We Have The Power To Change

“Gehazi went ahead of them and put the staff on the boy's face, but there was no sound or sign of life. So Gehazi came back to meet the man of God. Gehazi told him, 'The boy didn't wake up.'" -2 Kings 4:31 (GW)

There are some things I don't understand, and this story is one of them

Last night, before going to bed, I read the passage above. It reminded me of the many times this man, Gehazi, came to mind because of his stupidity. From the very beginning of this story, it was his idea to inform Elisha the woman was without child. Elisha prophesied the woman would conceive and bare a child by next Spring. It came to pass, just as the prophet Elisha said.

When the child got bigger, he died. The woman went to see Elisha, she was understandably upset. Crying, she threw herself at the feet of Elisha. Gehazi came to remove her. I ask myself where was his compassion? Did he forget every time they went to this town this woman would host them? In fact, she had a room built in her home so that they had room and board, free of charge to them. They came and went as they pleased. How in the world could he forget her kindness? She never asked anything of Elisha. She did it from the kindness of her heart, recognizing Elisha as a real prophet of God.

We find in the story, Elisha told him to go with the woman, giving him the staff to raise the boy back to life. The woman wouldn’t leave Elisha. She wanted Elisha to go with her so that he would do it himself. I find myself pausing here and asking, “Why didn’t she go with him?” I believe she knew what Spirit he was of, and she knew Elisha was truly a prophet of God. She knew that from the very beginning.

As the story continues, Gehazi goes ahead, with the staff and comes back telling them the child was still dead. No emotion no nothing. I don’t believe she was surprised by that. She knew Elisha was a man of God, and God’s spirit was on him. She knew God would use Elisha to raise the child from the dead. And that’s exactly what took place.

Let’s move forward to later on, and Naaman comes to Elisha to be healed of leprosy God uses Elisha to heal him, and the man wants to give him gifts for it. Elisha refuses knowing very well God is the one who healed him. Gehazi on the other hand decides he wants the gifts, and secretly goes and tells Naamen it be a good idea after all to get the gifts. Do you see what I see here?

I see several things.

I see a man who is supposed to be a prophet but knows nothing about the prophetic calling, has no integrity and no honor; and he doesn’t really know God. He is pretending to know God. Hear me clearly please. Hanging out with the greatest prophets , apostles, evangelist, pastors, whoever you like to add to this list will not give you a personal relationship with God nor will the Spirit of God be on you. The power is given to those who are sold out to God and God alone. To those who realize they are nothing without God. All they do is from a heart of compassion and love, filled with the power of His Spirit.

This man was a deceiver and a liar with only the title of prophet.

Finally, in time, his deeds came to light. God showed Elisha who Gehazi really was. Before that man came back with the gifts he had just taken, God revealed to Elisha who his servant really was. Oh, I would not have liked to have been him. As the leprosy came upon him.

Friends, God doesn’t respond well with arrogant, deceitful, and lying people. Especially, with those who pretend. Eventually, God has enough.

You know what really gets me in this story? Two things. First, how in the world could this man hang out day in and out with this man, Elisha, whom God used to do miracles so unbelievable and remain in total darkness? Secondly, how did he think God would allow him to get away with his behavior? Seriously, how does this happen? It happens a lot, My Friends. People go to places of worship weekly and yet they remain the same in actions, deeds, and sins. Unfortunately, many don’t get an opportunity to repent, they die in their sin causing eternal separation from God. How sad is this?

Gehazi lived outside the city with other lepers, almost starving to death as the story picks up later on. He goes into the camp and eats and drinks the food from the defeated army that was just there. Then, not only once but twice they steal the silver, etc., and they bury it. Hello? People are starving, and he is occupied by stealing and hiding the stuff again. You see, he didn’t learn the lesson the first time with Naaman. I can’t believe he still was stealing and lying. This was the very reason why he was a leper due to his deceitful actions, exiled from society and sick from a terrible disease that would eventually kill him and yet he would not change his ways. Even my blonde brain can’t comprehend this behavior and arrogance.

What ultimately amazes me is him talking to the King about Elisha’s miracles much later in the story when he goes to let him know about the food they found, but of course, after he ate first for days, stole the goods, and hid them. However, he never mentioned anything about God never using him to do anything. It was all about how God used Elisha. The honor was on Elisha never on Gehazi. Elisha was the true prophet and guess who knew it too? That’s right, Gehazi. Gehazi never took actions for his behavior, and never is there any mention of remorse, never an "I am sorry. Please forgive me."

Oh Lord, this story scares me to death. Quite frankly, it should do the same to you. How can anyone go to church, watch God move, hear life altering messages, be prayed for, showed truth, and be around the godliest of people, and still remain in a life of sin, unchallenged and unmoved?

The answer is simply. They have a heart to do what is evil instead of what is right. This kind of heart will destroy the person. It goes to show it’s all about the condition of our hearts. Hanging out with the godly will not make you godly. God is the one that can change the hearts of people, and this heart change must come from us wanting to live lives of godliness. The choice is ours today.

Dr. Teresa Allissa Citro

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You value honesty and integrity, and You, O God, require that of Your children. You are the God of Truth, and all is exposed and laid bare before Your eyes. You are El Roi the God Who Sees. Father, nothing is hidden from You. Help me to always live in Truth and to walk in obedience to You as I choose to set my face like stone determined to do Your will. Let me see things as You do for Your thoughts are not my thoughts nor are Your ways like my ways. My goal is to please You, to seek Your approval in all things, not to look to the right or to the left. I look up to You, fixing my mind on You and that which is eternal. Guide me into all truth, and use me for Your glory. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Linda A. Knowles

#TopicArticle #obedience #integrity #holiness #heart #choices #decisions