II Kings 5:1-6, 9-15a

The narrative before us took place more than 100 years following David’s reign over Israel. It was a time in which the Syrians had achieved numerous military victories and were imposing their will upon the northern kingdom of Israel.

In verse 1, we are introduced to Naaman. He was the commander of the Syrian military. He was the top dog. He was the reason that Syria had become a military power.

“. . . but he was a leper.” He had an incurable disease. His flesh was slowly rotting away. As a man of position and power, he would have enjoyed access to the best medical care that was available in that day. The best, however, was not good enough. His condition was deteriorating day by day.

Naaman knew of no one who could help him. There was a young servant girl in Naaman’s household, however, who did know someone who could make him whole. The maid spoke to Naaman’s wife, saying, “Would my God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.”

It was the desire of the maiden’s heart that no one should suffer. It mattered not that she had been uprooted from her home in Samaria and now served the wife of the very individual responsible for her servitude. She desired Naaman would be cured of leprosy. New Testament believers look upon the servant girl and view her words to represent obedience to a future command which would be issued by the Lord Jesus Christ in the Sermon Upon the Mount. The Lord instructed us to love our enemies (Matt. 5:44). That which would follow for Naaman transpired because the maid was faithful to the future command to love one’s enemies — the command of the Messiah who came from the Father to fulfill the law for all who would believe. Jesus came and satisfied the righteousness which God requires, a righteousness which the scribes and the Pharisees could not attain (Matt. 5:20).

Because of the servant girl’s words, Naaman told the king of Syria that a prophet dwelt in Israel who could cure him. The king wrote a letter to the king of Israel stating that he (the king of Syria) had sent Naaman to him (the king of Israel) so that he would cause his leprosy to be cured (v. 6). The king of Israel responded to the letter by renting his clothes — a public expression of sorrow and desperation. The king of Israel knew he had been called upon to do the impossible. The king’s action was cause for Elisha to bid him to send Naaman to him.

Naaman arrived at Elisha’s home expecting the prophet to come before him and to call upon the God whom he served and then wave his hand over him after which he would be healed (see v. 11). None of that which Naaman envisioned occurred. Elisha did not so much as look upon him. He sent his servant to Naaman with the instruction to go to the Jordan and wash seven times.

Naaman was incensed by the manner in which Elisha responded to his need. Elisha had responded to Naaman’s need in the precise manner in which the Lord God of Israel had directed but Naaman thought Elisha was making sport of him. Naaman reasoned that the waters of the rivers of Damascus were better suited for washing than those of the Jordan and he departed in a rage (v. 12).

His rage was erased after listening to the words of his servants. Naaman realized that he would have been willing to do a great deed such that his leprosy might be healed but that he was unwilling to do a small thing. Naaman, then, did the small thing. He dipped himself in the Jordan seven times as he had been directed and he was healed. He was healed because he listened to the words of lowly servants, first his wife’s servant girl and then his own servants. The ways of God are not subject to the reasonings of men.

Naaman’s healing is but a partial view of that which the Lord has put before us. Following his being made whole, Naaman returned to Elisha and declared, “Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel” (v. 15). Naaman did more than credit the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for his being cured of leprosy. He proclaimed God to be the one and only God, the great I AM who spoke to Moses from the burning bush and the God who promised to bless all families of the earth through Abraham.

Naaman desired to give a gift to Elisha. Naaman had come prepared to reward the prophet with ten talents of silver, six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment (v. 5). Naaman offered but Elisha refused. Again, Elisha responded in the precise manner in which the Lord had directed him.

This picture did not just happen; it was created by God. The Comforter, the Holy Spirit, speaks to New Testament believers through this series of events. We, correctly, see Naaman as the undeserving recipient of God’s mercy. We also see Naaman’s gifts as insufficient. Naaman believed — he possessed the faith to do what God said to do. God counted Naaman’s belief to be sufficient.

New Testament believers boldly claim a righteousness which is totally undeserved. We are healed of all sin because the Comforter teaches us that God has counted our belief for righteousness. We are made whole by the faith of Abraham (Gen. 15:6). We know that all who do the small thing shall not perish, but have everlasting life.