Central thought: Humility and complete obedient is the pathway to divine blessings.
Hymn: When we walk with the Lord
Text: 2 Kings 5:1-14
Introduction:
The healing of Naaman demonstrates God’s saving power and grace upon all mankind irrespective of race and status. Naaman was a Syrian who was not supposed to enjoy the covenant blessings. But like the Syrophenician woman would argue “even dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from the master’s table” (Matt 15:27). God shows mercy and does good to all. His overall purpose is for all men to be saved.
Naaman was a hero but he was a leper, very powerful, but could not exchange skin with the basest Slave in Syria. No man’s greatness or honor can insulate him from the calamities of human life. It took Naaman’s obedience and humility to be healed by God. In this study, we shall examine the steps he tool to get healed of his leprosy with a view to deriving some lessons.
Lesson Objectives:
- To know who Naaman was.
- To examine Naaman’s encounter with Prophet Elisha
- To appreciate the impact Naaman’s healing had on him and others
1.) Who was Naaman and how did he hear about Elisha? 2 Kings 5:1-6, 1 Chron. 8:4-7, Luke 4:27
Naaman was from Syria and the commander of the Syrian army. He was a descendant of Benjamin and the son of Ehud. He was a great man in a great place, an honorable and mighty man of valor. Through him God gave victories to the king of Syria over Israel and other nations. These victories earned Naaman popularity, honor and respect. He was very rich and powerful. However, in spite of his accolades, he was a leper. Leprosy was one of the most deadly diseases of the time. Some extreme forms of leprosy is so contagious that sufferers are forced out of the cities into quarantined camps. Obviously this blemish diminished the warrior Naaman.
During one of the exploits of Naaman against Israel, a young lady was captured and she became a maid to Naaman’s wife. It was through this captive maid that Naaman got to know about Elisha. Though a little girl, she was acquainted with the wondrous works of God through Elisha. She had a strong faith in the God of Elisha and desired the good health of her master. She made her suggestions that brought about a solution to Naaman’s illness.
2.) Read 2 Kings 5:6-7 and comment on the reaction of the king of Israel to the letter sent to him by the King of Syria through Naaman.
Naaman decided to follow the official protocols to get to Elisha. The king of Syria had to write to the king of Israel who was expected to direct Naaman to Prophet Elisha. Naaman and the king of Syria may not have known where to find this prophet of God in Samaria. However it was taken for granted that the king of Israel will know. So Naaman journeyed from Damascus to Samaria.
The letter of introduction was then written by the King of Syria addressed to the King of Israel and accompanied by some gifts. The King of Israel on receiving the letter considered it as a strange request and tore his clothes in anger as was the custom of the Jews when they heard anything they considered blasphemous. “Am I a God to kill whom I will and make alive whom, I will” (2 Kings 5:7B). He was an ungodly King who did not believe in God’s wondrous works through Elisha. He had no power over leprosy like the king of Syria. He concluded that the King of Syria was indirectly seeking for war and would have taken a wrong step when Elisha heard what was happening and quickly sent a message to the King requesting him to send Naaman to him for the healing so that the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.
3.) Discuss the way Elisha received Naaman and how he delivered his message to him.
2 Kings 5:9-10
Naaman with his horses and chariots arrived the house of Elisha and stood by the door. He was expecting the prophet to come out and welcome them or usher them into his house; Elisha did not do any of these, rather he sent a message through one of his servants to Naaman that he should go to river Jordan and wash seven times in order for his flesh to be cleaned. Naaman was angry and regarding it as an insult considering his personality and protocol he followed to get to Elisha. However, it must be understood that Elisha was a prophet of God who acted according to divine directives. Naaman may be a public figure and well-respected by the society, but to God he was a leper, a dog desiring to eat the children’s bread.
4.) How did Naaman react to Elisha’s reception/message and what did it reveal about his character? 2 Kings 5:11-12
Naaman on hearing the instruction from Elisha was wroth. He went away saying:
– I thought he would certainly come out to meet me.
-I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me
-Are not Abana and Pharper, rivers of Damascus, better than the waters of Israel
– May I not wash in them and be clean?
His reaction revealed the arrogance in his heart. He forgot that he was a leper and the Law of Moses shut lepers out of the society. He had schemes that Elisha must follow to get him healed. A case of a patient prescribing to a physician what he, the patient will take to be well. God works in divers’ ways. He may not necessarily follow our predetermined formula, but He stands by His word.
5.) What do you learn from the wise and humble advise of Naaman’s servants and the result of his obedience? 2 Kings 5:13
Naaman left the house of Elisha in rage. Perhaps pondering on the humiliation he suffered in the houses of the King of Israel and Elisha. As a warrior, he might even be considering waging a war against Israel to retaliate. then came the wise and humble advice from his servants. They reasoned with him “sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply “Go and wash and be cured” (2 Kings 5:13). It takes courage for a servant to approach his master with a view different from his master’s own. The servants were humble and tactful in their approach particularly when their master was already wroth. Naaman on the other hand appears to be a man who accommodates the views of others. He accepted the advice of the slave girl in his house and not the opinion of his servants to obey the prophet’s instruction. He listened to the advice of his servants and went to river Jordan and dipped himself seven times. Upon his obedience, he was totally healed. His skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child. We must learn to give useful suggestions to our superiors in humility. And as superiors, we should give ears to our subordinates for there in may lie the key to our victory.
6.) Examine the impact this healing made in Naaman’s life. 2 Kings 5:15-19
Naaman was to dip himself into the waters of the Jordan River seven times. Both Israel and Syrians knew that the Jordan River did not have leprosy healing power residing in it.
With this prescribed method of healing, Naaman found it difficult to ascribe his healing to humans or natural means but to the miraculous work of God.
Thus when Naaman received his healing, he acted like the only Samaritan who returned to appreciate Jesus out of the ten lepers that were healed (Luke 17:17-18). He returned to Elisha to show appreciation. Naaman confessed “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel (2 Kings 5:15). He pleaded with Elisha to accept his gift but the man of God refused. He then made a vow never to offer sacrifice to any other God but only to the God of Israel. Apparently, Naaman was converted and the news of his healing would have spread all over Syria leading to the conversion of many and bringing glory to the God of Israel.
Daily Living Application
It is amazing that Naaman, a foreigner from Syria could obtain mercy from God and be healed of his leprosy when many lepers were in Israel unclean at the time of Elisha (Luke 4:27). This goes to show that when God’s people live in disobedience to God’s word, He could take away their blessings and give them to others that trust and obey Him. Humility and complete obedience to God paved way for Naaman’s healing. Same is required from us if we must receive from God.
Memory Verse:
Isaiah 1:19
“If you be willing and obedient you shall eat the good of the land”