*2 Kings 5:1-27
A young Israelite servant girl helps cure Naaman, a Syrian commander, of leprosy by recommending the prophet Elisha, who instructs him to bathe seven times in the Jordan River.
- Naaman’s Affliction:
- Naaman, a commander of the army of the king of Aram (Syria), is highly esteemed and victorious in battle, but he suffers from leprosy, a debilitating skin disease.
- A young Israelite girl who had been captured and taken to Aram as a servant girl informs Naaman’s wife about the prophet Elisha in Samaria, suggesting that he could heal Naaman of his leprosy.
- Naaman’s Journey to Samaria:
- Naaman seeks permission from his king to visit Samaria and seek healing from Elisha, taking with him a letter of introduction and gifts of silver, gold, and clothing.
- Naaman arrives at Elisha’s house with his horses and chariots, expecting a grand reception and a miraculous cure for his leprosy.
- Elisha’s Unconventional Instructions:
- Instead of greeting Naaman in person, Elisha sends a messenger to instruct Naaman to go and wash himself seven times in the Jordan River to be cleansed of his leprosy.
- Naaman is initially outraged by Elisha’s simple instructions, expecting a more dramatic and elaborate healing process befitting his status and importance.
- Naaman’s Reluctant Obedience:
- Naaman’s servants persuade him to obey Elisha’s instructions, reasoning that if Elisha had commanded him to do something difficult, he would have done it without hesitation.
- Naaman reluctantly agrees to go and immerse himself in the Jordan River, despite his doubts and reservations.
- Naaman’s Healing:
- Naaman follows Elisha’s instructions and washes himself seven times in the Jordan River, and miraculously, his flesh is restored, and he is cleansed of his leprosy.
- Naaman’s skin becomes as healthy as that of a young boy, and he is overjoyed and filled with gratitude for his miraculous healing.
- Naaman’s Confession of Faith:
- Naaman returns to Elisha’s house and acknowledges the God of Israel as the one true God, declaring that he will worship Him alone from that day forward.
- Naaman offers Elisha a gift of gratitude, but Elisha refuses to accept any payment, insisting that the healing was a gift from God and not from him.
- Gehazi’s Greed and Consequence:
- Elisha’s servant Gehazi, seeing the opportunity for personal gain, secretly follows Naaman and deceives him into accepting gifts of silver and clothing.
- When Gehazi returns to Elisha’s house, Elisha rebukes him for his greed and dishonesty, prophesying that Naaman’s leprosy will now afflict Gehazi and his descendants forever.
- Gehazi’s Punishment:
- Gehazi is immediately struck with leprosy, and his skin becomes white as snow, serving as a permanent reminder of his sin and greed.
In 2 Kings 5:1-27, Naaman, a powerful commander, is healed of leprosy when he humbly follows Elisha’s simple instructions to wash in the Jordan River. This story teaches us the importance of humility and obedience. Sometimes, God’s answers to our problems may seem too simple or unexpected, but we must trust Him. It also warns against greed, as Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, faces serious consequences for lying and taking money selfishly. In our lives, we should trust God’s ways, even when they don’t make sense to us, and always act with honesty and integrity.
2 Kings 5:1-27 (WEB)
5:1 Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria; he was also a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2 The Syrians had gone out in bands, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little girl, and she waited on Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “I wish that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would heal him of his leprosy.”4 Someone went in and told his lord, saying, “The girl who is from the land of Israel said this.”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, six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of clothing. 6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, “Now when this letter has come to you, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy.”7 When the king of Israel had read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends to me to heal a man of his leprosy? But please consider and see how he seeks a quarrel against me.”8 It 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.”9 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariots, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. 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.”11 But 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 the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leper.’ 12 Aren’t Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.13 His servants came near and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the prophet had asked you do some great thing, wouldn’t you have done it? How much rather then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”14 Then went he down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 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 gift from your servant.”16 But he said, “As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.”He urged him to take it; but he refused. 17 Naaman said, “If not, then, please let two mules’ load of earth be given to your servant; for your servant will from now on offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice to other gods, but to the LORD. 18 In this thing may the LORD 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, may the LORD pardon your servant in this thing.”19 He said to him, “Go in peace.”So he departed from him a little way. 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 the LORD lives, I will run after him, and take something from him.”21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. When Naaman saw one running after him, he came down from the chariot to meet him, and said, “Is all well?”22 He said, “All is well. My master has sent me, saying, ‘Behold, even now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.’ ”23 Naaman 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 carried them before him. 24 When he came to the hill, he took them from their hand, and stored them in the house. Then he let the men go, and they departed. 25 But he went in, and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, “Where did you come from, Gehazi?”He said, “Your servant went nowhere.”26 He 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 cattle, and male servants and female servants? 27 Therefore the leprosy of Naaman will cling to you and to your offspring forever.”He went out from his presence a leper, as white as snow.