Between daniel & gehazi: a ‘greek gift’ : a choice!

“…Daniel answered, and said before the king, let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king , and make known to him the interpretation.” (Dan.5:17). “Is it time to receive money and to receive clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants?” (2 Kgs.5:26b).

INTRODUCTION / DEFINITION OF TERMS:

A “Greek Gift” is an idiomatic expression for a seemingly beneficial or generous offering that actually conceals a hidden trap, malicious intent, or comes with ulterior motives intended to cause harm. The ultimate purpose is largely treacherous. The phrase stems from the ancient mythological story of the Trojan Horse, where the Greeks gave a massive wooden horse to the Trojans as a “gift,” which secretly concealed enemy soldiers. [Source: Google.com]. In our contemporary times, the phrase has commonly been used, in a metaphorical sense, in politics, business, or other interpersonal relationships to describe situations where a benefit comes with hidden costs, ulterior motives, or a destructive outcome.

In our world, the idea of gift offerings and acceptance is not uncommon. Gifts are officially offered and accepted as a means of sincere and genuine compensation for extraordinary performance within a group of selected people, in Organizations, Corporations, and even up to the national level. It could be for achieving a particular feat in the Academia, Sports, Innovations, Technology, Research and Development. Gifts could come in a form of a reward for long service in the place of work. At times, it could be offered as a form of faithfulness, loyalty, and truthfulness, or wrapped in a form of meritorious award.

However, at the point where gifts or are offered or given by subtle coercion, the genuineness of such gift becomes shady and questionable! It has translated to “buy over” mode. At this point, it has been embellished to persuade the receivers against their wish, to support you or change their allegiance. At that level, it has become a bribe. In effect, the genuine motive of a gift could be watered down.

DANIEL & GEHAZI – A CONTRAST:

By a way of brief introduction, Daniel amongst other Jews, found himself in Babylon after king Nebuchadnezzar II, invaded Jerusalem, and took them as captives to Babylon, in 605 BCE. Within the framework of his (king Nebuchadnezzar’s), policy of assimilation, he outlined certain criteria for Daniel and his three colleagues to be fully absorbed into the Babylonian cultures and orientation. Nebuchadnezzar’s scope of absorption required the young boys be without blemish. In addition, they must be good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possess knowledge, and quick to understand. Above all, they must be teachable in the language and literature of the Chaldeans. Relevantly, language is a strong weapon in ensuring a smooth integration into a nation, other than our nation of birth. In all these, Daniel was resolute against all the king’s methodologies to buying him over to the polluted culture of Babylon. He boldly made up his mind not to be corrupted in anyway, “but Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” (Dan.1:8).

In his own case, Gehazi was a protege of prophet Elisha who succeeded the fiery fire-calling prophet Elijah. Elisha had inherited not only the mantle of Elijah, he also inherited the double portion of his master’s spirit. With relative ease of the inherited spirit, Elisha performed twice as many miracles as Elijah did. In a similar order, Gehazi was to understudy Elisha, work with him, represent him at functions, be his mouthpiece at prophetic meetings and gatherings, and probably succeed his master, on the long run. Progressively in that order, Gehazi was to be the anointed of God after Elisha, except that Gehazi had a shortcoming of greed, “My master has sent me saying…just now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the mountains of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of garments.” (2 Kgs. 5:22). He could not put his eyes off material things, especially in a season that was not appropriate- a vice that eventually would mark the beginning of the end of his ministry, and herald the doomsday for his oncoming generations!

THE CHOICES WE MAKE IN LIFE:

Life is full of choices, and the choices we make today are a determinant of where and how far we go, and ultimately end in life. Between Daniel and Gehazi, both were at situations they had choices to make, as far as receiving gift was concerned. Daniel, beyond his determined resolution to dissociate himself from all the passing pleasures in Babylon, remarkably stood against uncomplimentary gratification from the royalty. As a man in whom an “excellent spirit” was seated, Daniel became a cynosure of all eyes in Babylon, up to the palace. He held the entire Babylon nation spell-bound by his stern and firm conviction in His God, at different times through the reign of four kings in succession. He had whatever it took, like Joseph, to proffer a divine and lasting solution to matters that Babylonian royalty and her magicians and astrologers could not unravel. He was gifted in the areas of supernatural ability to understand and interpret dreams and visions. Yet, he could not be enticed with any “Greek Gift.” That was the next avoidable trap king Nebuchadnezzar set for Daniel, the moment he was invited to solve a seemingly troubling dream!

On his assumption that Daniel would gravitate towards a tangible compensation, should he successfully interpret the worrisome dream, the king, ahead of time, offered him some juicy and tempting offers, up to a part in rulership in the kingdom “…now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation , you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.” (Dan.5:16). Daniel did not think twice before declining the gravitation, which obviously might come at a price inhibiting the grace of God on his life, if he fell for the bait. With his signature boldness, he replied the king, “let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the handwriting to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.” (Dan.5:17). What a way to stand tall as a vessel of God against the most enticing, threatening, and implicating environment!

For Gehazi, he undermined the grace of God on the prophet he was serving. He took with levity, every word of God that came out of the mouth of prophet Elisha. He refused to read in between the lines for the number of years he worked and walked with the prophetic. He got too familiar with Elisha, and took spiritual things and implications for granted. Getting too familiar with your God-sent man of God is a spiritual risk! He overlooked how God’s invisible eyes could trail him, even in the darkest of all nights. While Daniel rejected a “royal gift “, willy-nilly, placing the honor of God in him above all human commendations, Gehazi, broke the pattern of great and impactful prophetic succession. He ran after a token of gift, packaged his lines with obvious lies, that his master, after a second thought, demanded for the initially rejected gift! His destruction was on a fast pedestal. For just two talents, Gehazi watered down and forfeited the immense spiritual reward ahead of him, and put his lineage in eternal jeopardy. “…So Namaan said, please, take two talents.” (2 Kgs. 5:23). Prophet Elisha was not going to have it with Gehazi, even though he had no precedent(s) of such infringement . It was a summary judgment on him and his household, “…is it time to receive money and to receive clothing?…therefore the leprosy of Namaan shall cling to you and your descendants forever.” And he went out from his presence leprous, as white as snow.” (2 Kgs.5:26-27). Beloved, it could be the first time, and yet be the disastrous last time. A “Greek Gift” stands the chance of attracting unavoidable consequences!

SIDEBAR:

• However, at the point where gifts or are offered or given by subtle coercion, the genuineness of such gift becomes shady and questionable!
• Within the framework of his (king Nebuchadnezzar’s), policy of assimilation, he outlined certain criteria for Daniel and his three colleagues be fully absorbed into the Babylonian cultures.
• Progressively, Gehazi was to be the anointed of God after Elisha, except that Gehazi had a shortcoming of greed.
• Life is full of choices, and the choices we make today are a determinant of where and how far we go, and ultimately end in life.
• Daniel, beyond his determined resolution to dissociate himself from all the passing pleasures in Babylon, remarkably stood against uncomplimentary gratification from the royalty.

PRAYERS:

• LORD, I pray for all Your called ones NOT to be trapped in the web of corrupt and destructive gifts.
• LORD, I covet the grace of the Spirit of discernment to know when and what types of gifts to receive.
• LORD, I pray that whatever gifts that will remove Your grace from my life shall NOT come my way.
• LORD, I pray for the grace, like Daniel, to stand against all forms of enticements that will silence my voice in a corrupt system. Amen!

• PRAYER OF SALVATION:

Peradventure you want to accept the LORD as your Savior, you may please pray thus: LORD JESUS, I confess, repent, and forsake my sinful ways. I surrender my life to You. From today, I accept You as my LORD and Savior. Amen!

DEDICATION:

I dedicate this particular piece to the memory of late Chief Bola Ige (September 13th 1930-December 23rd, 2001). A brilliant Nigerian Lawyer, formidable politician and one time Minister Of Justice and Attorney – General , Federal Republic of Nigeria. As a young and vibrant student passionate about becoming one of Nigeria’s young and brilliant Lawyers , in my youthful years, I looked up to successful Lawyers, back then, including chief Bola Ige, as one of my “remote” and “distant” mentors. Interestingly, it was while reading one of his works in those years, that I picked the phrase “Greek Gift.” Since then, the phrase had stayed with me… over three decades now. It was out of curiosity, in recent years, that I delved into having the full grasp of the phrase. Consequently, I made Google my recourse for a better understanding of the phrase. There and then, I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to elaborately weave it into this submission. May the soul of the impeccable orator, the “Cicero” of Esa-Oke, and my other departed mentors continue to rest in peace. Amen !

• CONCLUSION:

Daniel was bold and fearless to tell the king his gift was not a consideration to interpreting the dream and giving him the hidden message from God. Often times, our authorities presume that with a token of ridiculous gifts, they can buy the hearts of men of God and vociferous few in the populace. While it is NOT impossible for “some” to fall for these baits, the case with Daniel is quite exceptional! Daniel was outstanding throughout all his days, even in hostile exile.

Relatively with Gehazi, whose eye for greed made him miscalculated the timing of gift receiving, became a shadow of himself in ministry. This singular act put paid to his ministry. Instead of a lifetime divine reward, he got an eternal and divine reprimand. A man who was supposed to succeed a great man of God in anointing eventually inherited leprosy bringing even his unborn generation in the unenviable loop.

Beloved, not all gifts have genuine motives. Some are orchestrated to “buy out” the grace of God, upon men of God, while some powers that be, and rulers subtly offer gift to silence them. There are series of plausible instances of the offers of “Greek Gift” in the scriptures. We leave that for another day. In the meantime, the salient admonition here is “watch that gift!”

Being the 59th edition of our Monthly Bulletin From The Desk Of:

Olusegun A Emosu (The Blessed, The Chosen, & The Favored).

B. A (Hons), M.A. (Ilorin), MBA (Arizona).

The Redeemed Christian Church Of God, Rehoboth Parish,

2244, Panola Rd. Suite 2, (3 D Complex),

Lithonia GA 30058

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