The Angel Of Yahweh First Appeared To Manoah's Wife Before Appearing To Manoah
Judges 13 reads,
13:1
The children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh; and Yahweh delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years. 13:2There was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and didn’t bear. 13:3The angel of Yahweh appeared to the woman, and said to her, See now, you are barren, and don’t bear; but you shall conceive, and bear a son. 13:4Now therefore please beware and drink no wine nor strong drink, and don’t eat any unclean thing: 13:5for, behold, you shall conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head; for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb: and he shall begin to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines. 13:6Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came to me, and his face was like the face of the angel of God, very awesome; and I didn’t ask him whence he was, neither did he tell me his name: 13:7but he said to me, Behold, you shall conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing; for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.13:8
Then Manoah entreated Yahweh, and said, Oh, Lord, please let the man of God whom you did send come again to us, and teach us what we shall do to the child who shall be born. 13:9God listened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah, her husband, wasn’t with her. 13:10The woman made haste, and ran, and told her husband, and said to him, Behold, the man has appeared to me, who came to me the other day. 13:11Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the man, and said to him, Are you the man who spoke to the woman? He said, I am. 13:12Manoah said, Now let your words happen: what shall be the ordering of the child, and how shall we do to him? 13:13The angel of Yahweh said to Manoah, Of all that I said to the woman let her beware. 13:14She may not eat of anything that comes of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing; all that I commanded her let her observe. 13:15Manoah said to the angel of Yahweh, I pray you, let us detain you, that we may make ready a kid for you. 13:16The angel of Yahweh said to Manoah, Though you detain me, I won’t eat of your bread; and if you will make ready a burnt offering, you must offer it to Yahweh. For Manoah didn’t know that he was the angel of Yahweh. 13:17Manoah said to the angel of Yahweh, What is your name, that when your words happen, we may honor you? 13:18The angel of Yahweh said to him, Why do you ask after my name, seeing it is wonderful?13:19
So Manoah took the kid with the meal-offering, and offered it on the rock to Yahweh: and the angel did wondrously, and Manoah and his wife looked on. 13:20For it happened, when the flame went up toward the sky from off the altar, that the angel of Yahweh ascended in the flame of the altar: and Manoah and his wife looked on; and they fell on their faces to the ground. 13:21But the angel of Yahweh did no more appear to Manoah or to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of Yahweh. 13:22Manoah said to his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God. 13:23But his wife said to him, If Yahweh were pleased to kill us, he wouldn’t have received a burnt offering and a meal-offering at our hand, neither would he have shown us all these things, nor would at this time have told such things as these. 13:24The woman bore a son, and named him Samson: and the child grew, and Yahweh blessed him. 13:25The Spirit of Yahweh began to move him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
Yahweh Shows No Partiality With Respect To Selecting Either A Man Or A Woman To Communicate To
It should be noted that the angel of Yahweh chose to appear to Manoah's wife and deliver his message to her, rather than appear to Manoah. In Abraham's day it was to Abraham that the message of the prophesied birth of a son by his wife was first given, rather than to his wife. In Zechariah's day, just before Yah'shuah's birth, it was to Zechariah that the message of the prophesied birth of a son by his wife was given, rather than to his wife. In other words, at certain times Yahweh informs the man, but at other times he informs the woman. It should therefore be noted that Yahweh shows no partiality between men and women with respect to whom he communicates his word. When he chooses to communicate his word to a man he does so, and when he chooses to communicate his word to a woman he does so.
Yahweh's Word Through Women Is Just As Valid As His Word Through Men
It should also be noted that even after Yahweh had heard Manoah's prayer, and sent his angel again the second time, the angel of Yahweh simply affirmed his message earlier given to the woman. In other words, Yahweh was here showing that his word given to a woman is just as valid as his word given to a man. And just as his word should be abided by when given through a man, so also should it be abided by when given through a woman. The word is Yahweh's, and not that of human beings, and should be abided by irrespective of the mouthpiece that Yahweh chooses to deliver his words to his people.
Was Manoah's Wife Spiritually Stronger Than Her Husband?
It also appears to me that between Manoah and his wife it is she who knew or understood Yahweh better. For when Manoah thought that both he and his wife would die on account of having seen the angel of Yahweh, she indeed maturely informed him that it wouldn't be so, based on the manner that Yahweh had dealt with them. She understood Yahweh's ways and so communicated what Yahweh had given her to understand.
