Where Have You Been?

Sometimes in the Scriptures you come across something familiar, a saying or some advice you heard as a child. As I was reading in 2 Kings, I came across something that we see even in our current society.

In 2 Kings 5:15 and following, Elisha refuses to receive a physical reward from Naaman, whom God had just healed from leprosy. Naaman really wanted to give something to Elisha, but Elisha simply would not receive anything from him.

As Naaman is leaving, Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, decides that he’s not going to pass up this opportunity for physical gain, and runs after Naaman to receive something from him. Gehazi proceeds to lie about why he came, saying something like, “My master sent me to get some money and clothes from you.” We, the readers, see very clearly what’s going on, but Naaman doesn’t see through the lie, and gives money and clothing to the servant out of the kindness of his heart.

When Gehazi got back to Elisha, Elisha asks him a simple question: “Where have you been, Gehazi?”

How many teenagers have been asked that question? That’s one of those moments when you know you’ve probably been found out, and you’re being given the opportunity to come clean. Even though you know there’s a good chance you’re found out, however, often this answer comes out: “I didn’t go anywhere,” or, “Nowhere,” right? Take a look at Gehazi’s answer in 2 Kings 5:25: “Your servant went nowhere.”

Funny how human minds work, isn’t it? When we don’t want to tell the truth and we’re on the spot, the same words come to us, don’t they? Where have you been? Nowhere. What have you been doing? Nothing. Who have you been hanging out with? No one.

The truth is always the best option. Gehazi, because of his deceit, was cursed with leprosy for all his days. When we have the option to tell the truth or make up a lie, the option that won’t get you into any more trouble is always the truth, and the option that digs a deeper hole is always the lie.

Gehazi thought that he had gotten away with his lie when Naaman believed his story and gave him the items, but when he got back to Elisha the man of God, his deceit was shown for what it truly was, and he was punished for what he had done.

Remember that even when we think we can get away with something in this life, God is a righteous Judge who sees through all our deceptions and knows what the truth is, and is willing to be merciful to those who come to him repenting and confessing the truth. If you’ve got something you need to make right with God, be sure you do it. Entering into the judgment clinging to a lie won’t land you where you want to be in eternity.

“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Watching the evil and the good.” -Proverbs 15:3