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49. Elisha.

At God's command, Elijah appointed Elisha as his servant and successor in the prophetic office. Elisha was plowing in the field with twelve yoke of oxen. When the prophet called him, he asked: “Allow me to kiss only my father and mother.” Elijah said: “Go and come again.” A prophet who talks to God insists that sons love their parents and do nothing important without their will and blessing. From that time on, Elisha followed the prophet and was faithful with him until God took him from his side.

Elijah and Elisha were also men of healing. They were given healing by God. In the days of Elisha lived Naaman, an officer of the king of Syria. He was afflicted with the terrible disease of leprosy and could not recover, but was otherwise a mild and good man by nature. God also thought of him, that he might be helped through Elisha, when no one knew anything about the other. The Syrians made a hostile invasion of Israel and, among other things, carried away an Israelite girl from her freedom into captivity. The girl came into the service of Naaman's wife and once said, when Naaman was in great pain: “If only he were with the prophet in Samaria; he would soon cure him of his leprosy.”

Naaman had faith in the maiden's word. He traveled away with horses and chariots and many gifts and came to the prophet's house and told him that he was there and what he wanted. Elisha said to him again, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times.” Naaman was angry that the prophet would not even come out to him. He could have done him the honor. Polite behavior is in everyone's nature. Nor did Naaman have faith in such a simple remedy as the prophet had recommended to him. He had faith in the words of his wife's maid, but not in the words of the prophet. He was about to return home without having achieved anything. Then one of his servants spoke a word of understanding to him: “Dear father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, you would have done it. Why should you not do the small thing of washing in the Jordan?” Naaman listened to the wise speech.

When he had washed in the Jordan seven times, as the prophet had told him, he was healed and cleansed. Immediately the good man returned to the prophet to thank him. Not all people do this when they have been helped. He went in to Elisha and vowed that he would no longer worship any other God than the God of Israel, the God of the prophet.

 “Take my blessing,” he said to the prophet, and offered him ten precious garments, six thousand gold guilders and ten talents of silver as a gift.

But if Naaman was a respectable and generous man, Elisha was even more so. Elisha did not accept the gift. He said, “As surely as the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will not take it.” For he knew full well that Naaman had been healed by the power of God, not by him, and he did not want to make any trade with the prophetic gift God had given him. There are good deeds that cannot be paid for with gold. There are duties for which no reward can be accepted. “Go forth,” said the Prophet, ”in peace!”