#168: Pain, Presents, and a Prophecy
So Hazael went to meet him and took a present with him, of every good thing of Damascus, forty camel-loads; and he came and stood before him, and said, “Your son Ben-Hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this disease?’” And Elisha said to him, “Go, say to him, ‘You shall certainly recover.’ However, the Lord has shown me that he will really die.”
II Kings 8:9-10 NKJV
What percentage of your assets would you give in order to recover from a deadly disease?
Governments around the world have spent billions and perhaps trillions of dollars in an attempt to recover from present diseases. Wealthy individuals have spent hundreds of millions of dollars trying to find and eliminate the part of DNA they assume leads to aging and death. Naaman the leper brought Elisha nearly 100 pounds of gold and silver and many other costly gifts. Perhaps Ben-Hadad remembered the great work the Lord had done for his chief general and outdid that previous gift (1), by sending forty camel-loads of “every good thing of Damascus.” He who was in great pain unto death and turmoil of soul was willing to give great possessions for help.
At the moment of trial, all the treasures of the world are of little use and will fly away from us or we will fly away from them. They cannot add a day to our lives. The world often tries to buy its way out of a great problem or into great favor but deliverance only comes from God, and comes freely.
Ben-Hadad was the one character who regularly appeared through both Elijah’s and Elisha’s ministries (2). He saw the great work of the God of Israel but refused to put his trust in Him. At the end of his life as he sent Hazael to Elisha, Ben-Hadad serves as a warning to us not to wait but to cease our warfare against God now and come to Him by faith in Jesus Christ today.
Elisha’s prophecy was not a pleasant one for Ben-Hadad. Ben-Hadad would recover from the disease but he was still going to die. Death comes upon all men for all have sinned and Ben-Hadad’s time had come. The wicked will not go unpunished forever but will soon meet their Creator and answer for the deeds they have done.
My great need today is not wealth, possessions, or even health. My great need is for a King who will save me from my sins and the pain of death forever! That King was prophesied long ago. His name would be called “Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end” (Isaiah 9:6-7).
The great message of Scripture to all mankind is that the promised King and Savior has come. His name is called Jesus for He saves His people from their sins. Jesus Christ is the greatest gift one can receive, for the “gift of God is eternal life.” I cannot buy eternal life. You cannot buy eternal life. Forty camel loads of gold will not help you on that great day. But 2,000 years ago Christ came freely into the world to save sinners. How can you receive that gift? Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Perhaps last week you gave gifts to friends, loved ones, and strangers, but have you received the greatest gift of all? Have you taken hold of Christ by faith? “This is the promise that He has promised us – eternal life” (I John 2:25).
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- Elisha did not accept Naaman’s gift but turned it away as the mercy of God cannot be purchased but is freely given to all who call upon the Lord.
- Jezebel was also alive through both ministries of the prophets but is out of the picture for most of II Kings until her eunuchs throw her out the window in II Kings 9:30-37.
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