“WHEN SICKNESS STRIKES. 2 KINGS 5:1-5, 8-16.
2 KINGS 5:1, 2-5, 8-9, 10-12, 13-14, 15-16.
PLEASE OPEN YOUR BIBLE TO 2 KINGS 5.
PLEASE READ 2 KINGS 5: 1.
From last week’s lesson we shift from the life of Elijah and his service to God to focus on Elisha, the next great prophet of Israel. “Naaman” (NAY muhn) was a general in the army of the “king of Aram (A ruhm). He was an important, powerful, and highly respected man. Aram, or the Arameans, was a collection of tribes in the region of Syria. They also are called Syrians. Ruling from the capital of Damascus, they were a major power in Elisha’s time.
In 1 Kings 22, we read of the battle between Ahab, king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, with Ben-hadad, king of Aram. Ahab was wounded and died as a result of an accidental arrow striking him through the joints of his armor. Some think that the one /
Whether Naaman gained favor wit the king of Aram (Syria) by killing Ahab or in some other way, he was considered “a great man….but he had a skin disease.”
The word but can make a big difference. Namaan’s respected position did not protect him from illness. We must not make the mistake of assuming that faith prevents all disease. Neither great stature nor great faith ensure that we will not get sick. But when sickness comes to us, it is not a failure of either faith or God.
All people get sick, some so sick that recovery seems impossible. Some adults who study this lesson have serious, even life-threatening illnesses; others are caregivers for such people. Still others work in some form of healthcare. Even in such circumstances, we can affirm that God is greater than our illness and He compassionately offers help to those who trust him.
This study theme, WHEN SICKNESS STRIKES, is about handling overwhelming situations. Nothing can be more overwhelming than serious illness. It is overwhelming for patients, caregivers, and those who work in healthcare. This lesson is based on the biblical account of the healing of Naaman, but the focus of this lesson is on trusting God in times of sickness.
The Hebrew word translated “skin disease” is often rendered “leprosy, as in the King James Version. The word is a generic term that covers a variety of skin diseases from psoriasis to actual leprosy. Symptoms range from white patches of skin to open sores and loss of toes and fingers and other flesh.
In Old Testament times, a leper dealt not only with the physical ailment, but also the social and religious implications of this disfiguring disease. To a Jew, a leper was ceremonially unclean, and anyone touching a leper also was unclean.
Thus for Jews to maintain their worship of God, lepers were isolated from the community. Yet Jesus touched those with skin diseases and instructed his disciples to heal persons suffering from skin diseases.
The events in 2 Kings 5 took place during the period of the divided kingdom. They occurred in the Northern Kingdom of Israel and Syria to the north of Israel. The date of Elish’s death was about 800 B.C., and this incident occurred toward the end of his life. During this time the enemy of Israel was Syria.
The biblical story of Naaman has a number of people involved. Let’s note these as we come to them. First we meet Naaman. He was captain of the host of the king of Syria. (“commander of the army for the king of Aram.”) He had the highest rank of any military person. He was a great man in the eyes of the king. He had commanded their army in many military victories, some no doubt against Israel; for the two nations were often at war during those days. He did not lead by directing the army far from the battle. Instead, “he was a brave warrior.”
Two things are striking about vs. 1. One was that by him the Lord had given deliverance unto Syria. This shows that the God of Israel is the Lord of all nations. He had used Naaman to deliver Syria.
The words in vs. 1 that are most crucial in this lesson are but he was a leper. The Hebrew word translated “skin disease” is often rendered “leprosy,” as in the King James Version. The word is a generic term that covers a variety of skin diseases from psoriasis to actual leprosy.
Symptoms range from white patches of skin to open sores and loss of toes and fingers and other flesh. In O.T. times, a leper dealt not only with the physical ailment, but also the social and religious implications of this disfiguring disease.
To a Jew, a leper was ceremonially unclean, and anyone touching a leper also was unclean. Thus for Jews to maintain their worship of God, lepers were isolated from the community. Yet Jesus touched those with skin diseases and instructed His disciples to heal persons suffering from skin diseases.
