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Answer
Naaman served as the commander of Syria’s (Aram’s) army and was highly esteemed as a military leader, yet he suffered from leprosy. His Israelite servant girl proposed that he visit Elisha for healing. Naaman journeyed to Israel, bearing a generous gift and a letter from Ben-hadad, the king of Syria, requesting the king of Israel to cure Naaman (2 Kings 5:1-6). The king of Israel reacted with alarm—how could anyone heal leprosy? He suspected that Ben-hadad was provoking a conflict «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. », (2 Kings 5:7).
Upon learning of the king’s distress, the prophet Elisha sent a message to the king, asking, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel” «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. », (2 Kings 5:8). Naaman then arrived at Elisha’s residence with his chariots, gifts, and attendants.
Elisha did not personally meet Naaman but instructed him through a messenger to wash in the Jordan River seven times for healing. Naaman became upset and departed, saying, ‘I assumed that he would come out to me, stand, invoke the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers
rs of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?’ So he turned and went away in a rage” (2 Kings 5:11-12).
Naaman’s servants urged him to reconsider, and Naaman wisely did. After dipping himself in the Jordan River seven times, he was completely healed as Elisha had said. In fact, “his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy” «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. », (2 Kings 5:14). Naaman returned to Elisha and said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant” (verse 15). Elisha refused the gift and sent the Syrian commander away in peace.
However, Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, followed Naaman and deceitfully asked for a gift in Elisha’s name. Naaman gave him “two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing” «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. », (2 Kings 5:23). Gehazi hid the loot and returned home, where Elisha confronted him. Gehazi lied again to cover the matter. The Lord had given Elisha insight, and the prophet told Gehazi, “Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever” (verse 27). Gehazi immediately contracted leprosy.
Much can be learned from this account. First, there is a clear contrast between the faith of the young servant girl, who knew of Elisha and believed in his power; and the distress of Israel’s king, who did not even tThink of Elisha and worried about his own lack of power.
Second, we see a contrast between the grandeur of Naaman and the humility of Elisha. Naaman arrived for healing with lavish gifts in splendid chariots; Elisha had no such luxury, only the power of God. Naaman’s pride nearly led to his downfall: too arrogant and obstinate to follow the prophet’s simple instructions, he almost missed out on the blessing that God had prepared. Similarly, we should obey the Word of God, even when His ways seem illogical to us.
Furthermore, those who serve God do not do so for monetary gain but out of love and humble obedience to the Lord. Elisha declined the royal gift offered to him. God is a giver, not a receiver, and His gifts cannot be purchased. Naaman’s healing from leprosy beautifully symbolizes our deliverance from sin—graciously bestowed by God in response to faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Gehazi’s greed and deceit serve as cautionary tales for us. The Bible cautions against “pursuing dishonest gain” «For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; », (Titus 1:7). We are urged to be truthful in all our transactions, recognizing that God observes everything and will judge accordingly. We can be certain that our transgressions will be revealed «But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out. », (Numbers 32:23).
Jesus used the account of Naaman and Elisha to illustrate Israel’s issue of unbelief. In Luke 4:27, Jesus informs the audience in the Nazareth synagogue, “And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” The lepers in Israel disregarded the opportunity to be healed, while a foreigner like Naaman embraced it.The recovery that could have been theirs through Elisha, so God healed a Syrian instead. Similarly, the Israelites of Jesus’ time were overlooking the Power right in front of their eyes. However, God shows no partiality (Acts 10:34-35), and the Gentiles ultimately embraced the gospel that Israel turned down.
