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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?
1 Kings 5:26
Reflect
I’ve always loved the stories about Elisha, the prophet who succeeded Elijah in Israel and who worked amazing miracles in the Lord’s name. Elijah had seemed larger than life and seemed bold and mighty. By comparison, Elisha often comes across as more gentle and quiet, and the miracles he performed were often tangible and personal.
A lot of people know who Elijah is, but fewer know about Elisha. And even fewer still know about Gehazi. Some of you reading this have already nodded in agreement, and it’s understandable. Gehazi was no prophet, and his name has become a byword in history.
Both men appear in the story of one of Elisha’s most prominent miracles — the healing of a Syrian soldier named Naaman. Elisha had become famous both inside and outside of Israel, and word came to Naaman about his amazing deeds. Naaman had somehow contracted leprosy — a disease that is easily cured today, but in biblical times was a curse that condemned its victims to ostracization and isolation. Naaman came to Elisha to seek healing, and the prophet directed him to bathe in the river Jordan seven times. It might have seemed like an odd directive, but the soldier obeyed — and he experienced the healing that he desired.
This is where the story turns a bit. Naaman had brought a generous amount of wealth to offer Elisha in exchange for his healing. He offered Elisha silver, gold and clothing — worth about $5 million in today’s markets. And it made complete sense to Naaman. In his mind, Elisha had performed a great service, so he should be rewarded handsomely. But Elisha wanted Naaman to see the greater miracle — that his healing was the result of God’s grace and not the power of a mere man. Because of this, Elisha rejected Naaman’s payment — politely — and sent the soldier on his way home.
And here’s where Gehazi earned his literally cursed reputation. Seeing the opportunity to feather his own nest, Gehazi chased after Naaman and told him a lie — that Elisha had a change of heart. The prophet now wanted some of the wealth Naaman offered — about $20,000 worth, and not for himself, but for two young disciples. Certainly, Gehazi didn’t think he was being greedy. After all, he didn’t ask for everything, and why shouldn’t some of what Naaman offered be shared with someone who needed it?
The problem is that by demanding payment for the miracle of healing, Gehazi robbed Naaman of the miracle of God’s grace. Naaman had previously worshiped the Syrian God Rimmon (or Baal), the worship of which required sacrifice — and sometimes human sacrifice. Elisha refused payment and in doing so he showed Naaman that God’s grace was not for sale. Gehazi’s betrayal mocked the Lord’s grace and cheapened the miracle that Naaman had experienced.
But Gehazi wasn’t done there. When he returned to Elisha, the prophet quizzed his servant about where he had been, and Gehazi lied. This is where Gehazi gets his true reward. Elisha told his soon-to-be-former servant that he knew exactly where he had been and what he had done — and so did God. Because of his treachery, Gehazi — and his descendants — inherited Naaman’s leprosy, dooming them to the isolation that Naaman had faced.
So, what’s the lesson we can learn here? Ultimately, Gehazi allowed his lust for money to drive his actions. He had been close to a true man of God who embodied the Lord’s love, grace and mercy. Somehow, he never allowed those qualities to penetrate too deeply, and he tried to cash in on what he saw as an easy payday. Gehazi gives us a good example of how the love of money is “the root of all kinds of evil.” (1 Timothy 6:10). In his desire for money, he concocted a story, lied to Naaman, cheaper the Lord’s grace and then lied to Elisha, thinking his deeds would remain secret.
Today, celebrate the fact that the grace you’ve received from the Lord has no price tag — at least not in dollars and cents. Jesus settled the payment for us at the cross, and no amount of gold or silver can compare to what He did on our behalf. Thank the Lord for his miraculous generosity — and look for opportunities to share that grace with others who need to hear the story of God’s love.
Reflection copyright © 2025 Doug DeBolt.
