A Commander with Leprosy
The book of 2 Kings continues the historical narrative of Israel and Judah, chronicling the reigns of various kings and the ministries of prophets like Elisha. Amid these national accounts, chapter 5 presents a remarkably personal story that crosses national boundaries and social divides.
It concerns Naaman, the commander of the army of Aram (Syria), a powerful nation that was often in conflict with Israel.
Naaman enjoyed high status, wealth, and military success, but he suffered from leprosy, a skin disease that carried not only physical discomfort but also significant social stigma. The biblical account introduces him with a striking contrast:
2 Kings 5:1 (NIV):
"Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy."
Naaman's connection to Israel came through an unlikely source—a young Israelite girl who had been captured during a raid and now served as a servant to Naaman's wife. Despite her captivity, this unnamed girl showed remarkable faith and compassion:
2 Kings 5:2-3 (NIV):
"Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman's wife. She said to her mistress, 'If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.'"
This simple testimony from a slave girl set in motion a chain of events that would lead to Naaman's healing. Her witness speaks to the powerful impact that even the most seemingly powerless individuals can have when they share their faith.
The Journey to Healing
Naaman took the girl's suggestion seriously. The king of Aram wrote a letter to the king of Israel and sent Naaman with lavish gifts—ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of clothing.
However, the initial interaction nearly ended in disaster. The king of Israel interpreted the letter as an impossible demand that would provide a pretext for war:
2 Kings 5:7 (NIV):
"As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, 'Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!'"
When Elisha heard about the king's distress, he sent a message: "Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel" (2 Kings 5:8). Naaman arrived at Elisha's house with his horses and chariots, expecting a certain protocol befitting his status.
But Elisha didn't even come out to meet him personally. Instead, he sent a messenger with simple instructions:
2 Kings 5:10 (NIV):
"Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed."
This approach to healing didn't match Naaman's expectations. He had anticipated a dramatic encounter with the prophet, perhaps involving invocations or elaborate gestures.
Furthermore, the Jordan River was muddy and unimpressive compared to the rivers of Damascus. Naaman's pride was wounded, and he reacted with anger:
2 Kings 5:11-12 (NIV):
"But Naaman went away angry and said, 'I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy.
Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?' So he turned and went off in a rage."
Naaman's servants, however, offered a perspective that challenged his pride and helped him reconsider:
2 Kings 5:13 (NIV):
"Naaman's servants went to him and said, 'My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, "Wash and be cleansed"!'"
This humble counsel helped Naaman set aside his injured pride. He followed Elisha's instructions, dipping seven times in the Jordan River, and experienced complete healing:
2 Kings 5:14 (NIV):
"So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy."
The transformation went beyond physical healing. Naaman returned to Elisha, acknowledging the God of Israel as the only true God:
2 Kings 5:15 (NIV):
"Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, 'Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.'"
Lesson:
Naaman's story teaches us that pride can be a significant barrier to receiving God's grace. Initially, Naaman's expectations and sense of dignity prevented him from accepting the simple means of healing that God offered through Elisha.
Similarly, our own pride—whether in our status, intelligence, or self-sufficiency—can block us from receiving what God wants to give us.
This narrative also highlights the truth that God's ways often contradict human expectations. Elisha's instructions seemed too simple and undignified to Naaman.
God frequently works through means that appear foolish or inadequate by human standards, challenging our preconceptions about how He should operate. As Paul would later write, "God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise" (1 Corinthians 1:27).
Furthermore, Naaman's experience demonstrates how healing often requires obedience and humility. The Jordan River had no magical properties, but God had attached His promise of healing to this specific act of obedience.
Naaman's decision to humble himself and follow instructions precisely was necessary for his transformation. Our own healing—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual—frequently requires similar humility and obedience to God's Word.
Finally, this story reveals the unexpected channels through which God often works. A captive servant girl, servants who offered wise counsel, and a prophet who refused to perform as expected—all played crucial roles in Naaman's healing journey.
God regularly uses unlikely people and unconventional methods to accomplish His purposes, reminding us to stay open to His work through unexpected sources.
Prayer:
Gracious God, like Naaman, we often approach You with preconceived notions of how You should work in our lives. Forgive us for the pride that makes us resistant to Your simple but profound ways.
Help us to recognize and set aside our status, our expectations, and our dignity when these things become barriers to receiving Your grace. Thank You for the "servant girls" in our lives—those humble voices that point us toward truth and healing.
Give us the wisdom to listen to good counsel, even when it challenges our preferred way of thinking. When Your instructions seem too simple or don't match our expectations, grant us the humility to obey anyway.
We acknowledge that true healing—whether of body, mind, or spirit—comes only from You, and we surrender ourselves to Your methods and timing. May our lives, like Naaman's, be testimonies to Your power working through our humility and obedience.
In Your holy name we pray, Amen.