1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:05,600 Speaker 1: Let us pray the leprosy. Therefore of Nammon shall cleave 2 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:09,640 Speaker 1: unto thee and unto thy seed forever. Then he went 3 00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:12,719 Speaker 1: out from his presence, a leper as white as snow, 4 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:19,160 Speaker 1: Second Kings five twenty seven. In my life, Lord, no 5 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 1: matter how tempting the offers may be, guide me so 6 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:26,680 Speaker 1: that I only receive from others only what You've chosen 7 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 1: to release to me. I declare that I will not 8 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:34,200 Speaker 1: act as Gahese and allow greed to cloud my integrity 9 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:38,600 Speaker 1: and judgment. Far from it. Far be it from me 10 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:41,840 Speaker 1: to step out of alignment and flow with your perfect will. 11 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:45,879 Speaker 1: For I know that whatever you bless me with, there 12 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:50,879 Speaker 1: will be no sickness, sorrow, or guilt attached. When the 13 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 1: time comes for my blessing to overtake me because of 14 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 1: my obedience, I will position my heart and my ears 15 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 1: to listen for your prim mission to receive. Until then, 16 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:08,800 Speaker 1: I will remain humble and steadfast, knowing that increase is 17 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:16,560 Speaker 1: just around the corner from my faithfulness. In Jesus' name, Amen, 18 00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 1: thank you for praying with me today. Continue listening for 19 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:25,680 Speaker 1: an incredible Bible story brought to you by Bible in 20 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:39,160 Speaker 1: a year dot Com Gehesei. 21 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 2: In our last story, God healed a foreign warrior by 22 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 2: the name of Nayman. Naman was plagued with leprosy and 23 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:51,360 Speaker 2: turned down by the King of Israel. Elishah saw this 24 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 2: as a perfect opportunity to show all the nations that 25 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:58,400 Speaker 2: the Lord is a lord of healing and power. Naman 26 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:01,400 Speaker 2: was refreshed in the cool world of the Jordan River. 27 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 2: As he bathed himself in the river, his sick and 28 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:08,839 Speaker 2: dying flesh was replaced with new life. Now we learn 29 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 2: of Naeman's newfound love for God and desire to bless 30 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:17,359 Speaker 2: the people of God. However, Elisha's servant Ghesay's heart changes 31 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:20,360 Speaker 2: for the worse as he descends into a cycle of 32 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:24,920 Speaker 2: greed and treachery. Inspired by the Book of Second Kings. 33 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 3: Hello, I'm pastor Jack Graham of today's episode of the 34 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:34,920 Speaker 3: Bible in a Year podcast. In the previous episode, we 35 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:38,360 Speaker 3: learned about Naemon, the Syrian commander who sought healing for 36 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:42,680 Speaker 3: his leprosy from the prophet Elishah in Israel. Despite his 37 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:47,800 Speaker 3: initial reluctance and prideful thinking, Naemon finally acted in faith 38 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 3: and believed God and his skin. His illness was completely healed. Today, 39 00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:57,839 Speaker 3: we'll pick up where we left off yesterday and hear 40 00:02:57,919 --> 00:03:02,400 Speaker 3: how Naeman responded to his healing and how Elisha's servant Gehesel, 41 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 3: gives in to corruptive thinking and deceit. He suffers a 42 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:10,400 Speaker 3: painful consequence for his choice and became an example of 43 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:15,919 Speaker 3: God's judgment for greed and dishonesty. So here's today's Bible reading. 44 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:21,639 Speaker 2: Naman emerged from the Jordan River a new man as 45 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 2: the sun set. The old and dying flesh had been 46 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:28,160 Speaker 2: washed away, along with his old life. In many ways, 47 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:31,920 Speaker 2: Namon was a completely new person. He had experienced the 48 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 2: glory of God in the cool river for the first time. 49 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 2: His heart beat with more purpose, his lungs were filled 50 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 2: with new life. He was aware and alert to the 51 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 2: movement of God. This caused joy in Naman like never before. 