Gehazi, Elisha's servant, had had opportunity during the years to develop the spirit of self-denial characterizing his master's lifework. It had been his privilege to become a noble standard-bearer in the army of the Lord. The best gifts of Heaven had long been within his reach; yet, turning from these, he had coveted instead the base alloy of worldly wealth. And now the hidden longings of his avaricious spirit led him to yield to an overmastering temptation. "Behold," he reasoned within himself, "my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but . . . I will run after him, and 251 take somewhat of him." And thus it came about that in secrecy "Gehazi followed after Naaman."

Elisas tjener, Gehazi, havde i årenes løb haft rig anledning til at lære den samme selvfornægtelse, som kendetegnede hans mesters livsgerning. Han kunne være blevet en ædel bannerfører i Herrens hær. Han havde længe haft Himmelens bedste velsignelser inden for rækkevidde, men han vendte sig bort fra dem og begærede i stedet verdens forgængelige rigdom. Det begær, som lå skjult i hans umættelige sjæl, fik ham nu til at give efter for en overvældende fristelse. Han sagde til sig selv: "Der har min herre ladet denne aramæer Naaman slippe og ikke modtaget af ham, hvad han havde med ..... Jeg vil løbe efter ham for at få noget af ham! "Så satte Gehazi efter Naaman" i al hemmelighed.