HEALING IN UNEXPECTED WAYS. 2 Kings 5:1-27

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1 1 HEALING IN UNEXPECTED WAYS 2 Kings 5:1-27 Landmark Publications, Inc., 1045 Maynor Street, Nashville, TN., 37216, U.S.A., John C. Sewell, Ph.D., Editor

2 2 Healing in Unexpected Ways by Charles Box Text: 2 Kings 5:1-27, 1. Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy. 2. Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman s wife. 3. She said to her mistress, If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy. 4. Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. 5. By all means, go, the king of Aram replied. I will send a letter to the king of Israel. So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing. 6. The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy. 7. As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me! 8. When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: Why have you torn your

3 3 robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel. 9. So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha s house. 10. Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed. 11. But Naaman went away angry and said, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. 12. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn t I wash in them and be cleansed? So he turned and went off in a rage. 13. Naaman s servants went to him and said, My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, Wash and be cleansed! 14. So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. 15. Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant. 16. The prophet answered, As surely as the LORD lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing. And even though Naaman urged him, he refused. 17. If you will not, said Naaman, please let me, your servant, be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the LORD. 18. But may the LORD forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down and he

4 4 is leaning on my arm and I have to bow there also when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD forgive your servant for this. 19. Go in peace, Elisha said. After Naaman had traveled some distance, 20. Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him. 21. So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him. Is everything all right? he asked. 22. Everything is all right, Gehazi answered. My master sent me to say, Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing. 23. By all means, take two talents, said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and then tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi. 24. When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the things from the servants and put them away in the house. He sent the men away and they left. 25. When he went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, Where have you been, Gehazi? Your servant didn t go anywhere, Gehazi answered. 26. But Elisha said to him, Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money or to accept clothes or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves? 27. Naaman s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever. Then Gehazi went from Elisha s presence and his skin was leprous it had become as white as snow. (NIV)

5 5 Introduction: I. Humans long for health and healing in all areas; that is,.. A. Physically B. Emotionally C. Inter-personally, socially D. Financially E. Spiritually F. Mentally II. The healing of Naaman is one of the most popular of the Old Testament stories. III. Jesus referenced this miracle while in Nazareth. A. Luke 4:16-30, He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. "Isn't this Joseph's

6 6 son?" they asked. Jesus said to them, "Surely you will quote this proverb to me: 'Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.' "I tell you the truth," he continued, "no prophet is accepted in his hometown. I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed only Naaman the Syrian." All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way. Commentary: 2 Kings 5:1-4, Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy. Now bands from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman's wife. She said to her mistress, "If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy." Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. (NIV) I. The unsung heroine of this story is the unnamed slave girl who had been captured by the Syrians and made a servant of Naaman s wife. A. God uses a great variety of people to work his will on earth.

7 7 B. God also uses a vast number of circumstances as pieces of a puzzle to perform his will in our lives. C. This working of all things together for the good of those who love the Lord may be called providence. 1. Romans 8:28, and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. II. This slave girl was not embittered by her experience, but used her position in a foreign land to benefit her master physically and spiritually. A. As ministers of the gospel, we are to use every opportunity to speak for the Master. B. We are also to do all within our power to relieve human suffering of all kinds. III. God had given Syria (Aram) the earlier victory through His intervention. A. God certainly works in affairs of mankind Daniel 4:24-25, Your Majesty, (Nebuchadnezzer of Babylon), God Most High has sent you this message, and it means that you will be forced to live with the wild animals, far away from humans. You will eat grass like a wild animal and live outdoors for seven years, until you learn that God Most High controls all earthly kingdoms and chooses their rulers. B. Joram (Jehoram) was the King of Israel at this time.

