1 Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valor, but he was a leper.
2 And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife.
3 And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.
4 And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.
5 And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.
6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have therewith sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy.
7 And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, 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.
8 And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.
9 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.
10 And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.
11 But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.
12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.
13 And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?
14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
15 And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.
16 But he said, As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused.
17 And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules' burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD.
18 In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon thy servant in this thing.
19 And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way.
20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.
21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?
22 And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.
23 And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.
24 And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.
25 But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.
26 And he said unto him, 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?
27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.
The fifth chapter of the second book of Kings in the King James Version of the Holy Bible tells the story of Naaman, a commander of the army of the king of Syria. Naaman was a valiant and honorable man, but he was also a leper. Through a series of events, Naaman's journey to seek healing from the prophet Elisha leads to a powerful message about faith, obedience, and the power of God.
The chapter begins by describing Naaman's high position in the Syrian army and his victory over Israel. However, it also reveals that Naaman was a leper, a condition that would have been considered both physically and socially debilitating during this time period. Leprosy was a highly contagious disease that caused severe skin lesions and could lead to disfigurement and death. It also carried a heavy social stigma, as those with leprosy were often ostracized from society and considered unclean.
One day, a young Israelite girl who had been taken captive by the Syrians and now served Naaman's wife, suggested that Naaman go to Samaria to seek healing from the prophet Elisha. The girl's faith in Elisha's ability to heal Naaman's leprosy is a powerful example of how God can use even the most unlikely people to carry out His plans.
Naaman followed the advice of the servant girl and went to the king of Syria to ask for permission to go to Israel. The king of Syria not only granted Naaman's request but also sent a letter to the king of Israel, asking him to heal Naaman. However, the king of Israel was not able to heal Naaman and became fearful of a possible confrontation with Syria.
Elisha, hearing of the king's distress, sent a message to him, saying, "Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel." (2 Kings 5:8) Naaman arrived at Elisha's house with his horses and chariots, expecting a grand entrance and a miraculous healing. However, Elisha did not even come out to meet him, but instead sent a messenger with instructions for Naaman to go and wash in the Jordan river seven times to be healed.
Naaman was initially offended by Elisha's lack of attention and the simplicity of the healing instructions. He expected a grand display and was not willing to humble himself and follow Elisha's directions. However, his servants convinced him to obey and he went to the Jordan river and washed himself seven times, as instructed by Elisha.
Naaman's obedience to Elisha's instructions is a powerful example of the importance of humility and obedience in our relationship with God. Despite his initial pride and expectations, Naaman was willing to put aside his own desires and follow God's plan for his healing. As a result, he was miraculously healed and his skin was restored to that of a young boy.
After being healed, Naaman returned to Elisha's house to express his gratitude and offer him gifts. However, Elisha refused to accept any gifts and instead instructed Naaman to go in peace. Naaman then made a powerful confession of faith, saying, "Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel." (2 Kings 5:15) This confession not only acknowledges the power of God but also demonstrates Naaman's understanding that God is not limited by borders or nationalities.
Gehazi, Elisha's servant, saw an opportunity to benefit from Naaman's healing and secretly followed him, lying to Naaman and asking for gifts in Elisha's name. Naaman, grateful for his healing, gave Gehazi more than he asked for. However, Elisha knew what Gehazi had done and rebuked him, saying, "Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?" (2 Kings 5:26) Gehazi's greed and deception led to him being struck with Naaman's leprosy, a reminder of the consequences of disobedience and a warning against the love of money.
2 Kings chapter 5 is a powerful story of faith, obedience, and God's power to heal and transform lives. It also carries several important messages and lessons for us to apply to our own lives.
Firstly, the story of Naaman's healing reminds us that God can use anyone to carry out His plans. The young Israelite girl, who was a captive and servant, had faith in God's power and was used to bring healing to a powerful commander of the Syrian army. This is a reminder that God can use even the most unlikely people to accomplish His will.
Secondly, Naaman's journey to healing is a powerful example of the importance of humility and obedience in our relationship with God. Naaman had to put aside his pride and expectations and humbly obey Elisha's instructions in order to be healed. This is a reminder that true healing and transformation can only come through submission to God's will.
The story of Gehazi's greed also serves as a warning against the love of money and the consequences of disobedience. Gehazi's actions led to him being struck with Naaman's leprosy, a reminder that our actions have consequences and that we should always strive to follow God's will rather than our own desires.
Finally, Naaman's confession of faith, "Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel," is a powerful reminder that God is not limited by borders or nationalities. He is the God of all nations and all people, and His power and grace extend to all who have faith in Him.
In conclusion, 2 Kings chapter 5 tells the story of Naaman's healing and carries powerful messages about faith, obedience, and the power of God. It is a reminder that God can use anyone to accomplish His will, and that true healing and transformation can only come through humility and obedience to His plan. It also serves as a warning against the love of money and a powerful declaration of God's sovereignty over all nations and peoples.
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