Think of the gratitude this man had for what this girl had done for him. 2 Kgs 5:14-17) explains Naaman was a Syrian warlord, who suffered from a grave skin condition (most likely, leprosy). 2 Kings 5:15 tells us that Naaman, because of his healing, came to realize that there's no other God but the God of Israel. 14 And your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south. It must have been a most impressive sight to behold. He had originally planned to purchase his healing, and Elisha had overruled that plan. But now that He has come to the earth, He is the ladder. He had everything going for him, except leprosy. 3 And she said to her mistress, "I wish that my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Please give them a unit of silver and two suits of clothes. 23 Naaman said, Please accept two units of silver. He did not seek first the kingdom of God, and thus he ended up in worse condition than Naaman. GODS WORD Translation (GW). I am going to tell you a story in which the names and some of the details have been changed. 50+ premium resources ($2,400+ value!). By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. Therefore please consider, and see how he seeks a quarrel with me." As sure as the Lord lives, Ill run after Naaman and get something from him. 21So Gehazi went after Naaman. I will send a letter to the king of Israel. So he went, taking with him ten units of silver, 6,000 shekels of gold, and ten suits of clothes. He was willing to try anything, so he went to Elisha's house in Israel. You can discuss this post and others in the Faithlife Today group. Naaman tied up 150 pounds of silver in two bags with two sets of clothing. . Try Bible Gateway Plus free today! Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! Sir, would you please accept a gift from me?, 16I am a servant of the living Lord, Elisha answered, and I swear that I will not take anything from you., Naaman kept begging, but Elisha kept refusing. 1 Now Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Syria, was esteemed and respected by his master, for through him the LORD had given Syria military victories. As the reader can see, it was really not a problem at all, but the king of Israel failed to see the solution.113 The king of Syria assumed that there was a close relationship between the king of Israel and the prophet of Israel, as there should have been. 2 Kings 5 CEV - Elisha Heals Naaman - Naaman was the - Bible Gateway 10Elisha sent a messenger to him. If Naaman lived after the coming of our Lord, he would not have needed that soil. New King James Version Scholars believe that God delivered Israel from wicked Ahab through the bow of Naaman, thus the words of 2 Kings 5:1. May we do likewise. 18May the Lord forgive me when my master goes to the temple of Rimmon to worship, leans on my arm, and I have to bow down in the temple of Rimmon. The little girl who had been taken by the Syrians in a raid told Naaman, the Syrian military commander, about Elisha (2 Kings 5:2-4). Our text has much to teach us about the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Gehazi chose instead to tell yet another lie. 14Naaman walked down to the Jordan; he waded out into the water and stooped down in it seven times, just as Elisha had told him. 2 Kings 5:1-17 ERV - Bible.com Like Judas Iscariot, Gehazi had been close to Gods spokesman. His skin became as smooth as a young childs and he was healed. Naaman was concerned about his worship in another way, which concerned his work. He had been incredibly successful in leading the Syrians in their attacks against Israel. His words were a rebuke for the kings distress, which was completely inappropriate in this situation. Upon receiving this letter, the king of Israel should have called for Elisha the prophet, who could heal Naaman. He received a personal knowledge of God because of what he experienced. Naaman was a great and mighty man who seemingly has his put life together. Naaman responded in another way to his newly found faith in God. What is the problem? My Book of Bible Stories. I fear that there was a Judas-like spirit in Gehazi. A letter from the top down got immediate results. Naaman grasps the logic of the argument and concedes the point. 