If Naaman had been an Israelite, he might have been excluded from social contact. The fact that he wasn’t socially isolated may have one of the following explanations. He may have had only a less serious form of skin disease. Or he could have had the early stage of leprosy and the laws in Syria did not exclude such people.
Personally, I have assumed Naaman had at least the beginnings of real leprosy. If so, he had a very serious disease. Basically, leprosy was an eruptive skin disease that contaminated the bloodstream, producing a thickening and deterioration of the tissues and nerves.
In its worse form, leprosy mutilated the body and often resulted in death. Naaman apparently was in the earliest stages of this dread disease…..He could look forward to his hair falling out, to his fingers and toes falling off, to his gums being absorbed and his teeth falling out, to mutilation of his eyes, nose and palate, and to other disfigurements of his body. Naaman was a successful man, but he had a serious disease.
A catastrophic disease, chronic or congenital conditions, or some other permanent affliction can drive any of us to extreme measures. We may go to conventional doctors, to chiropractors, to acupuncture practitioners, to homoepathists, to faith healers, or to foreign doctors who offer experimental drugs. We may make promises to God and to people. We sincerely avow that we will do anything for a cure. But often one thing is lacking: faith in the grace of God.
PLEASE READ 2 KINGS 5: 2-5.
The reference to raiding parties into Israel has a contemporary sound to it. The Syrians made a raid across the border and captured a little maid. We are not told her age. Some call her “a young girl;” others called her “a little girl.” She was a servant in Naaman’s household. She waited on his wife. She stands in contrast to Naaman: He was a great man: she was a captive who worked as a servant. He was a Syrian: she was an Israelite.
He was a grown man: she was a child. Yet this girl set in motion a process that led to Naaman’s cure from leprosy.
What did she do? She spoke to her mistress what amounts to a testimony of faith. She obviously believed in the Lord God of Israel and in His prophet Elisha.
Her testimony was couched in normal conversation. “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria He would cure him of his leprosy.”
Under the circumstances, this was a remarkable testimony. It shows mercy, compassion, and courage among other things. She had good reasons for disliking the general whose raiders snatched her from her home and made her a servant.
A more normal reaction to his disease would have been to be either glad or indifferent. But she showed mercy. She showed compassion by being sensitive to another’s plight.
And she showed courage in talking to Naaman’s wife about her husband’s health.
All of these were qualities of the maid’s faith. This faith gave her love and courage of testifying. She actually did a risky thing. Suppose Naaman traveled to Israel and the prophet couldn’t or wouldn’t heal him?
But what if she had played it safe and kept quiet? Naaman would never have gone to see Elisha. Believers never know what good can come through speaking a good word for the Lord. Any one of us has such opportunities.
Naaman’s wife is the third person introduced. She has no speaking part, but she must have been the one who told Naaman what the girl had said. Serious illness is hard not only on the patient but also on other family members, especially spouses.
Naaman’s wife must have been deeply concerned about her husband and her future. Any word about a possible cure would be welcome to her.
The fourth person introduced is the king of Syria The one who went in, and told his lord was probably Naaman himself,. Since he was who he was, he didn’t want to make an unauthorized trip to a rival nation. So Naaman consulted the king.
Now given the position and prominence of Naaman, his king also was concerned about his illness. So he told his commander he would write a letter unto the king of Israel. The idea was for Naaman to use all the leverage he had to get a favorable response to his request. So with the letter Naaman headed south, and he also took a fortune in gold, silver, and fine clothes, presumably to pay for the cure.
The amount of wealth Naaman took along is staggering: 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and 10 changes of clothes. Because clothing in the ancient world was made by a very labor-intensive process, it was a valuable commodity and was often used in financial transactions.
It is clear that this was a tremendous amount of money. The military successes of Naaman would have filled the royal treasury of Damascus with plunder, and this was the source of Naaman’s payment.
