And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean. (2 Ki 5:10). Obviously we have joined a story in progress. The story opens nearly 900 years before Christ in the land of Syria. Benhadad, king of Syria, had defeated the armies of Israel in the battle which resulted in the death of King Ahab. There were constant border wars between Syria and Israel with Israel getting the worst of it.

Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper. (vs 1). Syria had an impressive and successful officer commanding its army. Providence had produced his military victories but his personal integrity brought him honor and respect. However, despite his prestige and conquests he was sick and his sickness was terminal, he had leprosy.

Leprosy was a death sentence for those who had it. It is a bacterial disease attacking the nerves in the hands, feet, and face. It horribly disfigures its victims. Leprosy begins as a localized skin disease and depending on the body’s ability to resist, it may remain localized or it may spread. The incubation period for leprosy is usually three to five years after which lesions begin appearing on the face or limbs. After a long and painful progression of the disease death was inevitable. Today leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) is treatable and controlled but in Bible times it was fatal. Naaman’s career was about to be cut short. Syria’s hero was a “dead man walking.”

And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naaman’s wife. Then she said to her mistress, if only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy. (2 Ki 5:2-3).

Naaman went to his king and told him the words of this Jewish girl. The king gave Naaman permission to go for help. The king made this an official state visit by sending with Naaman gold, silver, and fine clothes to give as tribute. He also sent with him a letter to the king of Israel saying, Now be advised, when this letter comes to you, that I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy. (vs 6).

Naaman went to the wrong person. He went to the king instead of to the prophet. Upon reading this letter, the king of Israel became so upset that he tore his clothes. He knew he could not cure leprosy and believed this was a disguised plot to start a war.

The prophet of God was not in the king’s palace but he sure knew what was going on. So it was, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, why have you torn your clothes? Please let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel. (vs 8). Naaman immediately went to Elisha, but when his chariot arrived at Elisha’s door it was a servant not the prophet who came out and told him to go dip seven times in the Jordan River (vss 9-10).

But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, indeed, I said to myself, He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy. Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers 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. (vss 11-12).

Naaman was ready to surrender a fortune for a cure but not his pride. Why? Naaman was used to “calling the shots” and perhaps he wanted to call them for God. 

Naaman would have died from his disease had it not been for some servants of his who gave him wise counsel. And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, my father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, wash, and be clean (vs 13).

To his credit Naaman humbled himself and made a beeline to the Jordan River. He washed seven times and was healed (vs 14).

“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning . . .” (Rom 15:4). What lessons can we learn from this? Many, but here are a few!

Consider the faith and love of this captured servant girl. She was a slave in a strange land but she had not lost her faith. Also, she never allowed hate and vengeance to find root in her young heart. Upon learning of his leprosy she did not say “Naaman is getting what he deserves for making a slave of me.” Instead she shares with him news about a cure. We can learn not to seek revenge.