2 Kings 5:19 "Go in peace," said Elisha. But after Naaman had traveled But now that he is healed, I think Naaman simply wishes to meet Elisha and to sincerely express his deep gratitude and appreciation. I will also send a letter to the king of Israel. When Naaman left, he took 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and 10 sets of clothing with him. Somehow to him, it seemed terribly wrong. This means that for all intents and purposes, Naaman will be admitting that his gods are powerless to heal him, and that only Israels God can do so. Syrian general whose miraculous recovery from leprosy is told in II Kings v. . They sought to persuade Jesus to heal the centurions servant, mainly on the basis of his deedsdeeds from which they benefited greatly. This young girl was snatched from her parents and from her homeland and made a slave in a foreign land. In 1 Kings 16:24, we are told that king Omri of Israel paid Shemer two talents of silver for the hill on which he then built the capital city of Samaria. Naaman returned to Elisha's home, thanking him for his help. Who Are Gog and Magogand Whats So Evil about the North? Naaman assured Elisha that even though he might be bowing down with the king, he would no longer be worshipping Syrian gods. PRIVACY POLICY Naaman was a powerful warrior in the Syrian army who had leprosy. The Little Maid From Israel, a Leper, and a Miracle At that time, Elisha began his . Naaman came prepared to pay generously for his healing. The word young in verse 2 is translated little in several versions of the Bible (KJV, NAU, NJB), and young in others (NET Bible, NIV, NKJV). He is insulted that he has not been treated in a manner worthy of his position. Naaman hears that Elisha, the prophet of Israel, can heal him, so he makes the trip. He was a thief and wanted to pilfer his commission from the money bag which was in his care (John 12:4-6). 13. The Healing of Naaman (2 Kings 5:1-19) | Bible.org A Girl Helps a Mighty Man, Deliverance From Egypt to Israels First King, Israels First King to Captivity in Babylon, Captivity in Babylon to Rebuilding of Jerusalems Walls, Jesus Resurrection to Pauls Imprisonment, Publication download options Elisha, Prophet - Amazing Bible Timeline with World History She is on the bottom rung of the Syrian social ladder. Create an account or log in to get started. To make matters worse, this young girls plight was probably the result of Naamans leadership role as captain of the army of the king of Syria. Gehazi was a servant, too. At the behest of some servants, he consents to dip himself in the Jordan. He was a former scholar-in-residence at Logos Bible Software. (see 2 Kings 5:8). This man was a good soldier, but he had a skin disease. Then Naaman returned to his home. After Naaman had traveled some distance, 20 Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, "My master . Elisha asked him, Where were you, Gehazi?, 26Then Elisha said to him, I went with you in spirit when the man turned around in his chariot to speak to you. They cannot demand a have it your way kind of salvation; instead, they must humbly submit to that salvation which God has provided. Elisha Heals Naaman 5 Naaman, the commander of the Aramean king's army, was respected and highly honored by his master. "And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansedonly Naaman the Syrian." Luke 4:27. I swear by the living Lord that I will talk to Naaman myself and get something from him. 21So he hurried after Naaman. Little Girls Bible Storybook for Mothers and Daughters. That is, it was not the appropriate time to accept gifts from Naaman. God had not only chosen to identify Himself with a particular people (the Jews, and particularly the Messiah), but He had identified Himself with a particular place (the land of Israel, and particularly Jerusalem). 24When they reached the hill where Gehazi lived, he took the bags from the servants and placed them in his house, then sent the men away. It would take several weeks for her to see her primary care doctor. While his pride caused him to get angry at Elisha, his eventual humility allowed him to be healed. Is it that the king does not think of seeking Gods help through the prophet -- or that he refuses to do so? This was a way of letting Naaman know from the beginning that Elisha was in charge. Naaman, hearing the girl's words, went to the Syrian king who then sent him to Israel with a letter to the king and gifts. There are many important lessons to learn here, so allow me to point out a few as we conclude this study. Certainly you must see that he is looking for an excuse to fight me.. He is still highly esteemed by his master, the king of Syria, but there is hardly a disease which could be more devastating to Naaman. Could I not wash in them and be healed? So he turned around and went away angry. When the two meet, Elisha tells him rather dismissively that he needs to take a bath in the Jordan River. Then he would cure him of his leprosy.". He knew as well that to worship God alone meant that he could worship no other gods. We know that he wanted to discuss his concerns about worshipping the one true God