Naaman the Leper

In 2 Kings 5, there is a story about a Syrian named Naaman, who also happened to have leprosy.  Apparently, leper or not, he was an important man in the kingdom of Syria, and a very kind man.  I say this because he had a Hebrew slave girl in his household who lamented that they were not in Israel, that the prophet could recover Naaman from his leprosy, and Naaman went to the king to ask leave to go see the prophet. 

A few things strike me here:  First off, the slave girl could have kept her mouth shut, or offered a solution in return for her own freedom.  She chose to do the right thing, though, and advise her master that a healing could be had.  Second, he believed her.  What kind of testimony had she established in his house, that she could say something like that and be believed?  I can’t believe that, with leprosy being what it was in those days, Naaman hadn’t already tried every treatment available, and yet, this girl says that there is a man in her native country that can heal him.  Doesn’t that just sound national pride?  Third, the scriptures don’t tell us who the girl was.

So, the king encourages Naaman to go; and Naaman loads up with all kinds of silver, gold, and garments for the prophet, in hopes that he can, in fact, recover Naaman from his leprosy.  So Naaman goes directly to the king of Israel, seeking his healing.  The king becomes distraught; in his mind, this is nothing but a provocation.  The king of Syria has sent this leper to Israel for a healing, not because he believes that it will happen, but so that, when it doesn’t happen, he has an excuse to wage war with Israel. 

Well, the prophet, Elisha, became aware of what was happening, and sent a message to the king that if he sent Naaman to Elisha, then Naaman and the king of Syria would know that there was a God in Israel.  The king, anxious to get rid of Naaman without starting a war, complied.

So Naaman goes to Elisha.  Perhaps at this point he’s feeling a little jerked around.  The girl certainly didn’t make it sound like it was going to be this complicated.  Elisha doesn’t even talk to Naaman directly, but Naaman was probably used to that, being a leper.  Elisha tells him to go wash in the River Jordan seven times, and he will be healed of his leprosy.

Naaman decides he has had enough.  There are rivers in Syria, much better rivers than the Jordan, in fact, why in the world do I have to come all this way, and you end up telling me to do something stupid like take a bath…  But Naaman’s servants manage to get his ear, and to calm him down a little bit, and remind him that, if the prophet has asked him to perform some heroic deed, or perform some great sacrifice, then he would have done it.  Are you angry because this seems too simple?

Naaman stops, and he thinks.  The servants are, of course, entirely correct.  Naaman was prepared to turn over a considerable worth of merchandise, in fact, he would have done almost anything imaginable if it meant that he could be made clean, so why not dip himself in the River Jordan?  If it doesn’t work, then he’s got a reason to be angry, but if he doesn’t try, after coming all this way, then he will never know.

So, he dips himself seven times into the River Jordan, and after that, his flesh is returned to him, completely whole and free from leprosy.  Naaman went back to Elisha, and thanked him, and tried to give the man of God those things that he had brought, but Elisha wouldn’t have any of it.  We know that you can’t buy a gift of God, but Naaman could be forgiven for not knowing. 

My main point is this:  Naaman believed, before he left Syria, or he wouldn’t have come.  He tried to buy his healing, but God wasn’t interested in his money, only his obedience.  The water of the River Jordan didn’t heal him; taking a bath does not cure leprosy.  What healed Naaman was his faith in operation.  Now, you may tell me that Naaman was in the Old Testament, things are different now, and you’d be right.  We’re not under the law, we’re under grace.  At the same time, God hasn’t changed, only His covenant with us has.  Also, Apostle Paul told us that the law was a schoolmaster that helped to bring us unto Christ.  James has taught us that, although it is our faith that saves us, that faith is dead if it is not accompanied by works.  The story of Naaman wasn’t included in the Bible to show us how different things were then, it was to give us an example of faith in operation because God knew then that we would still need that principle today.