He who has received blessing from God is of necessity grateful, and his lips hasten to make their due confession. Accordingly we find Naaman returning from Jordan to the house of Elisha. In the presence of all his retinue he said, “Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel” (2 Ki. 5:1515And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant. (2 Kings 5:15)). This was a great deal for the famous captain to say after all his victories over that people. But God, not men, was now before his soul, and God had become his light and his salvation. How could he do aught but publicly confess Him! Moreover, in his gratitude he would leave a tangible blessing behind him. Had he not brought ten talents of silver, six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment with him from Syria! Payment was doubtless his thought when he started out; to leave behind him a grateful offering was now his heart’s desire. But the circumstances forbade Elisha to accept it. “As Jehovah liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none.” Even urgent pressure from Naaman would not induce him to touch what he had brought. The healing of the Syrian was intended to be a picture of absolutely free grace to Gentiles (a great lesson to Israel and a notable testimony to the nations), and it must not be marred by the passing of gold and silver.
Naaman then asked the favor of two mules’ burden of earth, “for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto Jehovah.” He would raise a testimony to Jehovah on his return home, and that not with hewn stone (product of human effort); his altar should be of earth only, according to the divine command in Exodus 20:2424An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee. (Exodus 20:24). Whatever the cost, he would confess Jehovah in the face of all the idolatry of Syria. This is the spirit that is a delight to God in all ages.
But Naaman had a difficulty, and this he frankly laid before the prophet. His official duties required him to attend his sovereign when he went into the house of Rimmon to worship there. This would naturally be painful to him in days to come, and so he pleaded, “When I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon Jehovah pardon thy servant in this thing.” Elisha replied, “Go in peace.” Every newborn soul has his exercises as he returns to his former surroundings. A teacher taught of God, as was Elisha, would never grant a license in connection with doubtful matters, but he would be equally unwilling to impose a burden upon the conscience by demanding a pledge. Left to itself with God, the soul that only desires to please Him will soon learn what is comely, and grace will infallibly be granted to carry it out. “The path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day” (Prov. 4:1818But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. (Proverbs 4:18)).
So the Syrian started for home. Alas, there was one (connected with the testimony of God) who watched his well-laden equipage with covetous eyes. It was Gehazi, “the servant of the man of God.” It was too much for him that so willing a giver as Naaman should be allowed to return to Syria as rich as he came. “As Jehovah liveth [said he], I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.” Sin is aggravated a thousandfold when the divine name is brought into it. Covetousness led to lying, for sins seldom travel alone. The fabrication concerning the two young men from Ephraim secured a fine booty for Gehazi. Yet another lie followed to cover these transgressions. Challenged by Elisha as to his errand, he denied that he had been anywhere at all. Then followed the terrible denunciation: “Went not mine heart with thee when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee! Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and olive yards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants! The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever.” And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.
Gehazi is here a type of his nation, once outwardly near to Jehovah, but evidencing by their behavior that their hearts were far from Him. As His responsible witness in the earth, Israel has utterly misrepresented Him to the nations (Isa. 42:18-20; 43:8-1018Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. 19Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lord's servant? 20Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not. (Isaiah 42:18‑20)
8Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears. 9Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. 10Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. (Isaiah 43:8‑10); Rom. 2:2424For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. (Romans 2:24)); and as a consequence His hand has come down upon the people in judgement, and for the time being they have been put outside the place of testimony altogether. Gehazi’s case reminds us somewhat of Miriam in Numbers 12. She was smitten with leprosy for her rebellion against Moses in the matter of the Ethiopian woman whom he had taken to wife. Both Miriam and Gehazi were utterly out of harmony with the mind of God concerning Gentiles. Their contracted hearts objected to Gentiles having a free share in the goodness of God to His people. Thank God, Israel’s heart will yet be changed, and they will gladly disseminate blessing far and wide. But they must themselves be restored to God on the ground of mercy ere this can be (Rom. 11:26-3226And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. 28As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. 29For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. 30For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 31Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 32For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. (Romans 11:26‑32)).
Let us take warning for ourselves. We stand in the place of the smitten witness, and we are here to represent the gracious God who has revealed Himself so wonderfully in the Man Christ Jesus. Our ways must correspond to our words. If our words are to have weight with men, our lives must be eloquent for God. A censorious or covetous spirit absolutely belies the God of all grace. The departing apostle could appeal in Acts 20 to his manner of life; could we do the same! The ministry with which he was entrusted molded the minister. Is it the same with ourselves! The ministry of the unveiled Christ (2 Cor. 3) produced an unveiled man (2 Cor. 4), i.e., he walked transparently before both God and man. God was truly represented in his life. From him radiated the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Hear his appeal to ourselves: “Brethren, be imitators of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample” (Phil. 3:1717Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (Philippians 3:17)). “Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:11Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1)).