8 8 IV. Leprosy was a dreaded disease, a type of sin. A. Both leprosy (Hansen s disease) and sin are terminal diseases, one fatal to the body and the other fatal to the soul. B. Leprosy separated its victims from the Israelite assembly. Sin separates its victims from heaven. C. Leprosy and sin are both loathsome diseases. D. Leprosy and sin spread from small beginnings to finally destroy the body and soul. E. Leprosy produces numbness of the body and sin produces numbness of the conscience. F. Leprosy produces sadness and sin produces eternal misery. G. No one, great or small, is immune to either sin or leprosy. 1. Miriam a. Numbers 12:10, When the cloud lifted from above the Tent, there stood Miriam leprous, like snow. Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had leprosy; (NIV) 2. Naaman a. 2 Kings 5:1, Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy. (NIV)

9 9 3. Uzziah, Azariah 4. Gehazi a. 2 Kings 15:5, The LORD afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died, and he lived in a separate house. Jotham the king's son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land. (NIV) b. 2 Chronicles 26:21, King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house leprous, and excluded from the temple of the LORD. Jotham his son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land. (NIV) a. 2 Kings 5:27, Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever." Then Gehazi went from Elisha's presence and he was leprous, as white as snow. (NIV) 5. Romans 2:11, For God does not show favoritism. 6. Romans 14:12, So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. V. The victory God gave Syria was probably over Shalmanezer II who had threatened the independence of Syria. A. In the process, marauding Syrian bands had captured an Israelite maiden and had taken her to Syria.

10 10 B. Evidently leprosy in Syria did not cause ostracism as it did in Israel. C. Elisha was said to have been living in Samaria capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, located forty-two (42) miles north of Jerusalem and about twenty-five (25) miles east of the Mediterranean Sea. Built by Omri circa 880 B.C. 1. The lowly maid that worked for Naaman s wife knew where God s prophet could be found. 2. King Joram didn t seem to have faith in the work of Elisha. a. Joram must have known of Elisha s work! D. Great problems are often associated with great accomplishments; for example, Naaman with leprosy and the Apostle Paul with a thorn in the flesh. 1. God s providential interventions deprived parents of their daughter, the maiden of her freedom and opportunity to live and work in her own country in exchange for the benefits bestowed upon Naaman. 2. The maiden discharged her responsibilities as if she were working for God rather than man. a. Naaman and his wife gave their maiden good care which, in some measure, reduced the keen painful loss suffered by her parents. i. God took care of her!

11 11 3. Through the maid, one of the most influential men in the Syrian nation was cured of dread leprosy and came to a saving knowledge of God. 2 Kings 5:5-7, "By all means, go," the king of Aram replied. "I will send a letter to the king of Israel." So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing. The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: "With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy." As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, "Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!" (NIV) 2 Kings 5:5-7, The king replied, Go ahead! I will give you a letter to take to the king of Israel. Naaman left and took along seven hundred fifty pounds of silver, one hundred fifty pounds of gold, and ten new outfits. He also carried the letter to the king of Israel. It said, I am sending my servant Naaman to you. Would you cure him of his leprosy? When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes in fear and shouted, That Syrian king believes I can cure this man of leprosy! Does he think I m God with power over life and death? He must be trying to pick a fight with me. I. The Supreme Commander of the Syrian army requested the help of the King of Syria. Naaman was held in high esteem by the King. A. The King of Syria gladly responded with a letter to the King of Israel. He was more than willing to help his mighty man of valor. The Syrian King and Naaman were friends. 1. Gifts were provided in the form of ten (10) talents of silver, six thousand (6,000) pieces of gold, and ten (10) changes of raiment.

12 12 B. The King s letter was sincerely written. The King of Israel misinterpreted the intent of the letter thinking the Syrian King was trying to manufacture a cause for war against Israel. How many times has this happened in the history of the world? The sinking of the battleship Maine under questionable circumstances, for example, precipitated the Spanish-American War. 1. The King of Israel was very grieved, rent his clothes. C. The Syrian King was likely Ben-hadad who had indeed used unreasonable tactics to involve Joram s father, Ahab, in conflict Kings 20:1-34, Now Ben-Hadad king of Aram mustered his entire army. Accompanied by thirty-two kings with their horses and chariots, he went up and besieged Samaria and attacked it. He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, saying, "This is what Ben-Hadad says: 'Your silver and gold are mine, and the best of your wives and children are mine.' " The king of Israel answered, "Just as you say, my lord the king. I and all I have are yours." The messengers came again and said, "This is what Ben-Hadad says: 'I sent to demand your silver and gold, your wives and your children. But about this time tomorrow I am going to send my officials to search your palace and the houses of your officials. They will seize everything you value and carry it away.' " The king of Israel summoned all the elders of the land and said to them, "See how this man is looking for trouble! When he sent for my wives and my children, my silver and my gold, I did not refuse him." The elders and the people all answered, "Don't listen to him or agree to his demands." So he replied to Ben-Hadad's messengers, "Tell my lord the king, 'Your servant will do all you