52 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 2: He rushed immediately to Elisha and said, I know with 53 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 2: complete certainty that there is no God except the God 54 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 2: of Israel. Then Naman rolled out gifts of gold and 55 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:04,720 Speaker 2: silver to give to Elisha. Elishah shook his head and smiled, No, 56 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:07,720 Speaker 2: as surely as the Lord lives, I will take nothing 57 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 2: from you. Namon urged Elisha to receive any type of 58 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 2: gift from him. Although Namon was trying to give Elishah gifts, 59 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 2: it was really a gesture towards God. Gratitude filled his 60 00:04:19,520 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 2: heart for the first time in years, and he desired 61 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:26,600 Speaker 2: to bless those who blessed him very well. Namon replied, 62 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:29,159 Speaker 2: but at least allow me to load my mules with 63 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:31,960 Speaker 2: some of the earth from this holy place. I would 64 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:36,320 Speaker 2: like to remind myself continually of this experience. His eyes 65 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 2: began to well up with tears. They were tears of 66 00:04:39,240 --> 00:04:42,640 Speaker 2: joy and peace. From now on, I will not worship 67 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:46,160 Speaker 2: any god except the Lord. Only may the Lord pardon 68 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 2: me when my king leans on me to bow. Elishah 69 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 2: was filled with the joy of the Lord at Nayman's 70 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 2: change of heart. He could see the transformative power of 71 00:04:56,360 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 2: God in his life. Go in peace, he told him, 72 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 2: and with that, Namon departed back to his home. Yet 73 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 2: with all the Lord's blessing, darkness still lingered. Gehazi, the 74 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 2: servant of Elijah, stewed in bitterness as Namon left. He 75 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 2: watched as the rich commander left with all his riches. 76 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:19,719 Speaker 2: Why didn't my master accept the gifts he offered? He 77 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:23,040 Speaker 2: said to himself. Led by greed, gehes I packed his 78 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 2: things to go pursue Namon to receive gifts for himself. 79 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:30,200 Speaker 2: Gehz I rode fast to catch up to them, intent 80 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:35,240 Speaker 2: on satisfying his fleshy desire for temporary things. Naman saw 81 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:38,480 Speaker 2: him running after him. He climbed down from his chariot 82 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:41,599 Speaker 2: and walked towards him. Worried that something might be wrong. 83 00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:46,919 Speaker 2: Namon shouted, is everything okay? Yes, gehes I said, trying 84 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 2: to catch his breath. However, my master has sent me 85 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 2: to tell you that two of your prophets have just 86 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:55,480 Speaker 2: arrived at the house. He would like seventy five pounds 87 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:57,920 Speaker 2: of silver and two sets of clothing to give them 88 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 2: his gifts. Gehzar lied there were no prophets. He fully 89 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:05,880 Speaker 2: planned to keep the wealth for himself. Greed had a 90 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:08,840 Speaker 2: choke hold over his heart and it would not relent. 91 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 2: Namon smiled, pleased that he could bless the household of Elishah. 92 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:17,599 Speaker 2: Of course, take double the portion, so Namon's servants followed 93 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:20,800 Speaker 2: Geheze back. Gehes I took the goods back to the 94 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:24,720 Speaker 2: house and hid the treasures for himself. Then gehees I 95 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 2: composed himself brushed the dust off his cloak and walked 96 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:31,800 Speaker 2: back into the house. He was met with a sitting Elishah. 