Sunday Sermons
Behold I Thought
The story of Naaman is a marvelous but sobering account, of God who is not a tribal or ethnic God, but a universal and omnipotent God, and of Naaman, who is a haughty but humbled general who becomes a believer in God and of his loyal and dedicated staff who see him through a crisis. Of Elisha, whose selfless service saves a king and heals an enemy general, and of Gehazi whose greed proves to be his total undoing.
5:1 Here we are introduced to “Naaman” (NAY a man), whose name means “pleasant”. Naaman was the commander-in-chief of the Syrian army and Ben-Hadad II was probably the king ruling Syria or Aram at this time. Naaman was a very successful military commander and was viewed as indispensable by the king. “Because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram”: “At first this claim may seem startling because Naaman was not an Israelite. However, 1 and 2 Kings emphasize repeatedly God’s sovereignty over all nations and all people. The Lord had already laid claim to ownership of Syria’s political future (1 Kings 19:15). Surely He could work on behalf of a Syrian, if only to discipline Israel for idolatry (2 Kings 13:3)” (House p. 271). God is using Naaman and the Syrian army as His instrument to chasten His people. “But he was a leper”: Only one issue mars his life, he is a leper. Leprosy was a disfiguring skin disease and led to social ostracism in Israel (because of its contagious nature), but apparently not in Syria. Evidently Naaman could still perform his duties as a soldier and general, but leprosy does spread and evidently it would have made Naaman unable to serve any longer. Or, Naaman had proved himself so indispensable to the king, that his leprosy was tolerated. “Sadly though, he had contracted leprosy—a disabling and repulsive skin disease for which there was no known cure. It started as scaly circles in the skin, but progressively advanced to claim the hair, fingernails, teeth, nose and eyes. Ravaged body extremities eventually withered and dropped away” (Winters p. 194).
5:2 It just so happened that Syrian raiding parties in Israelite territory had captured a young Israelite girl who had become a servant in Naaman’s household. 5:3 Instead of being bitter, this young unnamed girl has compassion on her new master. Notice the great contrast: She is an Israelite, he is an Aramean; she is a little girl, he is a great man, she is a captive servant, he is a commander of the entire army, he has fame in the estimation of the king, she has none. Yet, she possesses the knowledge that her master needs most. Power and glory cannot save Naaman, but this information can. Like Daniel, Mordecai, Ezra, and Nehemiah who were also exiles, she cares for the spiritual and physical well being of her conqueror. Notice now natural it was for her to share her faith! Elisha moved about often and at this time he was living in Samaria.
5:4-5 From the fact that Naaman immediately told the king and that the king immediately acted on this information, it seems clear that Naaman’s leprosy was far more than some minor skin disease. The Syrian king is willing to do anything to keep his top general healthy and alive. The Syrian king sent an enormous gift to the king of Israel (more than $80,000 in value), as incentive for the Israelite king to have his prophet cure Naaman. 5:7 But the Israelite king immediately assumed that such a request was insincere and that Syria was only trying to pick a fight with him. If he refused to heal Naaman or could not make good on the Syrian king’s wishes, the failure could be used as a pretext for an invasion. The Israelite king did not even think about Elisha, probably because he gave no credence to the reports circulating about him. Note, a little servant girl knew more truth than the king over all Israel! 5:8 News of the king’s distress reached Elisha and he sent word to the palace to have Naaman sent to his house. The person who really needed to believe that there was a prophet in Israel was the Israelite king! 5:9-10 Elisha avoided any personal contact with Naaman, choosing rather to greet him, and deliver his orders by means of a messenger. The cure was very simple, “wash in the Jordan seven times”.
“To put this mighty one into the right position before Jehovah, Elisha refused to see him personally, and instructed him to wash seven times in the muddy Jordan. No magic incantation or mysterious hand waving (nor all the clean waters of Damascus) could solve this man’s problem—only the direct intervention of the living God. Would he be willing to do a very simple and apparently foolish thing, believing that God could meet his need according to His promise?” (Whitcomb p. 77). In like manner, what a person must do to be saved is very simple (Mark 16:16).
5:11 How many people have rejected God’s truth on the basis of preconceived ideas? Naaman was angry and offended that Elisha had not personally greeted him and performed an elaborate ceremony with him as the center of attention, “and cure theleper”. “Naaman went charging up to Elisha’s house with his retinue, expecting to be received in a way befitting his rank and perhaps to be asked to do something dramatic to obtain healing” (Vos p. 152). Naaman needed to learn the lesson that God is no respecter of persons. Human rank means nothing to God, in addition, it is our job to obey God’s simple instructions, and it is not our job to give God advice or to choreograph our deliverance. Finally, there is nothing we can do to earn our cleansing. God’s plan of salvation demands humility. Today, many people seem willing do anything spectacular to ensure their salvation, but they will not submit to the command to be baptized for the remission of their sins.
5:12 “Abanah” (AB ah nah) and “Pharpar” (FAHR phar) were rivers in Damascus, which in the mind of Naaman were far superior to the Jordan. “These clear rivers of legendary beauty made the ancient city of Damascus a beautiful oasis” (Dilday p. 306).
