{"id":1147,"date":"2016-11-09T11:34:48","date_gmt":"2016-11-09T16:34:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/?p=1147"},"modified":"2016-11-09T11:34:48","modified_gmt":"2016-11-09T16:34:48","slug":"naaman-the-syrian-july-24th-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/?p=1147","title":{"rendered":"Naaman, the Syrian, July 24th, 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"123\"<\/a><\/h1>\n

Naaman, the Syrian<\/h1>\n

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Central Thought: Humility and complete obedience is the pathway to divine blessings.<\/h3>\n

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Hymn: \u201cWhen We Walk With the Lord\u201d<\/p>\n

Text: 2 Kings 5:1-14<\/p>\n

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The healing of Naaman demonstrated God\u2019s 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.\u00a0 Like the Syrophenician woman would argue, \u201ceven dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from the master\u2019s table\u201d, Matthew 15:27.\u00a0 God shows mercy and does good to all.\u00a0 His overall purpose is for all men to be saved.<\/p>\n

Naaman was a hero but he was a leper, so powerful but could not exchange skin with the basest Slave in Syria. NO man\u2019s greatness or honor can insulate him from the calamities of human life.\u00a0 It took Naaman\u2019s obedience and humility to be healed by God.\u00a0 In this study, we shall examine the steps he took to great healed of his leprosy with a view to deriving some lessons.<\/p>\n

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Lesson Objectives:<\/h3>\n
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  1. To know who Naaman was.<\/li>\n
  2. To examine Naamans\u2019s encounter with Prophet Elisha.<\/li>\n
  3. To appreciate the impact Naaman\u2019s healing had on him and others.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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      \n
    1. \n
      Who was Naaman and how did he hear about Elisha? 2 Kings 5:1-6; 1 Chronicles 8:4-7; Luke 4:27<\/h5>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Naaman was from Syria and the commander of the Syrian army. He was a descendant of Benjamin the son of Ehud.\u00a0 He was a great man in a great place, an honorable and mighty man of valor.\u00a0 Through him God gave victories t to the king of Syria over Israel and other nations.\u00a0 These victories earned Naaman popularity, honor and respect.\u00a0\u00a0 He was very rich and powerful.\u00a0 However, in spite of his accolade, he was a leper.\u00a0 Leprosy was one of the most deadly diseases of the time.\u00a0 Some extreme form of leprosy is so contagious that sufferers are forced out of the cities into quarantined camps.\u00a0 Obviously this blemish diminished the warrior Naaman.<\/p>\n

      During one of the exploits of Naaman against Israel, a young lady was captured and she became a maid to Naaman\u2019s wife. It was through this captive maid that Naaman got to know about Elisha.\u00a0 Though a little girl, she was acquainted with the wondrous works of God through Elisha.\u00a0 She had a strong faith in the God of Elisha and desired the good health of her master.\u00a0\u00a0 She made her suggestion that brought solution to Naaman\u2019s illness.<\/p>\n

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      1. \n
        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?<\/h5>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        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.\u00a0 Naaman and the king of Syria may not have known where to find this prophet of God in Samaria.\u00a0 However, it was taken for granted that the king of Israel will know.\u00a0 So Naaman journeyed from Damascus to Samaria.<\/p>\n

        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.\u00a0 \u201cAm I a God to kill whom I will, and make alive whom, I will\u201d, 2 Kings 5:7b.\u00a0 He was an ungodly king who did not believe in God\u2019s wondrous works through Elisha.\u00a0 He had not power over leprosy like the king of Syria.\u00a0 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 these is a God in Israel.<\/p>\n

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          \n
        1. \n
          Discuss the way Elisha received Naaman and how he delivered his message to Him. 2 Kings 5:9-10<\/h5>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Naaman with his horses and chariots arrived at 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 on of his servants to Naaman that he should go to river Jordan and wash seven times in order for his flesh to be cleaned.\u00a0 Naaman was angry and regarded it as an insult considering his personality and protocol he followed to get to Elisha.\u00a0 However, it must be understood that Elisha was a prophet of god who acted according to divine directives.\u00a0 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\u2019s bread.<\/p>\n