Humble Yourself And Listen To Yahweh's Words Through His Women Servants
Learning from Manoah's wife women whom Yahweh has gifted with wisdom, knowledge and understanding should indeed share the same with Yahweh's people. And Yahweh's people should be humble enough to receive Yahweh's words from these women servants of his, and should not close their ears from receiving his words simply because they are uttered by women! Yahweh is no respecter of persons and his words are superior to human beings. Therefore when they come to his people via women his people should indeed humbly receive them and obtain the blessing from Yahweh on account of abiding by his words.
Dedicate Yourself To Yahweh And Your Superior As Ruth Did
Ruth 1:8-22 reads,
1:8
Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, Go, return each of you to her mother’s house: Yahweh deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead, and with me. 1:9Yahweh grant you that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voice, and wept. 1:10They said to her, No, but we will return with you to your people. 1:11Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 1:12Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should even have a husband tonight, and should also bear sons; 1:13would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore stay from having husbands? nay, my daughters, for it grieves me much for your sakes, for the hand of Yahweh is gone forth against me. 1:14They lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth joined with her. 1:15She said, Behold, your sister-in-law is gone back to her people, and to her god: return you after your sister-in-law. 1:16Ruth said, "Don’t entreat me to leave you, and to return from following after you, for where you go, I will go; and where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God; 1:17where you die, will I die, and there will I be buried: Yahweh do so to me, and more also, if anything but death part you and me." 1:18When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, she left off speaking to her. 1:19So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. It happened, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and the women said, Is this Naomi? 1:20She said to them, "Don’t call me Naomi, call me Mara; for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 1:21I went out full, and Yahweh has brought me home again empty; why do you call me Naomi, seeing Yahweh has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?" 1:22So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, who returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.The dedication of Ruth to both Yahweh and her mother-in-law is the dedication that women servants of Yahweh should have for both Yahweh and those Yahweh places them to serve under, such as their husbands! Total and complete dedication!
Hannah's Faithful Service To Yahweh
1 Samuel 1:1-2:10 reads,
1:1
Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of the hill-country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite: 1:2and he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. 1:3This man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice to Yahweh of Hosts in Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests to Yahweh, were there.1:4
When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions: 1:5but to Hannah he gave a double portion; for he loved Hannah, but Yahweh had shut up her womb. 1:6Her rival provoked her sore, to make her fret, because Yahweh had shut up her womb. 1:7as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of Yahweh, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat. 1:8Elkanah her husband said to her, Hannah, why weep you? And why don’t you eat? And why is your heart grieved? Am I not better to you than ten sons? 1:9So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat by the door-post of the temple of Yahweh.1:10
She was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to Yahweh, and wept sore. 1:11She vowed a vow, and said, Yahweh of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your handmaid, and remember me, and not forget your handmaid, but will give to your handmaid a man-child, then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come on his head. 1:12It happened, as she continued praying before Yahweh, that Eli marked her mouth. 1:13Now Hannah, she spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. 1:14Eli said to her, How long will you be drunken? Put away your wine from you. 1:15Hannah answered, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I poured out my soul before Yahweh. 1:16Don’t count your handmaid for a wicked woman; for out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation have I spoken hitherto. 1:17Then Eli answered, Go in peace; and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of him. 1:18She said, Let your handmaid find favor in your sight. So the woman went her way, and ate; and her facial expression wasn’t sad any more.1:19
They rose up in the morning early, and worshiped before Yahweh, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and Yahweh remembered her. 1:20It happened, when the time was come about, that Hannah conceived, and bore a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of Yahweh.1:21
The man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer to Yahweh the yearly sacrifice, and his vow. 1:22But Hannah didn’t go up; for she said to her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned; and then I will bring him, that he may appear before Yahweh, and there abide forever. 1:23Elkanah her husband said to her, Do what seems you good; wait until you have weaned him; only Yahweh establish his word. So the woman waited and nursed her son, until she weaned him.1:24
When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, and one ephah of meal, and a bottle of wine, and brought him to the house of Yahweh in Shiloh: and the child was young. 1:25They killed the bull, and brought the child to Eli. 1:26She said, Oh, my lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to Yahweh. 1:27For this child I prayed; and Yahweh has given me my petition which I asked of him: 1:28therefore also I have granted him to Yahweh; as long as he lives he is granted to Yahweh. He worshiped Yahweh there.2:1
Hannah prayed, and said:My heart exults in Yahweh;
My horn is exalted in Yahweh;
My mouth is enlarged over my enemies;
Because I rejoice in your salvation.