5:13 Servants to the rescue! Naaman was caught up in national and personal pride, thus he was blind to common sense. When we are arrogant, God’s will does not make any sense, but when we humble ourselves, it makes perfect sense. His servants suggested that since Elisha’s instructions were simple enough, they ought to be tested. What did he have to lose? In addition, since Naaman was prepared to do some great thing to be healed (or pay a great price), how much more should he be eager to do something very simple! Give these servants credit for having the courage to correct their master. Notice how a soft answer or a persuasive rebuke can accomplish much (Proverbs 15:1; 1 Timothy 5:1). 5:14 The disease was not simply stopped, rather it was as if he had never had leprosy. He was instantly and totally cured! 5:15 Give Naaman credit for swallowing his pride and for immediately believing in God when confronted with the evidence. Naaman returned from the Jordan to Elisha’s house in Samaria (about 25 miles) with a heart full of gratitude and hands full of gifts. Naaman willingly stood before the prophet and confessed that “I know there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel”. Unfortunately many in Israel, including her king, had not come to the same realization.
Like Rahab (Joshua 2:9-13), Ruth (Ruth 1:16-18), and the sailors and Ninevites in Jonah (Jonah 1:16; 3:6-10), Naaman believes in God as being the one true God. “Sadly, Naaman’s confession of faith condemns most Israelites of that era, since they have rejected the one true God and embraced gods that cannot heal. Jesus makes this point while rebuking the people of Nazareth in Luke 4:23-30” (House p. 273). Faith isn’t difficult. Naaman realized that the only God who deserved his loyalty and allegiance was the God who could save him. Why should we give our loyalty to something or someone who cannot save us?
5:15-16 Naaman insists on paying Elisha, but the prophet refuses. While others did feed and care for Elisha, the prophet refused to be paid for performing a miracle. “Perhaps to head off any notion on the part of Naaman that the gifts of God might be purchased with money (Acts 8:18-23)” (Winters p. 198). Naaman needed to learn that God was the real healer and that Elisha was simply his representative. But let us give credit to Naaman for asking to give something to Elisha. He was now a humble man, and instead of hurrying back to Damascus, he was deeply grateful and went out of his way to return and say “Thank you”. Naaman is like the Samaritan leper of Luke 17:15, who turned back and expressed his gratitude. 5:17 In the mind of this newly converted man, the ground of Israel would be more holy, and more appropriate for the worship of the God of Israel. Like many new converts, Naaman still probably had some false concepts in his mind that could be cured by time and study. Some say that Naaman is still a slave of the polytheistic notion that a god could be worshipped only on his own land. Maybe, but maybe he has learned a lesson, that is, everything in Syria is not better than in Israel and that an altar made out of Israelite soil simply seems more appropriate. 5:18 Secondly, Naaman asked for understanding if his official duties required him to be involved in the worship of idols, specifically the worship of Rimmon, the Aramaean manifestation of the storm-god. Evidently, he would be required to accompany the Syrian king at such worship services.
5:19 Elisha neither approved nor disapproved Naaman’s request, but simply said, “Go in peace”. Note, Naaman has been thinking! If Jehovah is the true God, then the worship of any other god would be wrong, but when he goes back home, he will have to accompany the king to idolatrous worship services. But even in this question, Naaman places himself under Elisha’s authority. Naaman simply asks whether or not God would forgive such an act, he is not asking for permission to worship a false god. In addition, it would appear that Naaman is asking whether he can worship the true God in his heart, even though he is present in an idol’s temple. Thirdly, Naaman realizes that Rimmon is a false god. Naaman must create what amounts to a personal outpost of God in Syria. He can pray, but there is no opportunity for community or public worship, nor is it likely that he can come back to Israel to worship at the Temple in Jerusalem (since Syria, Israel and Judah were often at war with one another), and under such circumstances Naaman is asking Elisha whether or not God will understand his predicament.
5:20-24 Here we learn that anyone can be infected with greed, even the personal servant of Elisha. Gehazi could not bear the thought of the Aramean going home with all his treasure. Apparently, he had convinced himself that Naaman deserved to be taken advantage of because he was an enemy of Israel. “As Jehovah lives” are strange words in the mouth of one who has set his mind on a course of lying and stealing. Note how one sin naturally leads to another sin. Greed moves him to lie to both Naaman and Elisha. 5:23-24 At a hill just outside Samaria, Gehazi took the money from Naaman’s servants, and dismissed them. He could not run the risk of having these foreigners seen entering Samaria again, 5:25-27. Sin can blind us to very simple truths such as, “you can’t get away with lying to a prophet!” Some believe Elisha was reading Gehazi’s mind when he spoke of buying olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants. Gehazi must have been thinking at that very moment about what he was going to do with Naaman’s gifts. Gehazi wanted to get rich quick (1 Timothy 6:9f). 5:27 Apparently Gehazi could keep the money—but he also could keep the leprosy that had clung to Naaman.
The judgment was immediate, as Naaman had been cured instantly, Gehazi had been struck instantly and went out from Elisha’s presence “as white as snow”. This disease would be passed down to his descendants. While the guilt of sin is not inherited (Ezekiel 18:4,20), the physical consequences of our sins can be inherited (such as a child born with Aids). Yet such a judgment might in the end save Gehazi’s descendants. This might have been a family prone to trust in self or wealth and such a judgment could serve the purpose of humbling this family and bringing them to God.