13 13 demanded the first time, but this demand I cannot meet.' " They left and took the answer back to Ben-Hadad. Then Ben-Hadad sent another message to Ahab: "May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if enough dust remains in Samaria to give each of my men a handful." The king of Israel answered, "Tell him: 'One who puts on his armor should not boast like one who takes it off.' " Ben-Hadad heard this message while he and the kings were drinking in their tents, and he ordered his men: "Prepare to attack." So they prepared to attack the city. Meanwhile a prophet came to Ahab king of Israel and announced, "This is what the LORD says: 'Do you see this vast army? I will give it into your hand today, and then you will know that I am the LORD.' " "But who will do this?" asked Ahab. The prophet replied, "This is what the LORD says: 'The young officers of the provincial commanders will do it.' " "And who will start the battle?" he asked. The prophet answered, "You will." So Ahab summoned the young officers of the provincial commanders, 232 men. Then he assembled the rest of the Israelites, 7,000 in all. They set out at noon while Ben-Hadad and the 32 kings allied with him were in their tents getting drunk. The young officers of the provincial commanders went out first. Now Ben-Hadad had dispatched scouts, who reported, "Men are advancing from Samaria." He said, "If they have come out for peace, take them alive; if they have come out for war, take them alive." The young officers of the provincial commanders marched out of the city with the army behind them and each one struck down his opponent. At that, the Arameans fled, with the Israelites in pursuit. But Ben-Hadad king of Aram escaped on horseback with some of his horsemen. The king of Israel advanced and overpowered the horses and chariots and

14 14 inflicted heavy losses on the Arameans. Afterward, the prophet came to the king of Israel and said, "Strengthen your position and see what must be done, because next spring the king of Aram will attack you again." Meanwhile, the officials of the king of Aram advised him, "Their gods are gods of the hills. That is why they were too strong for us. But if we fight them on the plains, surely we will be stronger than they. Do this: Remove all the kings from their commands and replace them with other officers. You must also raise an army like the one you lost horse for horse and chariot for chariot so we can fight Israel on the plains. Then surely we will be stronger than they." He agreed with them and acted accordingly. The next spring Ben-Hadad mustered the Arameans and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel. When the Israelites were also mustered and given provisions, they marched out to meet them. The Israelites camped opposite them like two small flocks of goats, while the Arameans covered the countryside. The man of God came up and told the king of Israel, "This is what the LORD says: 'Because the Arameans think the LORD is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the LORD.' " For seven days they camped opposite each other, and on the seventh day the battle was joined. The Israelites inflicted a hundred thousand casualties on the Aramean foot soldiers in one day. 30 The rest of them escaped to the city of Aphek, where the wall collapsed on twenty-seven thousand of them. And Ben- Hadad fled to the city and hid in an inner room. His officials said to him, "Look, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful. Let us go to the king of Israel with sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads. Perhaps he will spare your life." Wearing

15 15 sackcloth around their waists and ropes around their heads, they went to the king of Israel and said, "Your servant Ben-Hadad says: 'Please let me live.' " The king answered, "Is he still alive? He is my brother." The men took this as a good sign and were quick to pick up his word. "Yes, your brother Ben-Hadad!" they said. "Go and get him," the king said. When Ben-Hadad came out, Ahab had him come up into his chariot. "I will return the cities my father took from your father," Ben-Hadad offered. "You may set up your own market areas in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria." Ahab said, "On the basis of a treaty I will set you free." So he made a treaty with him, and let him go. (NIV) 2 Kings 5:8-9, As soon as Elisha the prophet heard what had happened, he sent the Israelite king this message: Why are you so afraid? Send the man to me, so that he will know there is a prophet in Israel. Naaman left with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha s house. I. Elisha sent word to King Joram to send Naaman to him and he would take care of the matter. Joram immediately favorable responded to this overture, being greatly relieved. A. Naaman arrived in great pomp with horses and chariots. He and his party stopped outside the house. 1. A man s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 2. What was the value of Elisha s house? What was his annual salary?

