The account of the healing of Naaman’s leprosy is a lesson in the unexpected nature of God’s grace and mercy. To begin with, Naaman was a foreigner. But he was not just any foreigner. He was the leader of the Syrian army, the enemy of God’s people. For a prophet of the Lord to heal an Israelite leper was one thing, but to restore the very person whose job it was to oppress you—that was altogether outrageous! Yet this is who the Lord is. He is lavishly generous with his grace, pouring it out upon those who are especially undeserving.
We are also warned by this account. Notice how the king of Israel was terrified by Naaman’s request. He did not believe in the promises of God or the power of his grace to be a blessing (cf. Gen. 12:2). And what about Elisha’s servant, Gehazi? He had seen God’s grace in action but used it to exploit and steal. These two men should have known better than most about the nature of God’s grace, but they were blind to it. It is humbling to observe that these men, so closely connected to the work of God in the world, were oblivious to its power in their own lives.
But even if the expected heralds of God’s goodness have become blind, we need not despair. The Lord is not limited by such obstacles. Take note of the unexpected conduits of God’s power and goodness in this narrative: the little Israelite slave girl, and Naaman’s servants. These “second class citizens” are the heroes of the story. They are the ones who encourage Naaman to seek help in Israel and submit to washing in the Jordan River. God has chosen the weak and foolish things of this world to make himself known (cf. 1 Cor. 1:27).
Because the Lord has been generous with his grace to us (Rom. 5:10), we are free to be gracious with others, even desiring to see God’s grace poured out in the lives of our enemies. May we never become blind or callous to this grace, but rather see it in all of life, especially in the weak, humble, and foolish things.
Reference:
Thompson Chain References
2131: Results of Greed
2132: Examples of Greed
2133: General Reference
4070: Misery of..
Character Reference:
Elisha
Elisha was a prominent prophet in the Old Testament, known as the successor and disciple of Elijah, and served as a trusted advisor to several kings of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. His name, meaning “God is salvation,” reflects his role as a divine messenger. According to biblical accounts, Elisha was the son of Shaphat, a wealthy landowner from Abel-meholah, a town in the Jordan Valley. He was called to follow Elijah after the prophet found him plowing with twelve yokes of oxen; Elijah placed his mantle upon Elisha, symbolizing the transfer of prophetic authority, and Elisha immediately left his farming life to become Elijah’s attendant.
Elisha’s ministry began after Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, an event witnessed by Elisha, who then received a “double portion” of Elijah’s spirit, signifying his rightful succession as the leader of the prophets. He performed numerous miracles, including healing the bitter waters of Jericho, multiplying a widow’s oil to pay her debts, raising a Shunammite woman’s son from the dead, curing the Syrian commander Naaman of leprosy, and multiplying food to feed a hundred men. He also demonstrated God’s power by causing an iron ax head to float, striking enemy soldiers with blindness, and prophesying military victories.
Elisha played a significant role in the political affairs of his time, prophesying the rise of Hazael as king of Aram and directing the anointing of Jehu to overthrow the house of Ahab, leading to a violent purge of Ahab’s family. He advised kings such as Jehoram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, and Jehoash, who held him in high regard, even addressing him as “father”. His ministry spanned over fifty years, lasting from approximately 892 to 832 BCE, and he is remembered for his compassion, faithfulness, and powerful acts that demonstrated God’s presence and care. Elisha died and was buried, but his bones were later said to have revived a dead man, underscoring the enduring power of God through him.
Gehazi
Gehazi is a figure in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the Books of Kings, known as the servant of the prophet Elisha. He first appears in connection with the Shunammite woman, whose hospitality to Elisha prompted the prophet to promise her a son, a promise fulfilled when she bore a child. When the child died, Gehazi was sent by Elisha to lay the prophet’s staff on the boy’s face, but the child did not revive; Elisha then personally restored the boy to life. His most significant story involves Naaman, the Syrian general healed of leprosy by Elisha, who refused gifts offered by Naaman. Overcome by greed, Gehazi deceitfully pursued Naaman and obtained two talents of silver and two robes, claiming they were for two young prophets. Upon being confronted by Elisha, who had divine knowledge of the deception, Gehazi was cursed, and the leprosy of Naaman was transferred to him and his descendants forever, leaving him leprous as white as snow. Despite this punishment, he is later mentioned recounting Elisha’s miracles to King Joram, including the restoration of the Shunammite woman’s son.
Naaman
Naaman was a high-ranking military commander in the service of the king of Aram (ancient Syria) during the time of the kings of Israel, specifically mentioned in 2 Kings 5 of the Hebrew Bible. He was a valiant soldier who enjoyed great favor and respect from his king, largely because of the victories the Lord had granted to Aram through him. Despite his esteemed status, Naaman suffered from tzaraath, a severe skin disease often translated as leprosy, though it was not the same as the leprosy known today, which did not appear in Israel until centuries later.
The story of Naaman’s healing begins when a young Israelite servant girl, captured during a raid by Aramean forces, told her mistress that the prophet Elisha in Samaria could cure her master of his affliction. Naaman, with a letter from the king of Aram and lavish gifts, traveled to Israel to seek healing from the king of Israel, who was alarmed by the request, fearing it was a pretext for war. The prophet Elisha intervened, sending a message for Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan River to be cleansed.
Initially, Naaman was furious and insulted by the simplicity of the instruction, especially since he expected a grand ceremony and considered the Jordan River inferior to the rivers of Damascus. However, his servants persuaded him to try the simple act, and upon obeying, he was miraculously healed, his flesh restored like that of a young boy. This profound experience led Naaman to acknowledge the God of Israel as the only true God, declaring, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel”.
Naaman sought to offer gifts to Elisha, but the prophet refused, emphasizing that God’s healing was a free gift. He also requested soil from Israel to build an altar for worshiping the Lord, and asked for forgiveness for having to accompany the king of Aram to worship the pagan god Rimmon, a duty he could not avoid. Elisha assured him that God would pardon him for this, recognizing his heart’s true allegiance.
The story of Naaman is significant in biblical theology as a demonstration of God’s grace extending beyond Israel to all nations, and it is referenced by Jesus in Luke 4, where He notes that among many lepers in Israel, only Naaman the Syrian was cleansed. Rabbinic tradition identifies Naaman as the archer who mortally wounded King Ahab of Israel, which may explain why the Lord had given victory to Aram through him.
Ephraim
Ephraim was the second son of Joseph and Asenath, born in Egypt during the years of plenty before the famine. His name means “doubly fruitful,” reflecting Joseph’s statement that God had made him fruitful in the land of his affliction. As the younger son, Ephraim received a greater blessing from his grandfather Jacob, who adopted him and his brother Manasseh as his own sons, granting them an inheritance among the tribes of Israel. In a significant act, Jacob placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head, signifying a greater blessing despite Ephraim being the younger, a decision Jacob affirmed was intentional. This blessing foretold that Ephraim’s descendants would become a multitude of nations.
Ephraim became the progenitor of the Tribe of Ephraim, one of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, which was part of the larger group of tribes descended from Joseph. The tribe settled in central Canaan, in a fertile and strategically located territory that included significant religious sites like Shiloh and Bethel. The tribe played a leading role in the history of the northern kingdom of Israel, with its territory encompassing the capital city of Samaria. The name “Ephraim” was often used synonymously with the northern kingdom of Israel. Notable figures from the tribe include Joshua, the leader who succeeded Moses and led the conquest of Canaan , Samuel, the prophet and judge , and Jeroboam I, the first king of the northern kingdom. The tribe was taken into captivity by the Assyrians in 722 BC when the northern kingdom was conquered.
