What Happened To Namaan's Leprosy?

What Happened To Namaan’s Leprosy?
How would you feel if you had terminal cancer and someone healed you of it completely? One can only imagine the degree of joy that he might have. Namaan(2 Kings 5) was a powerful man, but he was not immune to disease. He had contracted the dreaded disease of leprosy. Not only was it an incurable disease with horrible symptoms, but one would usually be separated from others so they wouldn’t catch it.
Namaan’s wife had a young servant who was an Israelite and she told him of a prophet of God, Elisha, who could heal him. He found Elisha and was told to dip seven times in Jordan and he would be healed. Namaan reluctantly did so, and because of his faith, he was healed.
As on might expect, Naaman was appreciative of his healing and he wanted to give Elisha a gift (2 Kings 5:15). The text shows Elisha’s reply, “But he said, "As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive nothing." And he urged him to take it, but he refused.” (2 Kings 5:16). Elisha had a servant named Gehazi who then went out after Namaan and asked for a gift for “two young sons of the prophets.” Namaan gladly gave him a gift. Gehazi then came back to Elisha and lied about the matter. Because of this Elisha told him, “Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever." And he went out from his presence leprous, as white as snow.” (2 Kings 5:27). So that is what happened to Namaan’s leprosy!
The lesson is a needed one for all. Greediness or covetousness is no small sin. The Ten Commandments declared, “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's." (Exodus 20:17). Paul said to Timothy, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. [7] For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. [8] And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. [9] But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. [10] For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1 Tim. 6:6-10).
Gehazi allowed his desire for money to make a liar and a cheat out of him. That has happened to so many people, not only gamblers and schemers, but businessmen and faithful Christians who let Satan come into their heart. Jesus’ warning is clear, “And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." (Luke 12:15). David Courington