Pastor Marshall Ochs | October 6, 2024
In this message, Pastor Marshall teaches from 2 Kings 5-6. These chapters alternate the contrasting themes of generosity and greed. The author’s goal is to encourage reflection on these two themes and the fruit they produce. Yahweh is a miraculously generous God and His generosity is a character attribute His people should model on a daily basis.
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2 Kings 5:1-18
In 2 Kings 5, we encounter Naaman, a powerful military leader from Syria. Though he was successful in battle and favored by his king, Naaman had a major problem—he was a leper. His life was marked by both power and brokenness, yet, interestingly, God was using him even though Naaman didn’t know it (5:1). This is the backdrop for one of the most remarkable stories of God’s generosity and grace.
A young Israelite girl who had been taken captive and made a slave in Naaman’s household showed incredible faith and generosity. Even in her lowly position, she boldly suggests that Naaman seek healing from the prophet of Yahweh in Israel. Her faith in God’s power to heal is strong, and her desire to help Naaman—despite being his servant—reveals a heart of generosity.
This little girl could have been bitter or resentful toward Naaman, but instead, she shares the knowledge of Yahweh’s power. Her actions remind us that God’s ways often contradict what our culture values—He works through those the world overlooks, regardless of their circumstances or status.
When Naaman hears the girl’s suggestion, he goes to the Syrian king, who sends him to Israel. This reveals the misunderstanding between earthly power and divine authority. The Syrian king thought that prophets worked for the throne, but in Israel, the prophets served God, not kings.
Naaman arrives at Elisha’s house expecting a grand miracle, but Elisha doesn’t even come to the door. Instead, he sends a messenger to tell Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan River. Naaman’s pride is on full display with his reaction to Elisha. He is offended—he expected a dramatic display of power, not a simple instruction to wash in a river. However, when Naaman humbles himself and obeys, he is completely healed.
This story is filled with examples of God’s generosity and how His people mirror that generosity. The little girl generously shares her knowledge of God’s power, even though she is a slave. God generously heals Naaman, a foreigner and a pagan, showing that His grace extends beyond the borders of Israel. Naaman’s response to his healing is generosity. He is transformed not only physically but spiritually as he recognizes Yahweh’s sovereignty and desires to honor Him.
Reflection Questions:
The Israelite servant girl, displayed great faith and generosity by pointing Naaman to Yahweh for healing. How can you share God’s love and truth with others, even in difficult or uncomfortable situations?
Are there people in your life who need to hear about God’s power and grace, but you’ve hesitated to speak up?
Naaman was initially offended by the simplicity of Elisha’s instruction, but when he obeyed, he was healed. How do you respond when God’s answers seem too simple or not what you expected?
Are there areas in your life where God is calling you to humble obedience, even when it doesn’t seem “grand” enough?
Naaman’s healing led him to declare that Yahweh is the only true God. How has God’s generosity in your life led to a deeper understanding of His power and love?
2 Kings 5:19-27
In this next segment, we encounter a stark contrast between generosity and greed. After God healed Naaman of leprosy, Naaman was so moved that he wanted to give gifts to Elisha as a gesture of gratitude. Elisha refused, showing that God’s grace and healing cannot be purchased. Naaman, Elisha, and God Himself demonstrated immense generosity throughout this chapter.
But Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, saw an opportunity to enrich himself. Driven by greed, he ran after Naaman, lied to him, and took money and clothing under false pretenses. Gehazi thought he could get away with it, but his greed was soon exposed. Elisha confronted him, and Gehazi was struck with the very leprosy that Naaman had been healed from. Ultimately, Gehazi’s greed brought sickness, not the wealth and comfort he craved.
This story invites us to reflect on the two paths that lead to very different outcomes. Generosity produces more generosity. When we give freely, we open the door for God’s blessings to flow into our lives and the lives of others. Greed produces more greed and ultimately leads to destruction. When we allow greed to drive our decisions, we not only harm others, but we harm ourselves. Gehazi’s inner corruption manifested outwardly in the form of leprosy.