16 16 3. Foxes have holes, birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 2 Kings 5:10-12, Elisha sent someone outside to say to him, Go wash seven times in the Jordan river. Then you ll be completely cured. But Naaman stormed off, grumbling, Why couldn t he come out and talk to me? I thought for sure he would stand in front of me and pray to the Lord his God, then wave his hand over my skin and cure me. What about the Abana River or the Pharpar River? Those rivers in Damascus are just as good as any river in Israel. I could have washed in them and been cured. I. Elisha did not even go out to personally meet with Naaman. II. Elisha sent a messenger with the instruction, Go and wash (dip) in the Jordan seven times. III. Other examples of washing and healing include: A. John 9:7, Then he said, Go and wash off the mud in Siloam Pool. The man went and washed in Siloam, which means One Who Is Sent. When he had washed off the mud, he could see. B. Acts 2:35, Peter said, Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit. IV. Naaman was wroth, intensely angry because of: A. the affront (wounded pride) he may have felt when the prophet did not even do, such a great personage as he, the courtesy of coming out to greet him,

17 17 B. the implication that Naaman needed a bath, C. Jordan was a small river, and did not favorably compare to the snow fed Abanah and Pharpar Rivers in Damascus, at least in Naaman s view. V. Naaman s opinion of what would be done was very different from what he was actually told to do. Behold, I thought VI. Until Naaman complied with the man of God s word, he remained a leper. VII. Until we comply with the word of God, we will remain sinners. VIII. There was no healing power in the waters of the Jordan. The healing power came from God when his commandments were obeyed. 2 Kings 5:13-14, His servants were over to him and said, Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something difficult, you would have done it. So why don t you do what he said? God wash and be cured. Naaman walked down to the Jordan; he waded out into the water and stooped down in it seven times, just as Elisha had told him. Right away, he was cured, and his skin became as smooth as a child s. I. Naaman s servants were wise advisors. They addressed him as, My Father, a title of the highest respect. A. A soft answer turneth away wrath. II. Could a part of Naaman s military success have been due to his having and heeding superior advisors? A. Evil communications corrupt good morals.

18 18 III. Naaman prudently complied and was miraculously healed upon the seventh (7 th) dip! IV. Naaman s flesh became like that of a little child, not like the skin of a leprous, toughened, battle hardened military commander. V. What is a miracle? A. A setting aside of natural laws by divine decree to produce a change in the human condition. B. An unusual remarkable wonder! C. Signs, Wonder, Work, Power, etc. are synonyms of miracles. 2 Kings 5:15-19, Naaman and his officials were back to Elisha. Naaman stood in front of him and announced, Now I know that the God of Israel is the only God in the whole world. Sir, would you please accept a gift from me? I am a servant of the living Lord, Elisha answered, and I swear that I will not take anything from you. Naaman kept begging, but Elisha kept refusing. Finally Naaman said, If you won t accept a gift, then please let me take home as much soil as two mules, can pull in a wagon. Sir, from now on I will offer sacrifices only to the Lord. But I pray that the Lord will forgive me when I go into the temple of the god Rimmon and bow down there with the king of Syria. Go on home, and don t worry about that, Elisha replied. Then Naaman left. I. Naaman recognized that the Healer was God, not Elisha. Elisha was simple the spokesman for God. II. Naaman stood before Elisha and confessed faith in the one God of heaven and earth.

19 19 III. Samaria was twenty (20) or thirty (30) miles from the Jordan River. Naaman s return speaks of his character. An ungrateful recipient would have kept going! IV. Naaman offered Elisha a large gift as a token of his appreciation. Elisha firmly and repeatedly refused this gift. V. Naaman publicly and humbly thanked God for his healing! VI. Naaman took as much soil as could be transported by two mules on which to offer sacrifices to God. A. This indicates that people of that day believed gods were associated with certain land. B. Naaman may not have understood that Jehovah is God of all the earth. C. Elisha did not correct this misconception. VII. When Jews on one occasion built a synagogue in Persia, it was composed entirely of earth and stone brought from Jerusalem. VIII. Rimmon was the pagan god/deity worshipped in Damascus. A. Rimmon may have been another name for Baal or a shortened form of Hadadrimmon, Hadad (the sun god) being the supreme god of the Syrians in Damascus. IX. Go in peace in the King James and American Standard Versions was equal to Farewell or Godspeed or The peace of God go with you.