The size of the payment illustrates how desperate people become in the face of illness.
Today, people suffering from a severe condition or who have a spouse or child in such a condition will do the same. Naaman’s willingness to travel far and expend great sums of money to find a cure is not unusual.
The main character in the story, of course, is God, who is mentioned explicitly in vs. 1 but stands behind the scenes as each scene is acted out. The Lord is compassionate toward the sick and acts to help.
PLEASE READ 2 KINGS 5: 8-9.
The fifth person in the drama almost brought the process to a halt. When the letter from the Syrian king arrived, the king of Israel interpreted it in the worst way. The letter in vs. 6 was written as if the enemy king expected him to heal the Syrian commander: “I sent my servant Naaman to you for you to cure him of his skin disease.”
The king of Syria may have purposely worded the letter as if he expected the king personally to heal Naaman. On the other hand the servant girl had said that the prophet was in Samaria. The Syrian king assumed then that the prophet was either there or that the king of Israel would know where he was. The letter, therefore, was designed to make Israel’s king accountable for seeing that Naaman was cured.
The Bible does not tell us the name of the king of Israel at this time, but it was probably Jehoram. He was one of the sons of Ahab, who lived much like his father. Elisha had nothing but disdain for him. On one occasion, Elisha had helped the combined armies of Israel and Judah win a victory over the Moabites, but Elisha made clear that he did this for the sake of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, not for Jehoram. Elisha taunted Jehoram that he should have sought help from the false prophets of his father and mother. Therefore, it is not surprising that Jehoram did not think of Elisha when Naaman showed up at his court.
The king tore his clothes in grief, for he thought that his enemy was trying to make an excuse to attack Israel. He complained that he was not God and could not heal a leper.
Word reached Elisha of the letter and the kings negative reaction. Elisha also learned of Naaman’s purpose in coming to Israel. Thus Elisha sent a message to the king of Israel: “Why have you torn your clothes? Have him come to me, and he will know there is a prophet in Israel” So the relieved king sent the Syrian to where Elisha was.
The words, “Have him come to me,” are supremely confident, indicating that Elisha has no doubt that he could, by God’s power, heal Naaman. The stated reason for his willingness to heal him is for God’s glory. (he will know there is a prophet in Israel.)
Can you sense a note of surprise in Elisha’s message? You can almost hear Elisha saying, “Relax, your majesty. Everything is under control” The king did not delay in sending Naaman to Elsha.
This is not to suggest, however, that Elisha had no compassion for Naaman. Next, Naaman approached Elisha’s house with his horses and chariots, a sight both impressive (because of the splendor of the honor guard that would accompany so high-ranking officer, dressed in his military finery), and dreadful because of the implied threat of military force). Put yourself in Naaman’s place. How would you feel as you and your servants pulled up in front of Elisha’s house? Mixed with high hopes and great expectations would be thoughts of failure and despair.
The house of the prophet was not as impressive as the king’s palace, probably not as grand as Naaman’s own house. But here he was at the door of the house of Elisha. And all this based only on a suggestion made by a servant girl in his house. What would she know of his condition or of the prophet’s power to heal? But he was a desperate man who seized any hope for a cure. But Naaman was still suppliant, and thus he stood at the door of Elisha’s house. Did Elisha get dressed to meet this important dignitary? Evidently not!
PLEASE READ 2 KINGS 5: 10-12.
Naaman expected the prophet would be impressed that such a man came to his door. If he were not impressed by the man, surely he would take notice of the riches he brought. Naaman was not alone.He had servants with him and soldiers to guard the fortune he carried. But Naaman waited in vain for the prophet to come and welcome him. Instead of coming to see Naaman, Elisha sent a messenger unto him. This unnamed messenger is the sixth person in the drama of Naaman’s cure. The message from the prophet was short and precise: “Go wash seven times in the Jordan and your flesh will be restored and you will be clean.”
