Parents often give their children little tasks around the house to do, expecting the child to obey. There usually are consequences if they do the job or they don't do it. Some children will go immediately and do what we ask. But, there are always those that will be rebellious.
In II Kings 5, there was a man named Naaman, captain to the King of Syria, that had leprosy. The maid to Naaman's wife, a young girl from Israel, thought that Naaman would be healed, if the prophet Elisha would minister to him. So, the King of Syria sent a letter along with ten talents of silver, six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of clothes, to the King of Israel, his servant might be healed. The King rent his clothes, because he knew he couldn't heal him. Elisha heard of this, and asked the King to send the man to him. When Naaman went to Elisha, Elisha didn't even come out of the house. Instead, he sent a messenger, telling Naaman to wash in the River Jordan seven times, and he would be healed.
Naaman was very upset that Elisha hadn't even shown his face to tell him this, and, above all, requiring him to wash in the Jordan River in Israel and not in the rivers of Damascus, which he would have preferred. Naaman's servants asked him to reconsider, asking, that if Elisha had given him the orders in person, would he have not done this? So, he went to the River Jordan, washed seven times and was healed. He wanted then to give Elisha some money for healing him, but Elisha would not have it. But, oh, this is not how Gehazi, Elisha's servant felt. He went after Naaman, and lied about it being okay to give of the gifts to the sons of the prophets. When confronted of this by Elisha, he lied again, saying he hadn't even been out. So, for his misdeeds, he and his seed had to live with leprosy for the rest of their lives.
There are always consequences in what we do. Children get in trouble with their parents, when they don't obey. When we aren't faithful to God, we live miserable lives. Obeying brings peace and healing, but lying has adverse consequences.
Read II Kings 5.
Master's Table-Devotionals
