Naaman
The Story of Naaman the leper is so compelling. His story takes place at a time when God’s people were in a civil war. Naaman is the captain of the Syrian army. He “was a great man with his master and highly respected, because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. Naaman was also a valiant warrior” (2 Kings 5:1a). A five-star, rough-and-ready general, Naaman commanded not only the Syrian army but also had the respect of the king and country. However, there was one thing he could not command – his health. He was a leper.
After facing defeating countless enemies, Naaman is now crossing swords with his most formidable foe – the devastating and incurable disease of leprosy. He is losing. However, by God’s providence, a young girl has stepped into his life and is about to send him a message of hope.
Naaman could have never imagined hope for a new life. Much less, that such hope would come from a young Jewish girl. She knew the Lord’s prophet, Elisha, and she confidently recommends him to Naaman’s wife to help. Naaman’s wife then quickly passes the information to her husband.
Now, Naaman has tried everything and has been unsuccessful in treating his leprosy. So, upon hearing the young girl’s words, he immediately tells the king. The king sends his commander to Samaria. However, before Naaman leaves, he weighs down his chariot with ten talents of silver (equal to $315,495.00 today), 6,000 shekels of gold (5 million dollars today) and 10 fine new suits to pay the man who heals him. His actions reveal his faulty reasoning, “I’ll buy my cleansing.”
Eventually he comes before Elisha, and Elisha tells him to go wash in the Jordan river seven times. Naaman is furious because his expectations are dashed, once again revealing a flaw in Naaman. “But this is not what I had in mind.” His prejudice is strong, and his pride is winning. So, rather than accepting what God’s prophet said to be cleansed, he turns on his heels and stomps away.
As he does so, he feels a tug on his sleeves; it was his servant who gently confronted him. “Had God told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it?” The servant’s good sense appeals to Naaman, who recognizes his prideful attitude and turns his rage into repentance as he heads towards the muddy Jordan river. Once he arrives, he dips seven times, and he’s cleansed of his leprosy.
Even though Naaman did not understand, even though he did not have all the pieces to the puzzle, he still obeyed the prophet. From this there are four simple lessons:
First, we must accept the fact that we are diseased in order to seek out cleansing. Naaman’s disease was obvious for all to see. Our disease of sin is under the surface. So, the first step is to take off the mask and admit our sin.
Second, once we hear the truth then we discover the way to be cleansed. God uses the most unlikely messengers. In Naaman’s case, simple servants.
Third, once we come to the end of ourselves, are we ready to go God’s way? There is only one way to God – His way, not mine or yours.
Fourth, we must do as God requires for our cleansing to take place. His way may not make sense to us, because we don’t understand His way. But if we want to know God, know peace, and know forgiveness, then we have to obey His way – nothing more, nothing less, nothing else.
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