2:2
There is none holy as Yahweh;For there is none besides you,
Neither is there any rock like our God.
2:3
Talk no more so exceeding proudly;Don’t let arrogance come out of your mouth;
For Yahweh is a God of knowledge,
By him actions are weighed.
2:4
The bows of the mighty men are broken;Those who stumbled are girded with strength.
2:5
Those who were full have hired out themselves for bread;Those who were hungry have ceased to hunger:
Yes, the barren has borne seven;
She who has many children languishes.
2:6
Yahweh kills, and makes alive:He brings down to Sheol, and brings up.
2:7
Yahweh makes poor, and makes rich:He brings low, he also lifts up.
2:8
He raises up the poor out of the dust,He lifts up the needy from the dunghill,
To make them sit with princes,
Inherit the throne of glory:
For the pillars of the earth are Yahweh’s,
He has set the world on them.
2:9
He will keep the feet of his holy ones;But the wicked shall be put to silence in darkness;
For by strength shall no man prevail.
2:10
Those who strive with Yahweh shall be broken to pieces;Against them will he thunder in the sky:
Yahweh will judge the ends of the earth;
He will give strength to his king,
Exalt the horn of his anointed.
Faithful Hannah vowed a vow to Yahweh, and Yahweh granted her the petition she asked. Hannah honoured her vow to Yahweh, thereby showing her faithfulness to Yahweh. And when she did so Yahweh uttered a messianic prophecy through Hannah's mouth!
Women servants of Yahweh should follow Hannah example of faithful service to Yahweh. Whatever one undertakes to do before Yahweh one should indeed perform and do. And when one does so Yahweh indeed rewards one with his chosen blessings for one.
Yahweh Blesses His Faithful Servants
1 Samuel 2:20-21 reads,
2:20
Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, Yahweh give you seed of this woman for the petition which was asked of Yahweh. They went to their own home. 2:21Yahweh visited Hannah, and she conceived, and bore three sons and two daughters. The child Samuel grew before Yahweh.Learning from Yahweh's dealing with Hannah we note that Yahweh blesses those who are faithful with him. For he additionally blessed Hannah with more children on top of Samuel. In other words, once Yahweh starts providing blessings to his faithful servants he surely provides them.
Women Served At The Door Of The Tent Of Meeting Even In The Days Of Eli
1 Samuel 2:22-25 reads,
2:22
Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons did to all Israel, and how that they lay with the women who served at the door of the tent of meeting. 2:23He said to them, Why do you such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all this people. 2:24No, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: you make Yahweh’s people to disobey. 2:25If one man sin against another, God shall judge him; but if a man sin against Yahweh, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding, they didn’t listen to the voice of their father, because Yahweh was minded to kill them.2:22 shows that even as it was in the days of Moses so it continued in the days of Eli. Women continued serving at the door of the tent of meeting, serving together with the priests who also served at the door of the tent of meeting.
Servants Of Yahweh Should Live Righteously And Avoid Evil
Eli's words teach us an important principle in serving Yahweh among his people. Those Yahweh appoints over his people should live righteous lives and avoid evil. For the people among whom they minister follow their example. When they do good the people do good. When they do evil and people do evil. The people simply follow the example of their leaders.
Seeing that Yahweh's people are to live righteous lives, the leaders he appoints over his people must indeed live righteous lives, thereby acting as good examples for his people. But when the leaders do evil they sin against Yahweh. And those who sin against Yahweh have no one to entreat for them, but bear their own sin!
Women Servants Of Yahweh Should Faithfully Serve Him Even When Induced To Do Otherwise By Their Superiors
Yahweh's servants, including women servants of Yahweh, should therefore live righteous lives before Yahweh, even as Hannah did. They should avoid partaking of evil practices, even as those women serving at the door of the tent of meeting were induced into partaking of by their superiors in Yahweh's service, the sons of Eli. In other words, women servants of Yahweh serving under the authority of other servants of Yahweh should place obedience to Yahweh paramount above obedience to their superiors in Yahweh's service. This means that if and when their superiors in Yahweh's service attempt to induce them to forsake Yahweh's righteous way they must indeed refuse and remain steadfast to Yahweh's way.