Elisha did not do as most men would have done by rushing outside to greet Naaman as he approached. More pointed yet. Elisha did not even step outside to look at him: he merely sent a messenger out the door to tell him what he needed to do.
Naaman was probably getting impatient at the runaround he had been given since he arrived in Israel. He was disappointed in the king’s self-centered response. Now after the way he was snubbed by Elisha, his impatience became anger. The Bible used two words to describe his feelings: He was wroth and he had rage. Naaman was angry for at least three reasons.
First of all, he had expected the prophet to come out. Instead, he sent a messenger. Elisha was first mentioned by name in verse 8, but he himself appears only in verse 15. The prophet’s failure to personally come out seemed to Naaman to be a sign of disrespect or unconcern or both. Perhaps it also meant that the prophet knew he really could not help the sick man.
Some suggest that Elisha may have wanted to avoid contact with Naaman because he was unclean, but Elisha did not in any case need to make physical contact with Naaman, and this does not seem to have played a role in his actions.
In addition, Elisha’s servant Gehazi contracted the skin disease at the end of this episode in vs. 27, but to all appearances he continued to serve Elisha.
There are two explanations for Elisha’s behavior. First, Naaman was a scourge of Israel, and Elisha was a patriotic Israelite. Although he was willing to bring about Naman’s healing, he did not need to be subservient to Israel’s enemy while doing it.
Second, and more important, Elisha was making an important point. Israel’s God was Lord of heaven and earth, and Elisha was his prophet. Naaman was begging for help, and before God his wealth, power and prestige meant nothing. Elisha was both unafraid and unimpressed, but he was, in God’s name, willing to help someone who came seeking mercy.
The third reason for Naaman’s anger is stated in vs. 12. Naaman was peeved about washing in the Jordan river. He preferred the rivers of his native land. “Aren’t Abana (Ab-uh-nuh) and Pharpar (FAHR-pahr), the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean? Damascus was a great oasis that stills serves as the capital of Syria. Naaman was so angry that he turned his chariot around and left the prophet’s house. His pride was really showing now. Jesus said in Mark 7:21-23 that “pride is one of the evil things that defile a person.”
Naaman was expecting God to help him in some way other than washing seven time in the Jordan River without even seeing the prophet. God, however, does not do things the way we expect.
Disease, especially debilitating and terminal disease, has been in the world since the entry of sin. In the new heaven and the new earth, such plight will be no more. ( Rev. 21:4)
Sickness is one of the results of human sin. This does not mean that it is the result of the sins of the sick person. Disease is a reminder of our need of God. It is always a call to prayer and faith. Sometimes God heals; other times He doesn’t however sickness is always a call to prayer.
Elisha’s instructions were simple and to the point. “Go wash seven time in the Jordan and your flesh will be restored and you will be clean. Why did Elisha tell him to wash seven times? Seven, as widely known, is a symbolic of completion, as in the days of creation.
In addition, we know from ancient Mesopotamia that there were rituals of cleansing that involved going into a river and dipping seven times.
But for Elisa, the point of repeating the ritual seven times was probably that he wanted Naaman to take it seriously. If Naaman only needed to go into the water once, he may have quickly gotten the ritual over with and not have given any though to the fact that he needed to carry out the prophet’s words in careful obedience. On the other hand, Elisha’s promise, “your flesh will be restored and you will be clean,” indicates there was nothing else to it: no magical ceremonies, no sacrifices, no quest to be fulfilled, and no payment. Elisha required simple obedience, but nothing more than that.
For Naaman, however, these instructions were absurd. Naaman’s idea was that Elisha would come out, stand and call on the name of Yahweh his God, and …wave his hand over the spot and cure the skin disease.
Naaman had seen so-called prophets and magicians before, and he felt that he knew the routine. There would be a ritual, an invocation of a god, and a dramatic wave of the hand. Various inscriptions from the ancient Near East refer to waving the hand as a part of a magical ritual. Naaman felt insulted by Elisha’s refusal to come out as well as confused by the simplicity of these instructions.
