Gehazi was a servant of the prophet Elisha. This role gave him a unique ability to serve as a mediator for the prophet. Also in that role he potentially has the ability to serve as a mediator for God in some sense. Three chapters later, Gehazi served as the storyteller for Elisha to the King of the Northern Kingdom. Then when the Shunammite woman comes to the king to ask for mercy, Gehazi speaks up for her before the king. One might argue that Gehazi was embracing a prophetic role in that passage, or perhaps it could be said that he embraced the role of a reconciler.
Three chapters earlier, Gehazi has the opportunity to embrace such a role as well. Elisha was pretty brusque with Naaman, refusing to talk with him on his first visit, refusing to accept a gift/payment on his second visit. Elisha does appear to have been a difficult man. Socially speaking, he may have needed a little help. Gehazi may have been the one who could have done this, especially seeing what he was able to accomplish with the king.
This was not the only type of reconciliation that Gehazi could have done. He could also have worked on reconciling Naaman with God. Elisha did not do much of this. Based on what was passed down to us at least, he let Naaman essentially try to figure it out himself. Again, perhaps Gehazi, as in II Kings 8, could have helped him on his spiritual road.
Consider Paul in the New Testament. In Acts 9, Paul had an amazing experience, but was left without a guide. God called on Ananias to go to him to heal him, and to connect him to the members of the Way. Later, Paul (with a bit of unrealistic optimism it seems to me) went to Jerusalem to meet with the Apostles. The Apostles, quite understandably, would not meet with him. It take the act of Joseph (also known as Barnabas— Son of Encouragement) to take on a reconciling role between the Twelve and Paul.
Alas, there as no such person in II Kings 5. It is curious that Paul had his amazing conversion on the road to Damascus, and Naaman met up with Gehazi on the road to Damacus. But in this case, there would be no great conversion. When Gehazi caught up to Naaman and his party, it was to deceive them and steal from them. Gehazi could have embraced his reole as a reconciler, but chose to act for self-interest instead.
When Gehazi returned with his loot, Elisha placed a curse on him— leprosy that would endure in his finally line for all time.
Does that seem excessive? Well the Jewish rabbis thought it was excessive. In the Babylonian Talmus (Sanhedrin 107) the story of Gehazi and Elisha is discussed. They believe that Elisha’s actions were too harsh and seemed to believe that God made Elisha ill twice in his active ministry— once for his overreaction with the young men who insulted him, and on this occasion, for cursing Gehazi. Maybe Elisha realized it was excessive. As noted prior, Gehazi was speaking with the king of the Northern Kingdom three chapters later. This may mean that he was healed. There are other possibilities, but since we know of no family lines that have generational leprosy today, one may assume that Elisha did reduce the punishment.
The act of Gehazi did not reconcie Naaman to Elisha, or Naaman to God. Additionally, it also broke down the relationship between Gehazi and Elisha. Further, if the Talmud is believed, the act permanently separated Gehazi from God’s mercy.
If we review the pastoral care compenents they are:
To Guide without much knowledge.
To Heal without much skill.
To Sustain without much strength.
To Reconcile without much _______.
How do I finish this one. Maybe, without much “self.” In pastoral care and counseling, reconciling seeks to bring two together not three. In marriage counseling the counselor tries to restore the relationship between the husband and wife, not the become the third part of the relationship. Barnabas embraced the role of reconciler between the Twelve and Paul selflessly. He did not think about his own well-being, or even safety, but focused on the relationship.
Gehazi, was not a reconciler in chpater 5 and he certainly was not selfless. He was selfish, and because of that suffered great loss in himself and others as well.
