Gehazi A Leper As White As Snow

Background Elisha had a servant named Gehazi (2 Kings 4-5) We know the story of Namaan the leper, but do we know the story of Gehazi the leper in the same chapter?

Lessons Learned He would not be influenced by the gracious acts of kindness that surrounded him (2 Kings 2:9, 15; 4:1-44) – “be ye imitators together of me, and mark them that so walk…” (Phil. 3:17) He thought he knew better than his master; Elisha was kind, Gehazi was greedy – “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35)

Lessons Learned He wanted to profit from God’s grace to another – “turning the grace of God into lasciviousness” (Jude 4) He had one thing on his mind, money – “For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world…” (Mt. 16:26)

Lessons Learned Just saying something, “All is well,” doesn’t make it so – “sound speech that cannot be condemned” (Tit. 2:8) He, like David (2 Sam. 11), let one sin lead to another; his greed led to his lying – “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Tim. 6:9-10) –Covetousness (Lk. 12:15; Col. 3:5) –Greedy (1 Tim. 3:8; Tit. 1:7; 1 Pet. 5:2)

Lessons Learned He was a liar – “lie not one to another” (Col. 3:9) He tried, like Achan (Josh. 7:11,21), to hide his sin and then went and stood before his master; he felt safe like most sinners do – “The eyes of Jehovah are in every place…” (Prov. 15:3) … “Your sin will find you out” (Num. 32:23)

Lessons Learned He was rewarded with the leprosy that was once belonged to Naaman; his punishment was “poetic justice” – “shall eat your flesh as fire” (Jas. 5:3) He was responsible for his own sin even though he was connected to a righteous man of God – “each one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Rom. 14:12)

Gehazi: The Leper Seven years later Gehazi retold all the great things that Elisha had done (2 Kings 8:1-6). Did he repent? We are not told. Was he still a leper? We are not told. Will you learn from a leper?