97 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:35,359 Speaker 2: Gehez I did his best to smile. He passed his 98 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:39,080 Speaker 2: master and began his regular chores. Where have you been, 99 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:43,760 Speaker 2: gehees I, Elisha asked casually. Nowhere, geh haz I replied, 100 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:48,480 Speaker 2: while sweeping, doing his best to avoid eye contact. Elisha sighed, 101 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 2: displeased with Gehese's unwillingness to repent on his own. He 102 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:55,240 Speaker 2: must have known that Elishah would have found out. Was 103 00:06:55,279 --> 00:06:59,000 Speaker 2: he really that ignorant of how the Lord worked, gejz I, 104 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:03,120 Speaker 2: Elishah said gently, don't you realize that I was with 105 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:06,120 Speaker 2: you in spirit while you approached Nayman on his chariot. 106 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:09,840 Speaker 2: Gehes I gulped, realizing that his sins had caught up 107 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 2: to him quicker than expected. Are we to receive money 108 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 2: and clothing? Are we to receive olive groves, beautiful vineyards, 109 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:22,280 Speaker 2: livestock and servants? Is this who we are? Elisha's voice 110 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 2: became more harsh. He stood to his feet and met 111 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 2: Gehese in the eyes. He stared at him intensely. Gehes 112 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 2: I could feel the eyes of God on him, because 113 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 2: you have robbed a man healed of leprosy, you and 114 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:40,680 Speaker 2: your descendants will struggle with that same plight forever. Gehese's 115 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:43,520 Speaker 2: guilt rushed over him, and pain began to rush up 116 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:48,200 Speaker 2: his arms and legs. Then, in that moment, Gehesi's body 117 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 2: crumbled with leprosy. 118 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:57,960 Speaker 3: Today's passage opens up where we ended yesterday. Nahemon followed 119 00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 3: Elisha's instructions. After dipping himself and the Jordans seven times, 120 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:05,800 Speaker 3: he then emerged with new skin, completely healed of leprosy. 121 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 3: So in Second King five point fifteen we read then 122 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:13,720 Speaker 3: what Naeman did. Then he returned to the man of God, 123 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 3: he and all of his company, and he came and 124 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:18,920 Speaker 3: stood before him, and he said, behold, I know that 125 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 3: there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel. 126 00:08:23,000 --> 00:08:26,440 Speaker 3: This man, who had such doubts about finding healing in 127 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 3: this foreign river from a prophet who didn't even come 128 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:33,320 Speaker 3: out and make a show of healing him, had experienced 129 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:36,160 Speaker 3: a change, a changed deep in his heart, much deeper 130 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:40,200 Speaker 3: than his skin. He regained the feeling that he had 131 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:44,080 Speaker 3: lost in his leprosy, But more importantly, his heart is 132 00:08:44,120 --> 00:08:47,280 Speaker 3: warmed towards God, the God of healing, who had healed 133 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:51,400 Speaker 3: not only his physical disease, but washed his spirit. And 134 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:54,720 Speaker 3: his response was to confess God, not just to Elishah, 135 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:59,040 Speaker 3: but in the presence of all his company. This grateful 136 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:02,080 Speaker 3: man wanted to repair Elishah for what he had done, 137 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:05,560 Speaker 3: but Elishah would accept no payment. It was God who 138 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:08,080 Speaker 3: had healed, and Elishah would not profit in this way 139 00:09:08,160 --> 00:09:12,520 Speaker 3: from his ministry. Naemon then made a request that may 140 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:16,720 Speaker 3: sound unusual. He asked for permission to load dirt into 141 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 3: a cart so he could carry it home and spread 142 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:22,000 Speaker 3: it on the ground there. It may sound very strange 143 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:25,360 Speaker 3: to our ears, of course, but Elishah would have understood it. 144 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:31,440 Speaker 3: Naemon was recognizing that the soil in Israel represented God's land, 145 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:35,240 