Gehazi

Have you heard any sermons on Gehazi, Elisha’s servant? I cannot recall any that I have heard. As we read about him there are definitely some lessons to be learned. He is not named until 2 Kings 4 but it does not seem to be too far fetched to think that he was with Elisha on his earlier “adventures.”

In chapter 2 we read of Elisha’s commissioning service. He followed Elijah out into the wilderness and witnessed the ascension into heaven. (Trivia oddity: How did Elijah go into heaven? Answer, in a whirlwind, not a chariot of fire. A lot of preachers miss that.)

Elisha may not have had a servant for that, because he was Elijah’s servant. But when the mantle fell on him, literally, he probably followed Elijah’s lead and began to groom a follower. The first challenge was probably witnessed by Gehazi, who was still unnamed in the text.

Elisha healed the bad water of presumably Jericho in chapter 3. Then he was mocked by “youths” at Bethel and they were attacked by bears. Elisha was not just sensitive about having no hair, but they were mocking his station as prophet. My Dad always warned me about “the Lord’s anointed.” That term appears often in the Old Testament particularly, and implies that he is to be respected.

Dad told me of a guy he knew who attacked the pastor in his church. As the man lay on his death bed, blind and dying of cancer he told Dad that he was being disciplined by the Lord for what he had done to Pastor Billy. He was sorry and had repented, but he still suffered for his illegitimate “touching.” Hebrews 12:29 says, “Our God is a consuming fire.” We dare not trifle with Him.

Not to be the boogey man, but we best be careful how we approach the Lord. The Tabernacle and Temple restricted access to His presence to protect people from frivolous approaches that would cost them their lives. But I digress. Back to Gehazi.

Chapter three has Elisha miraculously delivering Moab into the hands of Israel and Judah. They had no chance against the hoards of invading Moabites, but they were delivered. Gehazi must have witnessed that.

Chapter 4 has Elisha providing oil for a poor widow and meeting her needs. Then follows an intriguing story about a family, particularly the wife, in Shunem. You know where that is, about 50 kilometers from Mt. Carmel. The family cared for Elisha and his servant so he did them a favor. And this is where we learn Gehazi’s name.

Long story short, Elisha “heals” the woman’s barrenness and she has a son, son died, and she turns to Elisha for help. Some time had passed, as the “child was grown.” Whether that means he was no longer a child, but an adolescent or an adult is not clear. Probably the former. So when he died, she appealed to her husband for permission to go to the “man of God.” (verse 22)
    “Please send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God and return.”

Remember that he is at Mount Carmel, about 30 or so miles away. No small trip on a “dunkey” as Vernon McGee used to call it. She got there, probably after at least a hard day’s ride or possibly more. She clung to Elisha in desperation and Gehazi moved to push her away. (Note: disciples often “protect” their leader by denying access to the hurt and needy. Jesus had to rebuke His boys for that a couple of times.)

When the story was told, Elisha sent Gehazi on ahead to minister to the boy. That was to place Elisha’s staff on his face. This may have been the first “marathon” as he possibly ran or at least hurried all the way.

Elisha arrived and the boy was definitely dead. Several days had passed. This was not, as has sometimes been conjectured, a resuscitation of an unconscious person. He might have been close to, or past, the stinking stage, to be a little crude.

Elisha raised him from the dead. Gehazi was a witness to that. Then when Elisha returned to Gilgal he “healed” a pot of poisonous stew. Next he fed 100 men with 20 loaves of bread and had some leftovers.

We are not going to finish Gehazi in one lesson. But we are getting close. Next Naaman, a captain in the army of Aram came to be healed of leprosy. This is a captivating story in itself and we will look at it sometime. The point is, that Elisha healed him completely.

Gehazi has seen at least seven miraculous acts by Elisha. He has lived with him for several years, as the Schenuman’s boy grew up. Being Elisha’s personal servant for ten to fifteen years at least had taught him respect for God and an understanding for His power and how it was manifested in Elisha.

We often are blessed with repeated illustrations of God’s working in our lives. We can even wonder if God’s hand did not aid Gehazi in his 30 mile run as He had Elijah after defeating the prophets of Baal. (1 Kings 18) This was approximately 25 miles. Regardless, he was well acquainted with God and Elisha’s prophetic powers.

And how does he respond? Tune in next time for the chilling answer.