The healing of Naaman

The healing of Naaman

SIB, Gregory Dennyschen

In the days of the prophet Elisha, Aram or Syria was a regional power and had a very formidable influence in the area. And Aram gave Israel a hard time, invading and plundering her crops. The commander of the army of Aram would thus be a very distinguished person, a man of power and influence and position. Naaman, as a valiant soldier, had went through the ranks to earn his position,  receiving the highest rank in the whole community. He would have been sophisticated and cultured, and of high standing due to his military achievements. He would be likened to a 5-star general in today’s world.

And Naaman was also a man of integrity, highly regarded by the King and by the people. He would not have got to his position by treachery and corruption but on merit. It is amazing that the Scripture records that the Lord gave victory to Aram through him, though he had not yet known God. Even from birth, God had earmarked Naaman and enabled him to be successful until the time when he would come to know God. Some of us may not know God, but more importantly, He knows us, and at any time He may choose to lift us up and reveal His greatness to us, such is His mercy and power.

However, despite his greatness and fame, Naaman had a terrible problem. He was stricken with leprosy, a most terrible skin disease that would have sapped all his joy and sense of achievement that he may have had. His leprosy was like a dark shadow that hovered over Naaman constantly and he would have done anything, given anything to be cured of that terrible disease.

And then there was the young girl from Israel, whose name is not even recorded in the story. Taken forcibly from her home by vicious Aramean bands, she could have allowed depression and bitterness and anger consume her. However, even in her sad circumstance, she desired for the good of her master. The fact that Naaman’s wife listened to her showed that she had served her mistress well and there was a good relationship between them. The fact that Naaman also listened showed that he too respected her words. It was no small thing to approach the Aramean king and request to go to Israel to find a cure. There is a great lesson for us to be like that young captive girl, to serve faithfully wherever we are, regardless of our circumstance, having a positive attitude, and desiring for the good of others. She bloomed in her environment and became a light, a witness for God.

The King of Aram was pleased to send Naaman to Israel and even wrote a letter for him to the King of Israel. The faithless king tore his robes upon receiving the letter, convinced it was a ruse to start a war with Israel. Then Elisha sent a message asking the king to send Naaman to him. The lesson for us here is not to despair and rage in our time of trouble but instead to seek God’s help.

So Naaman went to see the prophet Elisha bringing his gifts, but he was rudely shocked when Elisha did not even come out to meet him but simply sent his servant with a message to go and wash in the Jordan river seven times. Naaman expected to be treated grandly and respectfully because of his great position. He never expected to be disrespected in this manner, and went off in a rage. Why did Elisha do it this way? It was a test. God was testing Naaman to see if he would be willing to humble himself before God. The test brought out the pride, the rage that was in Naaman’s heart. Naaman’s outward problem was leprosy, but his inward problem was pride and rage. God wanted to heal Naaman not only outwardly but also inwardly.

Desperately, Naaman’s servants came to him and reasoned with him, asking him to just give it a try as it was not hard to do. To his credit, Naaman listened. He was a reasonable man, and did not let his pride blind him to the far greater potential benefit of being healed although he risked being embarrassed. So Naaman went down once, twice, three times, four times, five times, six times… The first time, Naaman would have been disappointed not seeing any result, and after the third or fourth time, he probably just wanted to get it over with. However, when he came up the 7^th time and saw his skin fully restored, unspeakable joy filled his heart and he knew then there was no other god except the God in Israel.

Many of us too have this problem with pride, and perhaps rage. Only when we humble ourselves before God and come to Him and let our Lord Jesus wash us clean will we truly be set free and liberated. We may have to wash ourselves in the Lord again and again, but eventually we will be free, we will be cured for God is our Healer.