2 Kings 5 -- Important To Read BETWEEN The Lines

This story was mentioned by Jesus in Luke 4:27, and when He mentioned it, in the synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth during a sermon, He got this reaction:  the people became angry with Him, interrupted His sermon, and carried Him out of the synagogue!  Why?

 

It’s a story about a Gentile – a non-Jew.  “He was outside of the covenant the Jews had with God.  He was the army commander for a nation who was fighting against Israel … He was an enemy who kidnapped little Jewish girls, and a leper who should have been isolated and left to die.  These people (in Nazareth) knew nothing about the sovereign grace of God.  Like Naaman, they became angry, but unlike Naaman, they didn’t humble themselves and trust the Lord,” my commentary said.

 

Seeing Naaman the way the Jewish people did is incredibly important to understanding the magnitude of this miracle, because it establishes him as the least-deserving of that miracle.

 

As Jesus would later say, “Many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them were cleansed, except Naaman the Syrian.”

 

The little Jewish girl he’d kidnapped in one of his raids into Israel saw his leprosy one day and told his wife (her master) that Elisha COULD heal him.  His wife encouraged him to try and he then went to his king to ask permission to see their enemy king (Joram of Israel) so he would order Elisha to heal him.  Expecting the usual worldly treatment, he took lots of treasure to “grease the wheels”.

 

Of course, King Joram wasn’t a godly man, and therefore didn’t see this as an opportunity to teach Syria about God and His grace.  He only thought it was a prelude to war if Naaman couldn’t be healed.  In fact, he didn’t even call for Elisha!  God told Elisha what was happening and sent word to send Naaman to him.

 

Naaman had a problem with pride because of his position.  He was probably really hacked when Elisha didn’t come to the king, and even more so when Elisha wouldn’t meet him, but only sent his servant with a message for Naaman to dip his body seven times in the muddy Jordan River.

 

Naamon almost lost his opportunity for healing, but his servant finally said, “If he’d given you some difficult thing to do, you would have done it!  So Why not just do it?”

 

“Naaman lost his temper; then he lost his pride; then he lost his leprosy;  that is generally the order in which proud rebellious sinners are converted,” D. C. Moody said.

 

That little kidnapped Jewish girl’s lack of fear and her trust in God converted the leader of the army attacking her nation and led him to accept God as his Lord.  We will not know this side of heaven how God will use ur testimonies to bring others to Him, if we will only dare to speak.

 

Father, You took me – Your enemy and a dirty sin-filled out-of-the-covenant Gentile – and brought me to You, forgave me, and cleaned me up.  Please let others come to know You by hearing what You’ve done in my life.  Break the walls of pride and self-importance so that they can and will come to know You.  Let me never make judgments about who is worthy of Your grace, because You saved even me.

 

 

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford