think he now sees that season of leprosy as a curse, or the greatest blessing he ever had on earth?

God uses all things, including disability, to make much of himself.  He certainly did in my life with my son.  I see my son’s multiple disabiities as entirely a grace from God.

I have read too many books where theologians easily and wrongly conclude that God had nothing to do with disease or disability or storms or famine or wars or any number of things that God actually takes credit for doing in his word.  I certainly agree that these are hard to understand, but being hard to understand does not mean we should just disregard what is actually written.  And how sweet it is when something hard becomes more clear!

God alone can independently do such things we consider ‘bad’ and make it all work together for good and to glorify his name.  He is that powerful, and that good.

That is why 2 Kings 5 is not a story for children alone, and why it is particularly good news for those of us who are parents of children with disabilities.

But when Naaman had gone from him a short distance, Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. As the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.” So Gehazi followed Naaman. And when Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and said, “Is all well?”And he said, “All is well. My master has sent me to say, ‘There have just now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.’” And Naaman said, “Be pleased to accept two talents.” And he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants. And they carried them before Gehazi. And when he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and put them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed. He went in and stood before his master, and Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant went nowhere.” But he said to him, “Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants? 2 King 5:19b-26

Naaman wants to pay Elisha for the gift Naaman has received.  Naaman must do something!  The gift cannot actually be free – he must do or pay something for what he has been given.

Thankfully, Elisha is wise in understanding what is happening and how the next words out of his mouth could destroy everything that Naaman has just come to understand.

But he (Elisha) said, “As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.” And he (Naaman) urged him to take it, but he refused. (vs. 16)

Why would Elisha refuse?  As a prophet he could rightfully receive support from the people of God.  Elisha understood that something much greater was happening.  God alone had done this incredible thing for Naaman – to make much of himself and not to make much of Elisha.  Naaman is seeking to pay for what he has received, and that payment would have been making much of Elisha’s role.  No, the better thing, both for Elisha and for Naaman, was for Elisha to refuse any payment and keep the emphasis on God alone.

Naaman persists in his desire to do something:

Then Naaman said, “If not, please let there be given to your servant two mules’ load of earth, for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the Lord.” (vs. 17)

In this way, Naaman could make sacrifices on an alter from the very ground that God had given to the people of Israel.  But he knows he has a greater problem than just how to make appropriate sacrifices to God:

That is a problem!  He has just confessed the God of Israel as the sole god of the earth, but in his official duties he will be required to go with his king into a place of idol worship.  Given that Naaman has just been released from his disease and been given faith, it would be reasonable to expect Elisha to come down very hard on Naaman.

But he doesn’t:

(Elisha) said to him, “Go in peace.” (vs. 19)

Huh?  Shouldn’t Naaman have been rebuked?  Or even had his leprosy returned?  Or at least been instructed in the commandments God had given Moses:  You shall not bow down to them (idols) or serve them (Deuteronomy 5:9)?

Matthew Henry’s commentary is very helpful here:

Though Naaman’s dissembling his religion cannot be approved, yet because his promise to offer no sacrifice to any god but the God of Israel only was a great point gained with a Syrian, and because, by asking pardon in this matter, he showed such a degree of conviction and ingenuousness as gave hopes of improvement, the prophet took fair leave of him, and bade him Go in peace, 2 Kings 5:19. Young converts must be tenderly dealt with.

I have been dealt with very tenderly by many people.  After my Paul was born, I abandoned my faith and any association with my church.  Dear people took all my fire and bitterness and foolish talk and only returned kindness.  And when my eyes were opened to the beauty of Jesus Christ, they became even more tender and helpful and encouraging.

Now, when meeting younger parents who are first experiencing disability in their child, I remember how I was treated, and Elisha’s wise comportment.  But most of all, I ask for the God of Elisha and Naaman to help me and to help them.

Tomorrow, the last section on 2 Kings 5: an unhappy ending for a servant of the Prophet.

There is NO GOD IN ALL THE EARTH BUT IN ISRAEL is the point of 2 Kings 5.   A pagan-worshipping commander of a foreign, hostile army has just proclaimed the God of Isreal as the single god of the earth.  And he has declared this before his entire company!

God orchestrated everything – from the success Naaman experienced to the leprosy he had to the slave girl being placed in his house to the King of Israel’s robe-tearing response to the humble common sense of Naaman’s own servants to the cleansing in the river itself.  Why? So that Naaman could have this understanding of God which, like the healing of his leprosy, was impossible but for God’s granting it to him.

And, as parents, we also have strange sets of circumstances surrounding us because of our childrens’ disabilities, but with an assurance that Naaman did not have:

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

You may be thinking, “that is all well and good for Naaman because he was cleansed of his disease.  Miracles tend to encourage people to make much of God. I would make much of God if that happened to me or my child.”

Not always:

And as he (Jesus) entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.

Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”  Luke 17-12-19

As in 2 Kings 5, a foreigner is given understanding.  The cleansing is certainly a gift.  But faith is the much greater gift.  If you have faith in God, you have already been given the better gift.

Two more sections to go on 2 Kings 5:  why Elisha refuses the gifts offered by Naaman, and how being in the presence of Godly men is not the same as embracing God personally.

If you are just joining this series (posted while I’m on vacation – I’ll read comments when I return!), I would recommend reading the first six posts on this subject.

2 Kings 5 is part of the great revelation of God’s majesty, goodness, mercy and delight in himself and his sovereignty over everything.  And it contains some lessons that are applicable to everyone, but ones that I have found particularly helpful as a dad of a child with a disability.

Today deals with the actual cleansing of Naaman, which is what most people focus on as the point and focus of 2 Kings 5.  It is not the point.  That will come later.

2 Kings 5:13-14

But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

In Part 6 Naaman goes away from Elisha’s house in a rage because he has not been received with the honor and respect he thought he deserved.

Fortunately, he has brought people with him.  His relationship with them is such that, even though he is a powerful man in authority over them, they feel like they can bring some common sense to him: will you not do this thing that could bring you what you desire most?  To his credit, he listens to them!  He follows their advice and the instructions he has been given – and God performs a miracle for this pagan Naaman that God is not doing for the people of Israel, at least not as a normal practice.

We need such people in our lives, who will enter into our rage or bitterness or hurt and speak a good work of truth and common sense.  God was good to provide such people for Naaman and I know he has been good to provide such people for me.  Listening to their advice is not always easy, and as parents we must keep the responsibility of discerning what is best for our children. But a good word at the right moment has more than once kept me from doing a foolish thing.

Parents, part of God’s good provision to us are the people in our lives.  Pray that he would provide the right ones to you.

In Part 8, if the cleansing of his leprosy wasn’t the point of 2 Kings 5, what is?

Part 1 – In verse one we see God’s sovereignty in Naaman’s life, just as God is sovereign and intentional in our lives.

Part 2 – In verses two and three we see God orchestrating really unusual things so that a powerless foreign slave girl can deliver good news to the powerful man, just as we are called in our situations to bring good news.

Part 3 – We are reminded that a wealthy, powerful man desperately wants to be healed of his disease, and nobody thus far has been able to help him, just as our children will always live with their disabilities.