2 Kings 5 Devotional
By Pastor Lawrence

Our thoughts are not God’s thoughts, neither are our ways God’s way. Because this is a fundamental truth, we ought never to attempt to worship God according to our own imaginations but only in accordance with His Word. The mistake that Naaman made is a common one for those who do not know the Lord very well. He assumed that God would do something great for him because of his own great valor and merit, and he assumed that God’s will would be conformed to his own expectations rather than the other way around. Bringing plenty of clothes and precious metal with him, he proudly thought that he could buy God’s favor, but the Lord’s prophet didn’t even come out to meet him. Instead, he sent out his servant with instructions to wash himself seven times in the Jordan River in order that he might be healed. Greatly offended by this word, Naaman refused to obey until his servants spoke sense into him and he humbled himself before the Lord to be healed.

Gehazi was not like Naaman, for he was not a stranger to the ways of the Lord, but was privy to God’s Word and power on a regular basis as a servant of one of his prophets. He knew that he could not buy God’s favor, but instead of asking for it, he sought to lie and cheat his way to earthly blessings. After Elisha refused to take anything from the hand of Naaman and the king of Syria, Gehazi chased down Naaman to tell him that Elisha would take a gift after all for two sons of the prophets who had just come into town as he was leaving. Of course, he was lying, intending on keeping the money for himself, and for that he would pay dearly, contracting the very disease from which Naaman had just been healed.

Although the gospel is indeed good news, it is also strange news to proud hearts, for whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever would lose his life for Christ’s sake will save it. When Naaman died to himself, he received healing and salvation, but when Gehazi selfishly sought to redeem a situation in his favor, he lost everything. In both cases, God’s Word had been clearly spoken, but although the Gentile Naaman had rejected it at first, he changed his mind and submitted to God’s will. On the other hand, the Israelite Gehazi rejected God’s will clearly spoken through the prophet and sought to make his own way instead. There is a way that seems right to a man but it ends only in death.