The Healing of Naaman
This story about the healing of Naaman is twofold. The first is with Naaman he was told to do something very easy so he could be healed from his leprosy. Gehazi was greedy and accepted a gift of payment for something the LORD had done for Naaman.
2 Kings 5:1–27
Naaman was the captain of the host of the king of Syria, and 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 velour, but he was a leper.
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. The maid unto her mistress, If God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! He would recover him of his leprosy.
Naaman went in and told his lord just what the girl from the land of Israel had said. The king of Syria said he would 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.
Naaman brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, that the letter was sent so Naaman his servant could be recovered from leprosy. When the king of Israel had read the letter, he rent his clothes, because the king of Israel could not heal Naaman from Leprosy.
When Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, telling him to let Naaman come to him, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel. So Naaman came with his horses and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. Naaman thought Elisha would at least call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.
Naaman turned and went away in a rage. His servants came near, and spoke unto him, and asked, if the prophet had told him to do some great thing, would not he not have done it? So what is the different to be told to go and wash and be clean?
Naaman then went 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.
Naaman 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 you, take a blessing or a gift of your servant. Elisha refused to accept the gift.
Naaman said, he wanted to give the gifts to the servants of Elisha two mules’ the burden of the earth. Then Naaman said that he would neither offer burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD. This was because the LORD pardoned Naaman from leprosy.
Elisha bid Naaman to go in peace. So Naaman departed from him a little way. But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: Gehazi decided to run after Naaman and take somewhat of him.
So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him, and asked if all was well? Gehazi answered that all was well. That his master had sent him that there would be from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray you, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.
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. 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.
Gehazi stood before his master Elisha. Elisha told Gehazi that he went after the chariots to receive money, and to receive garments and olive yards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants. The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto you, and unto your seed forever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.
What Can This Story Teach Us?
This story about the healing of Naaman has two lessons for us to learn. The first is with Naaman he was told to do something very easy so he could be healed from his leprosy. If it had been complex he might have done it without question and without anger. We need to remember that with men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. (Mark 10:27).
Gehazi was greedy and accepted a gift of payment for something the LORD had done for Naaman. It was not Elisha, nor was it Naaman and it certainly was not Gehazi who had healed Naaman from his leprosy. It was the LORD.
Gehazi had no right to claim payment for something the LORD had done. It would have been wrong if Elisha had taken payment for something the LORD had done.
“So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.” (Proverb 1:19).
“He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.” (Proverb 15:27).
Cite Article Source
MLA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne “The Healing of Naaman:.” Becker Bible Studies Library Feb 2015.< https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2262,>.
APA Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015, February) “The Healing of Naaman:.” Becker Bible Studies Library. Retrieved from https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2262,.
Chicago Style Citation:
Holstein, Joanne (2015) “The Healing of Naaman:.” Becker Bible Studies Library (February), https://guidedbiblestudies.com/?p=2262, (accessed).
