Norwegian 2018 (Bibelen - Guds Ord Hverdagsbibelen (Hermon Forlag))
Men Gehasi, tjeneren til Elisja, syntes det var dumt at profeten ikke hadde tatt imot noe av alt det som Na’aman ville gi ham. Han sa: «Jeg vil løpe etter ham og få noe fra ham.» Så satte Gehasi etter Na’aman. Da Na’aman så ham komme løpende etter seg, gikk han ned fra vognen for å møte ham, og han sa: «Er alt i orden?» Gehasi svarte: «Ja, alt er i orden, men min herre har sendt meg for å si at det akkurat kom to unge profetdisipler fra Efraims fjelland til ham. Han ber om at du gir ham to festdrakter og 30 kilo sølv!» Da sa Na’aman: «Ja, bare ta 60 kilo!» Han lot festdraktene knyttes sammen med sølvet og sendte det med to av tjenerne sine. De bar det i forveien for Gehasi. Da de kom fram til borgen, tok Gehasi gavene ut av hendene deres. Så sendte han mennene bort. Deretter gjemte han klærne og sølvet i huset.
What Does This Mean?
In this verse, Gehazi, Elisha's servant, is upset that Elisha didn't accept a gift from Naaman, a Syrian. Gehazi decides to chase after Naaman and take some gifts for himself.
Explained for Children
Imagine your friend has a toy, and your mom says you can't take it. But you really want it. Gehazi felt like that, but he decided to sneakily take something anyway, even though he knew it wasn't right.
Historical Background
This passage is from the Old Testament book of 2 Kings, written by an unknown author during the Babylonian exile. It was written for the Israelites to remind them of God's power and how leaders should act.
Living It Out Today
This verse reminds us that sometimes we might be tempted to take what isn't ours, even when we know it's wrong. Think about a time you wanted something that belonged to someone else but knew you shouldn't take it.
Why was Gehazi upset that Elisha didn't accept Naaman's gift?
Gehazi was upset because he saw the gift as an opportunity to gain wealth, which he believed Elisha was missing out on by being generous.
What does this verse teach about the consequences of greed?
This verse shows that greed can lead to dishonesty and can damage one's relationship with God and others, as Gehazi's actions later resulted in him being punished.
How does Gehazi's action contrast with Elisha's?
While Elisha was faithful and obedient, choosing not to accept the gift, Gehazi acted out of selfish motives, showing a lack of faithfulness and obedience.
What can we learn about integrity from this story?
We learn that integrity means being honest and true to our values, even when it's difficult or when we feel we are missing out on something.