Lesson - Naaman: The Rest Of The Story

VERSES:   2 Kings 5:19-27

MEMORY VERSE:   2 Kings 5:27   "...the leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee..."

BOOK TO REMEMBER:   Amos.  Write "Amos" on small slips of paper and hand out at the end of class.

PRAYER:   May we always be honest with God, with others, and with ourselves.

SPECIAL SONG:   Be Careful Little Eyes (see March - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #3 on this blog)

VISUAL AID:   Make a large Activity (see below).

LESSON POINTS:

• Last time we talked about how Elisha told Naaman to dip in the Jordan River seven times and his terrible disease called leprosy would go away. Did Naaman do what Elisha told him to do? YES! Did Naaman's leprosy go away? YES! Was Naaman thankful? YES! What had Naaman brought to Elisha as payment for takng his leprosy away? Presents of ten talents of silver, 6,000 pieces of gold, and ten changes of clothing. Elisha had refused Naaman's presents, but as Naaman started back on his journey home, Elisha's servant, Gehazi, got greedy.  Gehazi had heard the conversation between Naaman and Elisha concerning the presents, and Gehazi ran after Naaman. When Naaman saw Gehazi running after his chariot, he stopped and got down from his chariot and went to meet Gehazi. Gehazi said that Elisha had sent him and that there were two men coming to visit and it would be just fine if Naaman gave them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing. Is that true? NO! It was a lie!
• But Naaman was very thankful and very generous and said to take two talents of silver and the clothing and Gehazi accepted it all. Did Elisha send Genhazi? No! Naaman's servants helped carry them for Gehazi and when they got to the tower, Gehazi stored everything in the house and let the servants go back to Naaman, and then they journeyed on to their home.
• Gehazi probably thought no one knew what he had done, but when Gehazi went into the house and stood by Elisha, Elisha asked him where he had gone. Gehazi lied again and said that he had gone nowhere. Elisha told Gehazi that when the man in the chariot turned to meet Gehazi that Elisha's heart went with him. Elisha asked him if now was a time to receive money and clothes? Then, because of Gehazi's greed, lies, and wickedness, the leprosy that Naaman had been cleansed of went to Gehazi. Gehazi was covered with leprosy that was white as snow and he never got rid of it for the rest of life. How sad that a good story about Naaman ended with a sad story about Gehazi!

"Older Student" Tips:

• Definition of 'greed': a selfish desire for something that a person will go to great lengths to get, even stealing, lying, cheating, and evil things.
• Greed caused Gehazi to lie, to deceive, and to steal. A person would think that being around Elisha, the prophet of God, and seeing all the wonderful things that God did through Elisha, that Gehazi would not have sinned like he did. He should have known better!

ACTIVITY:   The Leprosy of Gehazi
Materials needed:  9" x 12" white construction paper, 9" x 12" red construction paper, marker, scissors, crayons, stapler, staples.

1. Hand out white paper.
2. Fold paper in half.
3. Fold paper again in thirds.
4. Cut paper on lines to create six sequencing cards.
5. Card #1--Draw a picture of Naaman dipping in the Jordan River. Label Naaman and the Jordan River. Write "Dipped 7 times", and "No more leprosy." Set aside.
6. Card #2--Draw a picture of Elisha. Write "Refused Naaman's presents" and label Elisha. Set aside.
7. Card #3--Draw a picture of Naaman outside of the chariot giving Gehazi two set of clothes and two talents of silver. Write "Give a talent of silver and two sets of clothes" and label Naaman, Gehazi, the clothes, the silver and the chariot. Set aside.
8. Card #4--Draw a picture of Gehazi taking the clothes and silver and storing it in the house. Write "Gehazi stored everything in the house." Set aside.
9. Card #5--Draw a picture of Elisha saying "Where did you go, Gehazi?" and label Elisha. Set aside.
10. Card #6--Draw a picture of Gehazi with his skin white. Write "Because of Gehazi's lies and greed, Naaman's leprosy covered Gehazi." , label Gehazi, and write "white as snow" close by Gehazi.
11. Color all cards, remembering to leave Gehazi's skin WHITE on the last card.
12. Hand out red paper.
13. Fold red paper in half.
14. Staple right and left edges.
15. On one side write "Sequencing Cards" and "Naaman and Gehazi" and "2 Kings 5:20-27."
16. Allow time for the students to practice putting the cards in the proper sequence or order.