2 KINGS 5
Read 2 Kings 5:1-27
Here we have another account of the Lord miraculously healing someone through his appointed servant, the prophet Elisha. But in this story, we see several examples of how God does not fit in with the expectations of people and how God’s kingdom differs from the kingdom of this world.
The outline we know – Naaman, a high official in the dominant power of Aram (modern day Syria) had a skin disease that he cannot find anyone to cure. It took one of the lowest in that society, a young Israelite girl who had been captured in a military skirmish (v2) and had become a servant in the household, to point him in the right direction – and, ultimately to become a believer in the one true God. We don’t know the name of this servant girl, but it is often the case in the Bible that one small word from a believer has great consequences. And this applies today as well. We may not think that we are very important in the grand scheme of things, but God uses people like us to great effect and a kind, helpful word from us may lead to someone coming into God’s kingdom. We may never see the final result, but we have played our part in furthering the Kingdom of God. Little things can mean a lot.
When Naaman arrived in Israel looking for the man of God, Elisha, to cure him, he nearly caused a diplomatic incident. He went to the king first, as protocol demanded, and the king was beside himself with anxiety because he couldn’t see how to help this important visitor. Thankfully, in God’s providence, word came to Elisha, who agreed to see him. And here we see another contrast. When Naaman went to see the king of Israel he went with great gifts and made a formal visit to the royal palace – he was treated with the pomp and ceremony of an important diplomatic visit. When Naaman turned up at Elisha’s house, Elisha didn’t even greet him personally; he sent out a servant with a message (v10). Elisha was a servant of God, and in God’s eyes no-one is more important than anyone else. Naaman, an important figure in Aram, was nobody special here; he was just a man in need of healing.
God, in his grace, healed Naaman, and we see a change in attitude from him. Five times in verses 15-18 when speaking to Elisha he called himself, ‘your servant’. That was a great change from his rather arrogant attitude towards Elisha in verses 11 and 12. Naaman had met God in being healed by him, and it changed him. In verse 17 Naaman declared his position. He rejected the gods of his own land and accepted the Lord and his God. Anyone who met Jesus in the New Testament was changed by him and I am sure we all know people who have met Jesus and had their lives changed dramatically by him, and perhaps we have experienced this ourselves.