20 20 A. This means that Elisha understood. B. It does not necessarily mean that Elisha approved of the dual worship. C. However, the Contemporary English Version reads, Go on home and don t worry about that. D. The Pulpit Commentary reads, His, go in peace is to be taken as wishing the departing Syrian the peace of God upon the road. 2 Kings 5:20-24, "After Naaman had traveled some distance, Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, "My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him." So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him. "Is everything all right?" he asked. "Everything is all right," Gehazi answered. "My master sent me to say, 'Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.' " "By all means, take two talents," said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and then tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi. When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the things from the servants and put them away in the house. He sent the men away and they left. I. Naaman left Elisha and Samaria and went a short distance when Gehazi, Elisha s servant over took him. II. The true character of Gehazi, Elisha s servant, is revealed in these verses.

21 21 A. Gehazi took gifts and used deception, things Elisha refused to do. 1. Elisha swore as surely as the Lord lives not to take gifts from Naaman. 2. Gehazi also swore, but he swore that Naaman would not leave without giving him presents. a. The name of the LORD appears out of place in the mouth of this lying thief. III. As Gehazi approached Naaman s chariot, Naaman showed utmost respect, got down from his chariot and asked Gehazi, Is everything all right? A. Gehazi, by running after Naaman, was able to overtake his entourage. B. Naaman s getting down from his chariot to greet Gehazi showed profound deference and respect. IV. Naaman liberally, unselfishly and gratefully urged both Elisha and Gehazi to accept his gifts. A. While Elisha refused the gifts, Gehazi greedily, covetously and selfishly demanded the gifts. B. Gehazi was a liar as well for claiming that Elisha had sent him to ask Naaman for a donation for Ephraimite prophets. 1. Naaman even provided two of his servants to carry the talents of silver and clothing back. a. Clarke wrote that each talent weighed one hundred twenty (120) pounds.

22 22 2. When they came to a certain hill (tower), Gehazi took possession of the gifts and sent the servants back to Naaman. 3. Gehazi hid the valuables in the house (tower) attempting to conceal his gifts from Elisha. a. The tower/house was evidently a suitable, remote hiding place for Gehazi s loot. 4. This reminds us in some respects of Achan. a. Joshua 7:1-26, But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the LORD's anger burned against Israel. Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, "Go up and spy out the region." So the men went up and spied out Ai. When they returned to Joshua, they said, "Not all the people will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary all the people, for only a few men are there." So about three thousand men went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted and became like water. Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the LORD, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did thesame, and sprinkled dust on their heads. And Joshua said,

23 23 "Ah, Sovereign LORD, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?" The LORD said to Joshua, "Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction. "Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, 'Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: That which is devoted is among you, O Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it. " 'In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe that the LORD takes shall come forward clan by clan; the clan that the LORD takes shall come forward family by family; and the family that the LORD takes shall come forward man by man. He who is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire, along with all that belongs to him. He has violated the covenant of the LORD and has done a disgraceful thing in Israel!' " Early the next

24 24 morning Joshua had Israel come forward by tribes, and Judah was taken. The clans of Judah came forward, and he took the Zerahites. He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward by families, and Zimri was taken. Joshua had his family come forward man by man, and Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken. Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and give him the praise. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me." Achan replied, "It is true! I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath." So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. They took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites and spread them out before the LORD. Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold wedge, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor. Joshua said, "Why have you brought this trouble on us? The LORD will bring trouble on you today." Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor ever since.

25 25 b. Both Achan and Gehazi vainly tried to cover up their sins. V. The thoughts of people reveal their true characters. A. In this way Naaman revealed his arrogance Kings 5:11, 12, But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off in a rage. B. In this way Gehazi revealed his hatred, prejudice in regard to this Aramean the Syrian Kings 5:20, Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, "My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him." 2 Kings 5:25-27, Then he went in and stood before his master Elisha. "Where have you been, Gehazi?" Elisha asked. "Your servant didn't go anywhere," Gehazi answered. But Elisha said to him, "Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money, or to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, or menservants and maidservants? Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever." Then Gehazi went from Elisha's presence and he was leprous, as white as snow.