           <\/p>\n

            \n
          1. \n
            How did Naaman react to Elisha\u2019s reception\/message and what did it reveal about his character? 2 Kings 5:11-12Naaman on hearing the instruction from Elisha was wroth. He went away saying:<\/h5>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            -I thought he would certainly come out to meet me.<\/p>\n

            -I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me.<\/p>\n

            -Are not Abana and Pharper, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?<\/p>\n

            -May I not wash in them and be clean?<\/p>\n

            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.\u00a0 He had schemes that Elisha must follow to get him healed.\u00a0 This is a case of a patient prescribing to a physician what he the patient will take to be well.\u00a0 God works in diverse ways.\u00a0 He may not necessarily follow our predetermined formula, but He stands by His word.<\/p>\n

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            1. \n
              What do you learn from the wise and humble advice of Naaman\u2019s servants and the result of his obedience? 2 Kings 5:13<\/h5>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              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.\u00a0 As a warrior, he might even be considering waging a war against Israel to retaliate.\u00a0 Then came the wise and humble advice from his servants.\u00a0 They reasoned with him \u201csir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn\u2019t you have done it?\u00a0 So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, \u201cGo and wash and be cured\u201d\u2019, 2 Kings 5:13.\u00a0 It takes courage for a servant to approach his master with a view different from his masters\u2019 own.\u00a0 The servants were humble and tactful in their master was already wroth.\u00a0 Naaman on the other hand appears to be a man who accommodates the views of others.\u00a0 He accepted the advice of the slave girl in his house and now the opinion of his servants to obey the prophet\u2019s instruction.\u00a0 He listened to the advice of his servants and went to river Jordan and dipped himself seven times.\u00a0 Upon his obedience, he was totally healed.<\/p>\n

              His skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child. We must learn to give useful suggestions to our superiors in humility. \u00a0As superiors, we should give ears to our subordinate for there in may lie the key to our victory.<\/p>\n

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              1. \n
                Examine the impact this healing made in Naaman\u2019s life. 2 Kings 5:15-19<\/h5>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                Naaman was to dip himself into the waters of the Jorddan River seven times. Both Israel and Syrians knew that Jordan River does not have leprosy healing power residing in it.<\/p>\n

                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.<\/p>\n

                Thus when Naamna 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.\u00a0 Naaman confessed, \u201cNow I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel\u201d, 2 Kings 5:15.\u00a0 He pleaded with Elisha to accept his gift but the man of God refused.\u00a0 He then made a vow never to offer sacrifice to any other God but only to the God of Israel.\u00a0 Apparently, Naaman was converted and the news of his healing would have spread all over Syria leading to the conversation of many and bringing glory to the god of Israel.<\/p>\n

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                Daily Living Application:<\/h3>\n

                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\u2019s people live in disobedience to God\u2019s word, He could take away their blessings and give them to others that trusted and obey Him.\u00a0 Humility and complete obedience to God paved way for Naaman\u2019s healing.\u00a0 The same is required form us if we must receive from God.<\/p>\n

                 <\/p>\n

                Memory Verse:<\/h3>\n

                Isaiah 1:19 \u2013 \u201cIf you be willing and obedient you shall eat the good of the land.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                Naaman, the Syrian     Central Thought: Humility and complete obedience is the pathway to divine blessings.   Hymn: \u201cWhen We Walk With the Lord\u201d Text: 2 Kings 5:1-14     The healing of Naaman demonstrated God\u2019s saving power and grace upon all mankind irrespective of race and status. Naaman was a Syrian who was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1149,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1147","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sundayschool"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/123.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1147","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1147"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1147\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1150,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1147\/revisions\/1150"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1149"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1147"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1147"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1147"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}