Unholy in the Midst of Holinessনমুনা

Did Gehazi repent? 

Gehazi is mentioned again in 2 Kings 8:1-6  as having been summoned, leper though he was, by King Jehoram to give him an account of all the great things Elisha had done.

Ceremonial pollution being conveyed by contact alone, there was nothing to prevent a conference being held with this leper at a distance. Although he was excluded from the town of Samaria, this reported conversation may have taken place at the gate or in one of the royal gardens, like when Naaman the leper came to meet the king of Israel.

It is also possible that Gehazi may have repented and been healed, as Moses’ sister Miriam had been. The appearance and conduct of Gehazi on this occasion give some possibility that he had repented of his sin and could now be trusted to speak the truth.

One of the stories Gehazi tells is bizarre beyond words. He tells of a boy who had died and come to life. Gehazi was hugely involved in that. Remember, Gehazi had first tried to raise the boy to life with the staff of Elisha, but he was not able. 

When Gehazi came to the story of the restoration of the Shunammite's child to life, the woman herself appeared before the king, along with her son. She wanted to be reinstated in her house and land of which she had been dispossessed during her seven years' absence from her native country in a time of famine. 

Gehazi testified to the identity of both mother and son, with the result that the king at once ordered the restoration, not only of all her former possessions, but also of all the profits her land had yielded during her sojourn in Philistia. 

The word that is used to describe Gehazi in 2 Kings 4:43 is the Hebrew word meshareth. This same word is also used to describe Elisha in 1 Kings 19:21.

This would suggest that Gehazi would have had the opportunity to succeed Elisha, just as Elisha had succeeded Elijah.

But when we see the story of Gehazi, we find that his sin of greed, covetousness, and lying prevented him from taking his natural place in the succession of God's prophets. 

And so Gehazi fades from history. The sad part of the story is the fact that Gehazi could have been doing God’s work. He could have learned from Elisha. He could have been the next major prophet or perhaps a leader and teacher in the schools of the prophets. Now all he can do is speak about the good old days when he worked with the prophet. Gehazi could have been making history; now all he can do is live in the past.

What about you? What is in the way of God using you for His purpose? What is the besetting sin that is the obstacle? Will you leave it and live a holy life? God uses only clean vessels

Quote: No man should desire to be happy who is not at the same time holy. He should spend his efforts in seeking to know and do the will of God, leaving to Christ the matter of how happy he should be. . – A.W.Tozer

Prayer: Lord, help me not to miss out on Your purpose for my life by playing with sin. Help me to live a holy life. Amen