A Greedy Servant Gets Leprosy
Gehazi is the servant of Elisha.
The first time we encounter Gehazi is in the story about the Shunammite woman. When her only son dies, she seeks Elisha. Elisha gives his staff to Gehazi and dispatches him. He instructs his servant to rush to the boy and lay the staff on his face.
Gehazi does as instructed, but the child doesn’t come back to life.
When Elisha arrives at the woman’s home, he raises the boy from the dead. He sends Gehazi to call the boy’s mother. Elisha presents her with her son, now very much alive.
The second time we read about Gehazi is in the story of Elisha healing Naaman of leprosy. When Naaman does as Elisha instructed, his skin is restored, and the leprosy is gone.
Yet Elisha won’t accept any of the gifts Naaman offers.
Thinking that Elisha is wrong to refuse Naaman’s generosity, Gehazi runs after Naaman. He lies to the man, asking for money and clothes. Naaman gladly gives what he requested and more.
Gehazi receives the gifts and hides them in his house.
When Elisha confronts Gehazi, the servant denies any wrongdoing. Yet in his spirit, Elijah saw exactly what happened.
As punishment, Elisha curses Gehazi—and his descendants forever—with Naaman’s leprosy. Gehazi’s skin turns white with a leprous infection.
Though we don’t know if Gehazi is to blame for not being able to raise the Shunammite woman’s son from the dead, we do know he failed.
And when he went against Elisha’s wishes to get some of Naaman’s gifts and then lied about it, he received punishment for his actions.
When have we reacted selfishly or out of greed?
What consequences of our sins will affect future generations?
[Read about Gehazi in 2 Kings 4:11–37 and 2 Kings 5:19–27. Discover more in 2 Kings 8:1–5.]
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More Old Testament Sinners and Saints is part of the Bible Character Sketches series.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront a status quo faith and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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