The Widow In Zarephath Who Served Both Yahweh And Elijah
1 Kings 17:8-16 reads,
17:8
The word of Yahweh came to him, saying, 17:9Arise, get you to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow there to sustain you. 17:10So he arose and went to Zarephath; and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks: and he called to her, and said, Please get me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. 17:11As she was going to get it, he called to her, and said, Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand. 17:12She said, As Yahweh your God lives, I aren’t they a cake, but a handful of meal in the jar, and a little oil in the jar: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and bake it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. 17:13Elijah said to her, Don’t be afraid; go and do as you have said; but make me of it a little cake first, and bring it forth to me, and afterward make for you and for your son. 17:14For thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, The jar of meal shall not empty, neither shall the jar of oil fail, until the day that Yahweh sends rain on the earth. 17:15She went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, ate many days. 17:16The jar of meal didn’t empty, neither did the jar of oil fail, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spoke by Elijah.
The Widow In Zarephath Wasn't Consciously Aware Of Yahweh's Command To Her
It should be noted that the widow in Zarephath that Yahweh commanded to sustain Elijah did not consciously know that Yahweh had commanded her at the time Yahweh so spoke, and even at the time that she first met Elijah. Nevertheless, when Elijah delivered to her Yahweh's word to her she abided by it, as Yahweh had put it into her heart to abide by Yahweh's word to her.
Serve Yahweh In Whatever Capacity Yahweh Appoints For You
Women servants of Yahweh should serve Yahweh in whatever capacity Yahweh chooses them to serve in. In this widow's case it was to sustain Yahweh's servant Elijah, and in the process of so sustaining him she and her son were also sustained. In other words, our salvation lies in our serving Yahweh in whatever capacity Yahweh chooses for us, for as he saves those whom we are serving so also he saves us.
The Wealthy Shunammite Woman Who Served Elisha
2 Kings 4:8-17 reads,
4:8
It fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. So it was, that as often as he passed by, he turned in there to eat bread. 4:9She said to her husband, See now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God, that passes by us continually. 4:10Let us make, Please, a little chamber on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a seat, and a lamp stand: and it shall be, when he comes to us, that he shall turn in there. 4:11It fell on a day, that he came there, and he turned into the chamber and lay there. 4:12He said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. When he had called her, she stood before him. 4:13He said to him, Say now to her, Behold, you have been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for you? Would you be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? She answered, I dwell among my own people. 4:14He said, What then is to be done for her? Gehazi answered, Most assuredly she has no son, and her husband is old. 4:15He said, Call her. When he had called her, she stood in the door. 4:16He said, At this season, when the time comes round, you shall embrace a son. She said, No, my lord, you man of God, do not lie to your handmaid. 4:17The woman conceived, and bore a son at that season, when the time came round, as Elisha had said to her.
Show Hospitality To Yahweh's Servants
The Shunammite woman, the great or wealthy woman, was also very hospitable. When she perceived that Elisha was Yahweh's servant she persuaded her husband that they be even more hospitable that they had been previously. On account of her hospitality to Yahweh's servant Yahweh blessed her with a son, seeing that she was apparently barren.
Women servants of Yahweh should learn from this wealthy Shunammite woman. They should be hospitable at all times, especially to those they perceive to be Yahweh's servants. On account of such good deeds Yahweh will indeed reward them with a blessing that is appropriate to them.
Submit To, Honour And Respect Your Husband Even As You Serve Yahweh
It should be noted that the Shunammite woman was submissive to her husband. For when she needed her husband's consent before undertaking a matter she sought his consent, and did not act with a high hand, without due regard or respect for him. Women servants of Yahweh should likewise honour and respect their husbands, and undertake their good works in a manner harmonious with the words of their husbands.