This story isn’t just about financial generosity. It’s about the heart behind our actions. A heart of generosity mirrors God’s own heart, while a heart of greed seeks to serve itself at the expense of others. Just as Gehazi’s greed manifested in physical sickness, our inner greed can manifest in spiritual sickness, cutting us off from the abundant life God desires for us.
Reflection Questions:
Gehazi’s greed led him to deceive Naaman and take what wasn’t his. Are there areas in your life where greed or selfish desires have taken control?
How can you shift your focus from acquiring more to giving more generously to others?
How can you demonstrate God’s generosity by serving others without expecting anything in return?
2 Kings 6
In 2 Kings 6, we continue to see multiple stories that reveal the contrast between God’s generosity and human greed. The first part of the chapter tells a seemingly small story about a group of prophets needing more living space. While chopping wood for their new home, one prophet loses a borrowed axe head in the water. This may seem like a minor problem, but to the prophet, it was a big deal because the axe was borrowed.
Elisha doesn’t dismiss the prophet’s distress. Instead, he responds generously, performing a miracle by making the iron axe head float to the surface. This simple yet powerful act of generosity reminds us that God cares about even the small, everyday details of our lives. God is not only involved in the big, life-altering moments but also in the small, personal challenges we face. His generosity extends to every corner of our lives, and He provides for us in ways that are often unexpected and miraculous.
As we move further into 2 Kings 6, we see another contrast between God’s generosity and human greed. The king of Syria is plotting to attack Israel, but Elisha, through divine revelation, spoils the Syrian king’s plans by warning Israel. Instead of seeking peace or understanding, the Syrian king’s response is driven by greed—he wants to seize Elisha for himself, to exploit his prophetic power for his own benefit.
Where man seeks to take and exploit, God continues to show generosity. Elisha isn’t driven by self-interest or a desire for power; instead, he uses his gifts for the benefit of others, revealing a heart aligned with God’s generosity. In contrast, the Syrian king's greed only leads to conflict and attempts to control what he cannot.
In the final section of the chapter, 2 Kings 6:14-23, we see God’s generosity displayed on an even larger scale. When the Syrian army surrounds Elisha, his servant is terrified. But Elisha prays, and God opens the servant’s eyes to see the heavenly army protecting them. Yahweh’s generosity is evident in His protection of His people. Instead of destroying the Syrian army, Elisha asks God to blind them, leads them into the heart of Israel, and then prays for their sight to be restored.
Even more striking, instead of attacking or exploiting the captured army, Elisha commands that they be fed and sent home. Yahweh is generous not only to His people but also to the pagan nation of Syria, showing mercy and grace where none was deserved. This act of generosity brings peace, as the Syrian raiders no longer come into Israel (6:23).
The message is clear: while human nature often leads to greed, taking and exploiting God’s nature is one of generosity, healing, saving, and setting free.
Reflection Questions:
Elisha was concerned about the lost axe head and took action to help, even though it might have seemed like a small matter. How can we demonstrate the same level of concern for those around us in what may seem "trivial" in our eyes?
Are there people in your life burdened by issues that might seem trivial? How can you show empathy and support them, reflecting God's care for the most minor details in our lives?
Are there areas where you need to trust God more with the “small things,” believing He cares and will provide?
The Syrian king’s greed led him to try to seize Elisha and exploit his power. In what ways can greed manifest in our own lives, especially when we try to control situations?
Elisha prayed for his servant’s eyes to be opened to see the heavenly army protecting them. How do you respond when you feel surrounded by challenges?
May we regularly pray for those around us, for God to open their spiritual eyes, ourselves included.
Instead of destroying the captured Syrian army, Elisha fed them and sent them home. How does this act of generosity challenge the way you treat those who may be considered enemies or those who have wronged you?
These stories point us to Jesus, the ultimate embodiment of God’s miraculous generosity. Through Jesus, we have received changed lives, spiritual healing, physical and spiritual protection, and the promise of eternal life.