26 26 I. Gehazi stood before Elisha as usual pretending hypocritically that everything was as it had been previously. A. Elisha asked Gehazi, Where have you been? 1. Gehazi lied again! your servant didn t go anywhere. 2. Elisha knew Gehazi was lying and told him so! a. Elisha s prophetic spirit had revealed this information to Elisha. (Clarke) 3. Elisha said this was a most inappropriate time to take gifts. B. Gehazi in relation to Elisha was like Judas in relation to Jesus. II. Gehazi evidently thought that what he had taken from Naaman would bring him money, clothes, olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, man servants and maid servants. A. How mistaken Gehazi was! B. The wages of sin promise wonderful things, but pay only death in the long term. C. What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul? III. The irony of it all was that Naaman s leprosy clung to Gehazi and his descendants forever!...a very long time. A. Gehazi went out from Elisha s presence leprous as white as snow!... with a really bad case of leprosy. 1. Gehazi s punishment came upon him suddenly and unexpectedly.

27 27 2. This was not the result Gehazi expected. B. Related scriptures: a. Gehazi reaped what he had sown! b. Sin paid alright, but Gehazi certainly didn t like its wages. c. Gehazi got both Naaman s money and his leprosy! 1. Exodus 4:6, Then the LORD said, "Put your hand inside your cloak." So Moses put his hand into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was leprous, like snow. 2. Numbers 12:10, When the cloud lifted from above the Tent, there stood Miriam leprous, like snow. Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had leprosy; 3. Luke 4:27, And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed only Naaman the Syrian." 4. Leviticus 13:2-46, "When anyone has a swelling or a rash or a bright spot on his skin that may become an infectious skin disease, he must be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons who is a priest. The priest is to examine the sore on his skin, and if the hair in the sore has turned white and the sore appears to be more than skin deep, it is an infectious skin disease. When the priest examines him, he shall pronounce him ceremonially unclean. If the spot on his skin is white but does not appear to be more than skin deep and the hair in it has

28 28 not turned white, the priest is to put the infected person in isolation for seven days. On the seventh day the priest is to examine him, and if he sees that the sore is unchanged and has not spread in the skin, he is to keep him in isolation another seven days. On the seventh day the priest is to examine him again, and if the sore has faded and has not spread in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean; it is only a rash. The man must wash his clothes, and he will be clean. But if the rash does spread in his skin after he has shown himself to the priest to be pronounced clean, he must appear before the priest again. The priest is to examine him, and if the rash has spread in the skin, he shall pronounce him unclean; it is an infectious disease. "When anyone has an infectious skin disease, he must be brought to the priest. 1 The priest is to examine him, and if there is a white swelling in the skin that has turned the hair white and if there is raw flesh in the swelling, it is a chronic skin disease and the priest shall pronounce him unclean. He is not to put him in isolation, because he is already unclean. "If the disease breaks out all over his skin and, so far as the priest can see, it covers all the skin of the infected person from head to foot, the priest is to examine him, and if the disease has covered his whole body, he shall pronounce that person clean. Since it has all turned white, he is clean. But whenever raw flesh appears on him, he will be unclean. When the priest sees the raw flesh, he shall pronounce him unclean. The raw flesh is unclean; he has an infectious disease. Should the raw flesh change and turn white, he must go to the priest. The priest is to examine him, and if the sores have turned white, the priest shall pronounce the infected person clean; then he will be clean. "When someone has a boil on his skin and it heals, and in the place where the boil was, a white swelling or