Yahweh Takes Care Of His Servants
2 Kings 8:1-6 reads,
8:1
Now Elisha had spoken to the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go you and your household, and sojourn wherever you can sojourn: for Yahweh has called for a famine; and it shall also come on the land seven years. 8:2The woman arose, and did according to the word of the man of God; and she went with her household, and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years. 8:3It happened at the seven years’ end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines: and she went forth to cry to the king for her house and for her land. 8:4Now the king was talking with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, Please tell me all the great things that Elisha has done. 8:5It happened, as he was telling the king how he had restored to life him who was dead, that behold, the woman, whose son he had restored to life, cried to the king for her house and for her land. Gehazi said, My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life. 8:6When the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed to her a certain officer, saying, Restore all that was hers, and all the fruits of the field since the day that she left the land, even until now.Yahweh indeed takes care of his servants. For when the famine was about to befall the land, Yahweh spoke to her servant, the Shunammite woman, to depart out of Israel and sojourn in a land without famine. And when the famine was over Yahweh restored to the Shunammite her property. It is probable that at this time her husband was already dead, seeing she came back only with her son.
Yahweh Blesses His Women Servants In This Life On Account Of Their Faithful Service
Women servants of Yahweh should learn that there are indeed good fruits, even in this life, to be derived from serving Yahweh faithfully. For the Shunammite woman received blessings in this life on account of her serving Yahweh's servants. Women servants of Yahweh should likewise serve other servants of Yahweh in whatever manner they can. In due course Yahweh will reward them appropriately.
The Little Maid Who Waited On Naaman The Syrian's Wife
2 Kings 5 reads,
5:1
Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him Yahweh had given victory to Syria: he was also a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 5:2The Syrians had gone out in bands, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maiden; and she waited on Naaman’s wife. 5:3She said to her mistress, Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then would he recover him of his leprosy. 5:4One went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maiden who is of the land of Israel.5:5
The king of Syria said, Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel. He departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of clothing. 5:6He brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter is come to you, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may recover him of his leprosy. 5:7It happened, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he tore his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man does send to me to recover a man of his leprosy? But consider, I pray you, and see how he seeks a quarrel against me. 5:8It was so, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel. 5:9So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariots, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.5:10
Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall come again to you, and you shall be clean. 5:11But Naaman was angry, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of Yahweh his God, and wave his hand over the place, and recover the leper. 5:12Aren’t Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? May I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. 5:13His servants came near, and spoke to him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid you do some great thing, wouldn’t you have done it? How much rather then, when he says to you, Wash, and be clean? 5:14Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh came again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.5:15
He returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him; and he said, See now, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, please take a present from your servant. 5:16But he said, As Yahweh lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none. He urged him to take it; but he refused. 5:17Naaman said, If not, yet, please let there be given to your servant two mules’ burden of earth; for your servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice to other gods, but to Yahweh. 5:18In this thing Yahweh pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, Yahweh pardon your servant in this thing. 5:19He said to him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way.5:20
But Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: as Yahweh lives, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him. 5:21So Gehazi followed after Naaman. When Naaman saw one running after him, he alighted from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well? 5:22He said, All is well. My master has sent me, saying, Behold, even now there are come to me from the hill-country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets; please give them a talent of silver, and two changes of clothing. 5:23Naaman said, Be pleased to take two talents. He urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants; and they bore them before him. 5:24When he came to the hill, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house; and he let the men go, and they departed.5:25
But he went in, and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, Whence come you, Gehazi? He said, Your servant went no where. 5:26He said to him, Didn’t my heart go with you, when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and olive groves and vineyards, and sheep and oxen, and men-servants and maid-servants? 5:27The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave to you, and to your seed forever. He went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.
Don't Be Shy About Opening Your Mouth For Yahweh's Glorification
It should be noted that good came out of the captivity of the little Israelite maid captured by the Syrians. For she declared the existence of Yahweh's servant in Israel, and on account of this Yahweh's name was glorified among the Syrians, in that Yahweh healed her master, a great and honourable Syrian. Women servants of Yahweh should therefore not be shy about opening their mouths in Yahweh's glorification. For just as Yahweh uses his male servants so also he used his female servants.
Don't Be Covetous, Seeking To Exploit Yahweh's Gift To You To Enrich Yourself
It is also important to learn the lesson of Gehazi. Gehazi was covetous, yet Yahweh's gifts are not traded for money or other property. He therefore sought to profit from Yahweh's gift, even Yahweh's gift through his master Elisha. As a result of this covetous heart, and channelling it to exploit Yahweh's gift, Yahweh punished him with Naaman's leprosy. In other words, servants of Yahweh who seek to exploit Yahweh's gifts to make money for themselves, because their hearts are covetous, will indeed be punished. For Yahweh punishes such.
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