Continued from yesterday. So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the prophet had told him to. And his flesh became as healthy as a little child's, and he was healed! Then he and his entire party went back to find the prophet; they stood humbly before him and Naaman said, "I know at last that there is no God in all the world except in Israel; now please accept my gifts." But Elisha replied, "I swear by Jehovah my God that I will not accept them." Naaman urged him to take them, but he absolutely refused. "Well," Naaman said, "all right. But please give me two mule-loads of earth to take back with me, for from now on I will never again offer any burnt offerings or sacrifices to any other God except the Lord . . ."

   "All right," Elisha said. So Naaman started home again. But Gehazi, Elisha's servant, said to himself, "My master shouldn't have let this fellow get away without taking his gifts. I will chase after him and get something from him." So Gehazi caught up with him. When Naaman saw him coming, he jumped down from his chariot and ran to meet him. "Is everything all right?" he asked.

   "Yes," he said, "but my master has sent me to tell you that two young prophets from the hills of Ephraim have just arrived, and he would like $2,000 in silver and two suits to give to them."

   "Take $4,000," Naaman insisted. He gave him two expensive robes, tied up the money in two bags, and gave them to two of his servants to carry back with Gehazi. But when they arrived at the hill where Elisha lived, Gehazi took the bags from the servants and sent the men back. Then he hid the money in his house. When he went in to his master, Elisha asked him, "Where have you been, Gehazi?"

   "I haven't been anywhere," he replied. But Elisha asked him, "Don't you realize that I was there in thought when Naaman stepped down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to receive money and clothing and olive farms and vineyards and sheep and oxen and servants? Because you have done this, Naaman's leprosy shall be upon you and your children and your children's children forever." And Gehazi walked from the room a leper, his skin as white as snow.

Taken from II Kings 5, The Living Bible. For free Lifescope book,
write to Box 1575, Carlsbad, NM 88221. Please send $1.00 for postage and handling.