ELISHA SERIES: HEALING INSTRUCTIONS FOR A LEPER

Naaman, a Syrian army captain, known for his honorable characteristics, had leprosy. Being loved and cherished by King Ben-Hadad when told that a young maid who served Naaman’s wife said, “A prophet in Samaria could heal Naaman, “proposed that Naaman travel to Samaria to receive his healing.

The king of Syria sent Naaman with a letter to Joram, the king of Israel. Also, he carried ten talents of silver, six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment to be given to the prophet. Upon arrival in Israel, Naaman gave the letter sent by the king of Syria to him, and after reading it, the king became troubled. Renting his clothes, the king stated, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.”

When Elisha heard that the king had rented his clothes, he sent this word to the king, “Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.” Thus Naaman was directed with those that accompanied him to Elisha’s house; however, Elisha did not come out and meet him but sent him these instructions. “Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.”

Because Elisha did not come out to him, nor call on the name of the God, and strike his hand over him that he might recover from leprosy. Naaman became angry and declared, “Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean?” About to leave and return home, his servants urged him to follow the simple instructions. Relenting, Naaman went to the Jordan River and dipped seven times, and on the seventh time, he was clean, and his flesh healed. 

Appreciative Naaman returned to Elisha, declaring that he now knew there was no God on all the earth but in Israel. Additionally, Naaman attempted to give Elisha gifts, but Elisha rejected the offer. Naaman requested some of the soil of Israel and uttered that though he was required to assist the king of Syria when he went to the temple of Rimmon, he would only offer sacrifices to Elisha’s God in the future.

After hearing the conversation between Naaman and Elisha Gehazi with an unauthorized plan to get some of the gifts pursued after Naaman, who was journeying home. By lying and misrepresenting, Elisha Gehazi was able to accomplish his plan, and when he got back home, he hid the gifts in his tent. He then went to Elisha, who questioned where he had been. Naaman lied again, but Elisha exposed Naaman’s wrongdoing and cursed him, saying, “Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed forever.” Consequently, Gehazi immediately became a leper.

Above, I did a summary of 2 Kings 5, but for an in-depth look into the life of Naaman, Elisha, and Gehazi, I recommend reading this chapter. As I’ve done in the previous blogs of this series, I end with my thoughts and nuggets on this story, and they are: