by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This morning read Second Kings 4--6

Gehazi Might Have Been Famous

There are many people in the Bible, who if they had not fallen, would have been well known for their righteousness or quoted by modern preachers in their sermons. Sadly, it is not the case. Judas is one. If he had not betrayed the Lord, there may have been a Book in the New Testament bearing his name (as in the case of Peter) or there may have been a letter written by Judas to a church from which we would quote, as we do with Paul's writings to the Corinthians.

Gehazi was a man who could have been a famous prophet, and we might have quoted him as he denounced a wicked king or as he made a prediction about God's Christ. Unfortunately, that did not happen. This man served the great prophet Elisha, who was grooming Gehazi perhaps to be a prophet to replace him as Elisha replaced Elijah.

After Elisha turned down a large reward for having healed Naaman, here is what Gehazi did,

20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "Look, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, while not receiving from his hands what he brought; but as the LORD lives, I will run after him and take something from him" (2 Kin. 5:20).

This was the beginning of Gehazi's ruin. Naaman's leprosy went to Gehazi and he no longer served Elisha. It is so sad. This happens all the time, that is, a child of God gets caught up in some sin and falls. Some never repent.

Are you doing everything that you can to keep from becoming entangled in sin?

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100