2 Kings 5:1-14
Naaman Cleansed
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1Now Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man in his master’s sight and highly regarded, for through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. And he was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.
2At this time the Arameans had gone out in bands and had taken a young girl from the land of Israel, and she was serving Naaman’s wife.
3She said to her mistress, “If only my master would go to the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his leprosy.”
4And Naaman went and told his master what the girl from the land of Israel had said.
5“Go now,” said the king of Aram, “and I will send you with a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman departed, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of clothing.
6And the letter that he took to the king of Israel stated: “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman, so that you may cure him of his leprosy.”
7When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and asked, “Am I God, killing and giving life, that this man expects me to cure a leper? Surely you can see that he is seeking a quarrel with me!”
8Now when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king: “Why have you torn your clothes? Please let the man come to me, and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.”
9So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house.
10Then Elisha sent him a messenger, who said, “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored, and you will be clean.”
11But Naaman went away angry, saying, “I thought that he would surely come out, stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the spot to cure my leprosy.
12Are not the Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not have washed in them and been cleansed?” So he turned and went away in a rage.
13Naaman’s servants, however, approached him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’?”
14So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored and became like that of a little child, and he was clean.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Naaman is commander of the army of Aram. He is highly regarded because the LORD has given Aram victory through him, but he has leprosy. A young Israelite girl, taken captive by Aramean raiders, now serves his wife. She tells her mistress that the prophet in Samaria could cure him. Her words offer help to a household in the land of her captors.
Naaman carries a letter from the king of Aram and gifts of silver, gold, and clothing. Israel's king tears his clothes because he thinks the request is a pretext for conflict. Elisha hears the news and tells the king to send Naaman to him, so Naaman will know there is a prophet in Israel.
Elisha sends a messenger to tell Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan. Naaman becomes angry because he expected the prophet to come out, call on the LORD, and wave his hand over the disease. He considers the rivers of Damascus better than all Israel's waters and turns away in anger.
Naaman's servants reason with him: if the prophet had asked for a difficult task, would he not have done it? Naaman listens, washes seven times, and his flesh becomes like that of a little child. He is clean. The LORD restores him through the very instruction he had nearly rejected. His rank and wealth could not secure the healing.
Questions
1 What position does Naaman hold?
AnswerNaaman commands the army of Aram and is respected as a great man and mighty warrior.
2 What illness does Naaman have?
AnswerNaaman has leprosy despite his military success, honor, and standing with the king of Aram.
3 What instructions does Elisha send?
AnswerElisha tells Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan, and his flesh will be restored.
4 What could help us receive good advice from someone with less status than we have?
AnswerListen to what they are saying before defending our position. Naaman's servants help him reconsider the prophet's instruction. We can ask God to make us teachable instead of treating rank or age as proof that we know best.
What This Means for Us
Naaman's rank cannot solve his illness, and his expectations almost keep him from receiving help. The servants' quiet counsel becomes the turning point because they give him a way to reconsider without humiliating him.
Pride often resists simple obedience because it wants the solution to confirm our importance. Listen when people with less power speak wisely, and do not despise an ordinary instruction simply because it lacks drama.
Prayer
Lord, meet us where pride makes us resistant. Give us humility to listen to wise counsel, willingness to obey simple truth, and compassion for people whose outward success hides needs they cannot solve themselves. Amen.
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