Naaman was a respected soldier in the Syrian army. He won many battles and was well-regarded, despite having a skin disease in their day identified as leprosy. The Syrians often raided the Israelis, and during one raid, they captured a young girl who became a servant to Naaman’s wife.
If you read through the Kings, you’ll notice it’s about kings, as the title suggests. But there are many stories about servants who gave great advice to leaders. One such servant was the young woman who worked for Naaman’s wife.
She said to her mistress, “If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his skin disease” (2 Kings 5:3).
Naaman was an important soldier in the Syrian king’s army. When he asked to go to Israel to meet Elisha, the king not only agreed but also sent him with many gifts to please the prophet.
The king of Israel didn’t trust the Syrians. When Naaman first came to him, he thought it was a trick or a false-flag operation to start another war between the Syrians and the Israelis.
When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to give death or life, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his skin disease? Just look and see how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me” (2 Kings 5:7).
God gave Elisha insight into the situation. He was determined to show this general from the Syrian army that there was not only a prophet but also a true God in Israel.
But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me, that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel” (2 Kings 5:8).
Naaman’s Pride Brought Low
Later in Naaman’s story, we see his transformation from a proud, successful general to a humble servant of the Lord. But first, we meet his pride.
So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and halted at the entrance of Elisha’s house.
Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean” (2 Kings 5:9-10).
Naaman had every reason to be proud. As a mighty military man, he stayed in his chariot while a servant went to Elisha’s door to explain what was needed. Elisha responded by saying that to be healed, Naaman should dip himself seven times in the Jordan River.
In today’s YouTube video, Rudy Ross explains the procedure for being cleansed from leprosy. What Elisha was telling him to do was in keeping with the cleansing ritual in the temple.
The general was offended. He had some strong words about the prophet’s suggestion until another servant approached. Notice how God uses servants to guide the powerful and successful toward the right and wise actions.
But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, “I thought that for me he would surely come out and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God and would wave his hand over the spot and cure the skin disease!
Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” He turned and went away in a rage.
But his servants approached and said to him, “Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” (2 Kings 5:11-13).
Naaman finally followed Elijah’s advice and went to the Jordan River. He dipped himself seven times. When he came out of the water, the Bible says his skin was restored like that of a young boy, and he was clean.
Reflections
I take away two thoughts from the story of Naaman and Elisha.
(1) Naaman discovered that there is a true and real God. He had served a false god all his life, but God graciously revealed Himself to Naaman, allowing him to know the one true God.
(2) This story highlights the value of servants. Most of us aren’t generals; we’re servants. Yet, servants play an important role in God’s work.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 