29 29 reddish-white spot appears, he must present himself to the priest. The priest is to examine it, and if it appears to be more than skin deep and the hair in it has turned white, the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is an infectious skin disease that has broken out where the boil was. But if, when the priest examines it, there is no white hair in it and it is not more than skin deep and has faded, then the priest is to put him in isolation for seven days. If it is spreading in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is infectious. But if the spot is unchanged and has not spread, it is only a scar from the boil, and the priest shall pronounce him clean. "When someone has a burn on his skin and a reddish-white or white spot appears in the raw flesh of the burn, the priest is to examine the spot, and if the hair in it has turned white, and it appears to be more than skin deep, it is an infectious disease that has broken out in the burn. The priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is an infectious skin disease. But if the priest examines it and there is no white hair in the spot and if it is not more than skin deep and has faded, then the priest is to put him in isolation for seven days. On the seventh day the priest is to examine him, and if it is spreading in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is an infectious skin disease. If, however, the spot is unchanged and has not spread in the skin but has faded, it is a swelling from the burn, and the priest shall pronounce him clean; it is only a scar from the burn. "If a man or woman has a sore on the head or on the chin, the priest is to examine the sore, and if it appears to be more than skin deep and the hair in it is yellow and thin, the priest shall pronounce that person unclean; it is an itch, an infectious disease of the head or chin. But if, when the priest examines this kind of sore, it does not seem to be more than skin deep and there is no

30 30 black hair in it, then the priest is to put the infected person in isolation for seven days. On the seventh day the priest is to examine the sore, and if the itch has not spread and there is no yellow hair in it and it does not appear to be more than skin deep, he must be shaved except for the diseased area, and the priest is to keep him in isolation another seven days. On the seventh day the priest is to examine the itch, and if it has not spread in the skin and appears to be no more than skin deep, the priest shall pronounce him clean. He must wash his clothes, and he will be clean. But if the itch does spread in the skin after he is pronounced clean, the priest is to examine him, and if the itch has spread in the skin, the priest does not need to look for yellow hair; the person is unclean. If, however, in his judgment it is unchanged and black hair has grown in it, the itch is healed. He is clean, and the priest shall pronounce him clean. "When a man or woman has white spots on the skin, the priest is to examine them, and if the spots are dull white, it is a harmless rash that has broken out on the skin; that person is clean. "When a man has lost his hair and is bald, he is clean. If he has lost his hair from the front of his scalp and has a bald forehead, he is clean. But if he has a reddish-white sore on his bald head or forehead, it is an infectious disease breaking out on his head or forehead. The priest is to examine him, and if the swollen sore on his head or forehead is reddish-white like an infectious skin disease, the man is diseased and is unclean. The priest shall pronounce him unclean because of the sore on his head. "The person with such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and cry out, 'Unclean! Unclean!' As long as he has the infection he remains

31 31 Conclusion: unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp. 1. Troubles come to everyone, both the great and small. 2. We are all indebted to God for all successes we may achieve. 3. We must be faithful to God in all circumstances of life in which we find ourselves. 4. Friends, both powerful and weak, are good to have. 5. God s blessing cannot be bought with money. 6. When we seek blessings from God, we must seek them in God s own way. Behold, I thought. 7. Even the most powerful rules of the world are weak in innumerable ways. The king of Israel could not cure leprosy. 8. God s ways are not our ways. Naaman was perplexed when he said, Behold, I thought! 9. Pride goeth before a fall, and a haughty spirit before destruction. 10. Be careful whose advice we heed! 11. Complete obedience is essential to pleasing God and receiving his blessings. All seven (7) dips are required! 12. We should show our appreciation to God and his servants.

32 What leprosy is to the body, sin is to the soul. 14. God is the king of the universe, of heaven and earth. 15. Once we commit ourselves to Christian discipleship, we had better stay away from the house of Rimmon regardless of what this may cost us on this earth. 16. Faith and obedience by dipping in Jordan seven (7) times cured Naaman s leprosy. Faith and obedience by the blood of Christ cures our sins. 17. The wages of sin is death! 18. Penalties of sin often come suddenly and unexpectedly. 19. The effects of our sins often reach to our unborn descendants. 20. Hypocrites will not, cannot stand before God. 21. Listen to what you say to yourself. This really tells what kind of person you are. 22. Gehazi reaped what he sowed. So will we! 23. Other are often affected by our sins. 24. Naaman believed Gehazi. Be careful which man of God you believe. 25. Be sure your sin will find you out! Gehazi couldn t keep his sins secret either.

33 33 Questions on 2 Kings 5:1-27