Naaman was irritated at being told to immerse himself in the Jordan River. Elisha chose the Jordan because it was identified with Israel and thus with Israel’s God. To immerse himself in the Jordan would indicate identification with Israel’s God. Naaman himself came to realize that after his healing, when he declared that he would henceforth sacrifice to no god but the God of Israel.
When Naaman first heard the command, however he could only receive it as an insult to his identity as an Aramean. As far as he was concerned, the Aanma and Pharpar, two rivers near Damascus , were better than all the waters of Israel.
These rivers descend from the mountains near Damascus and are said to be both clear and beautifully situated. The Jordan, by comparison, is somewhat muddy and much less impressive. The command to wash in this dirty Israelite river, was to Naaman, intolerable.
Let’s be assured that God’s ways are always best. Remember, God can use anything to accomplish His purposes. We may not always understand His ways of working, but by humbly obeying we receive His blessings.
PLEASE READ 2 KINGS 5: 13-14.
Naaman, in a huff, was ready to turn around and return home, but fortunately some of his servants were bold enough to point out how silly his stubbornness was. Naaman was blessed with some excellent servants. His wife’s servant girl had told his wife about the prophet who could heal him. He had servants with him on this trip to Israel. They had witnessed all that was said and done They heard the message the prophet sent to their desperately sick master, and they had heard and seen his angry reaction.
These were men of courage who had deep concern for the fate of Naaman.This combination of courage and concern is evident in verse 13.
They called him father, a term of affection and respect. At some point after the angry departure from the prophet’s house, they came to Naaman with a probing question. They indicated that Naaman would have responded positively if the prophet had told him to do something great.
But instead of something difficult and impressive, all the prophet instructed Naaman to do was something simple but humble. Their question was why Naaman did not do the simple thing? Using common sense, they pointed out that they had come a long way to get the prophet’s help. Why not do what he said? What did Naaman have to lose?
These servants are the seventh person or group in the biblical account of Naaman’s cure. Their role was crucial. Without their advice, Naaman might have gone home to waste away under the leprosy.
Naaman was no fool. He saw the logic in what they said. He had had time to cool down from the fiery rage he felt when he drove away from Elisha’s house. So he headed his caravan to the Jordan River.
Vs. 14 says, “Naaman went down” He humbled himself. This was one of the qualities of Naaman that resulted in his healing and conversion to faith in the Lord. He obeyed what the prophet had said to do. He dipped himself seven times, and the leprosy was gone. His flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. The change was so dramatic and sudden that Naaman had no doubt that a miracle had taken place.
PLEASE READ 2 KINGS 5: 15-16.
Naaman went back to the prophet’s house. This time he saw Elisha, stood before him, and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel.” We are not told why Naaman contracted leprosy, but it led him eventually to his conversion to faith in the Lord. Filled with joy and gratitude, the healed man wanted to show his joy by giving to Elisha the treasures he had brought from Syria.
Vs. 15 is the first time Elisha himself is actually present. He has been mentioned several times in the account, but here he did not send a message. He met Naaman. When the newly cleansed man wanted to give him a gift, the prophet refused. In spite of further pleas, Elisha continued to refuse to accept any reward.
Elisha is the eighth person in the story of Naaman. This is the only one of the miracles God wrought through him, but it is the most familiar. The little girl was right. Elisha was able to heal the leper. Vs. 15-16 show the kind of man Elisha was. He was not greedy but self-giving, and he was in touch with God. Yet he did not cleanse the leper, God did. Elisha was the spokesperson for the Lord. God’s grace is available for all who trust Him.
Please read 2 Kings 5: 20-27 to learn how the servant of Elisha, Gehazi, ended up with the leprosy that Naaman had been cleansed of. There is a lesson we all need in those verses.
Next Sunday from 2 Kings 22 and 23 the “Life Question” is “How Can God’s People Make A Difference In An Ungodly Society? A.V. Daugherty <altav@swbell.net>