Speaker 3: God's territory, and now that Naeman had given his heart 146 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:37,640 Speaker 3: in trust to the One True God, the God of Israel, 147 00:09:38,160 --> 00:09:42,040 Speaker 3: he wanted to take some of that territory, symbolically speaking 148 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:44,920 Speaker 3: to his own home, so that he could worship God 149 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:49,760 Speaker 3: on his land. He then asked Elishah to pardon him 150 00:09:49,760 --> 00:09:51,720 Speaker 3: for when he had to go before his king to 151 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:55,400 Speaker 3: bow down to a pagan god remen. In other words, 152 00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:57,600 Speaker 3: he knew he would have to put on an act 153 00:09:57,640 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 3: if he was going to pay honor to a false God, 154 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:03,440 Speaker 3: and so he wanted Elishah and God himself to know 155 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 3: that his heart was truly committed to the Lord and 156 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:11,200 Speaker 3: not an idol. Elishah recognized the intent behind these requests 157 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 3: and told Naeman to go in peace. So Naemon departed, 158 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 3: leaving no gifts, but taking holy ground with him back 159 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:22,840 Speaker 3: to Syria. But while Naema's heart had been filled with 160 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:27,280 Speaker 3: faith in God, Elisha's servant, Gehaiza, was moving in the 161 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:31,080 Speaker 3: opposite direction. He allowed greed to enter his heart and 162 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 3: to fill it with darkness and sin, like the leprosy 163 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:38,360 Speaker 3: that had filled NAMA's body and left him unfeeling. Greed 164 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:42,160 Speaker 3: and sin numbed Geiza's heart, and he went after Naemen 165 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:45,800 Speaker 3: with deceit and personal gain on his mind. He caught 166 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:49,040 Speaker 3: up to Namon, who asked what he needed. Gehaiza lied 167 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:52,760 Speaker 3: and said Elishah had requested silver and clothing to give 168 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:56,480 Speaker 3: his gift to two sons of prophets. Naemon was eager 169 00:10:56,520 --> 00:11:00,120 Speaker 3: to give generously and gave a double portion to to 170 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 3: Elishah's unfaithful servant. Geheiza hid what he had received, but 171 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:11,240 Speaker 3: Elisha knew, so he questioned his servant, asking where he 172 00:11:11,280 --> 00:11:15,160 Speaker 3: had been. Again, Gehaiza lied and said he hadn't been anywhere. 173 00:11:15,720 --> 00:11:18,160 Speaker 3: That's when Elishah let him know that he had been caught. 174 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 3: He rebuked him for what he had done, taking from 175 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:23,720 Speaker 3: Naeman and making a mockery of what God had done 176 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:27,960 Speaker 3: to show his glory to a foreigner. Elisha sent Gehiza 177 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:31,400 Speaker 3: away with a curse the leprosy of which Naemon had 178 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:35,680 Speaker 3: been healed would be visited upon him and his descendants, 179 00:11:36,080 --> 00:11:41,000 Speaker 3: And as he walked away, Gehiza's flesh was consumed with leprosy. 180 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:43,679 Speaker 3: Lord God, we thank you for the truth of the 181 00:11:43,679 --> 00:11:46,480 Speaker 3: Bible and the greatness of these stories that we're hearing. 182 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:49,440 Speaker 3: We pray o God, that we would learn each day 183 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:52,600 Speaker 3: the lessons we need to live in obedience to You. 184 00:11:54,040 --> 00:11:55,960 Speaker 3: Help us, Lord, to have hearts that are full of 185 00:11:56,000 --> 00:12:01,679 Speaker 3: you and always sensitive to know and do your will Jesus' name, Amen. 186 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:05,959 Speaker 3: Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast. 187 00:12:06,440 --> 00:12:10,320 Speaker 3: I'm pastor Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Download Theprey dot 188 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:13,880 Speaker 3: Com app and make prayer and Bible study a priority 189 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:17,320 Speaker 3: in your life. And if you enjoyed this podcast, tell 190 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:20,720 Speaker 3: someone else about it. We would love to connect with 191 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:24,800 Speaker 3: you at Jack Graham dot org for there are resources 192 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:27,320 Speaker 3: and opportunities for you to continue to grow in your 193 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:30,839 Speaker 3: faith through this ministry. God bless you.