Day 184 – 2 Kings 5-8

Talking Points

• Naaman is healed, and we see an important truth taught again in the account. Faith is expressed, not in words, but in obedience. Naaman was told to do something he could not understand. In fact, it was something he probably despised. Yet, he had to obey in order to be healed. So, what ended up driving his obedience? It was faith. No matter how reluctant, Naaman actually had to trust the words of the prophet enough to carry out the instructions. Ultimately, he had to believe that God could and would heal him, if he would obey.
  
  “Trust and obey,
  For there’s no other way…”
• In these chapters, we see our God is supernatural and so His dealings are supernatural. The Bible does not try and hide or explain in physical terms the miraculous acts of God. The Bible, stripped of the supernatural, is stripped of its very purpose — to reveal a supernatural God. If a floating axe head or chariots of fire present you with irreconcilable hurdles, wait until the empty grave!
• In chapter 6, we read of the Arameans surrounding Elisha. He is physically outnumbered and overpowered. Elisha tells his panicking servant, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6:16). In verse 17, he prays that the servant would be able to see this supernatural reality. We should be as bold. Our miraculous God is powerful and mighty!
• In the midst of a severe drought and resulting famine, Elisha prophesies that the next day, there would such a surplus the prices would fall drastically. There was logically no possibility of this happening. Literally no way! Yet, the next day, the unthinkable happened. Praise our God, who makes a way when there seems to be no way. There is great hope in these words: “according to the word of the LORD” (7:16).
• Despite the evil done by Joram in Judah, “the LORD was not willing to destroy Judah, for the sake of David His servant, since He had promised him to give a lamp to him through his sons always” (8:19). In Jesus, the Light of the World, we are blessed by our covenant-keeping God!

Thoughts

More than 700 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing — Naaman came prepared, ready to purchase his healing. When he came back from the river, with his leprous flesh restored, Naaman twice offered Elisha a present; twice, Elisha refused. God’s healing is freely given.

And, then, Gehazi catches wind and starts his thinking. This servant of a great man of God entertains his sinful thoughts, and puts them into action. Pride leads to greed, which leads to justifying, which leads to lying, which leads to stealing, which leads to more lying.

Then comes the rebuke and the punishment. Elisha asks Gehazi, “Is it a time to receive money…?” (5:26). See, the purpose of this healing was that Naaman should “know that there is a prophet in Israel,” that he would know there is a God in Israel (5:8). He was to learn that God is a rewarder of faith, and that He blesses obedience. It was to prove to this Aramean army captain that God is powerful, merciful, and gracious, and that He alone was the One who provided the miracle. In his selfish ambition, Gehazi missed the point and slandered Elisha’s name and that of the one true God. And, so, God punished him.

May we live out our lives with the realization that our purpose is to point to the one true God, and may we have the character to carry it out.