appropriately. Naamans unusual request stems from the ancientand biblicalconception that the earth is the locale for a cosmic turf war. Elisha's statement to the king is sad. His words betray a strong sense of racial pride and prejudice. Cant we learn a lot from reading the Bible? I think our author meant for Naaman to be a rebuke to the Israelites who would read this account. He had a letter from the king of Syria, and he had just come from the king of Israel, with whom he had an audience, even though he had dropped in unexpectedly. And so he requested that Jesus heal his servant long distance, by the mere speaking of a word. What can we learn from the story of Elisha and Naaman? And when he comes forth after dipping the final time, his skin was like that of a young child. They were very diplomatic with their master, and their argument was convincing. 1 After Jesus had finished teaching all this to the people, he entered Capernaum. This man was a good soldier, but he had a skin disease. This man, who had leprosy, washed himself in the Jordan river seven times, according to what Elisha the prophet instructed him to do, and he found healing (2 Kings 5). The king of Syria wrote a letter to the king of Israel, politely demanding that he see to it that Naaman be healed. 23Sure, Naaman replied. If Naaman was allowed to think that he contributed anything to his healing, he would fail to grasp the grace of God in his healing and in his salvation. Bible Gateway 2 Kings 5 :: NIV - MIT UK legal organisation intervenes to block same-sex marriage in British Virgin Islands, Christian governor dismissed for questioning school's sex ed policy is reinstated, Review into former Vineyard leader alleges 'patterns' of 'spiritual abuse', Same-sex blessings and safeguarding dominate CofE General Synod, How the 'Jesus Revolution' impacted the UK and me, Political mobilisation within the black Church: a work in progress, Few Germans regularly read the Bible, study finds, Closing bank accounts based on personal views is a vicious, covert attempt at social engineering that must stop. Here is a man who recently boasted that the waters of Syria were far superior to the waters found in the River Jordan. 11But Naaman became angry and left. God had chosen to mediate His blessings to the world through Abraham and his offspring (the Jews). Print this activity, connect the dots, and learn from the Bible account. Elisha then told one of his prophets to anoint Jehu to King by destroying Ahab's house. 9 For I too am a man under authority; I have soldiers under me, and I say to this one, Go and he goes, and to another Come and he comes, and to my slave Do this and he does it. 10 When Jesus heard this he was amazed and said to those who followed him, I tell you the truth, I have not found faith like this in anyone in Israel! God's blessing is on the Gentiles as well as the Jews. The king of Israel had the opposite problem. Would you cure him of his leprosy?, 7When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes in fear and shouted, That Syrian king believes I can cure this man of leprosy! This would have been hard for anyone to believe, but surely Gehazi should have known better than to try and deceive a prophet. See . So why don't you do what he said? Naaman believed that There [was] no God in all the earth but in Israel (2 Kgs 5:15) and wanted to return to his homeland with holy ground. Thus, wherever He is, man has access to heaven. It is by trusting in Him that lost sinners like ourselves can be cleansed from our sins and be assured of eternal life. As great as he is, Namaan has one very serious problemhe has leprosy. Bob is a pastor/teacher and elder at Community Bible Chapel in Richardson, Texas, and has contributed many of his Bible study series for use by the Foundation. The people of Israel are God's people. Salvation is a gift of Gods free grace. We should listen well and learn about this bottom up system, because it is normally the way that God works, especially when it comes to the salvation of men. Instead of hating her master and finding a certain amount of pleasure in his humiliating disease, this young girl seems to genuinely care about the well-being of her master and her mistress. Send the man to me, so that he will know there is a prophet in Israel., 9Naaman left with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house. Besides his greed, there are yet two more things which make Gehazis sin so sinister. Who Was Naaman in the Bible? - Bible Study Tools But because he humbled himself, with help from his servants, he received his healing. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. In seeking her masters best interests, I believe she experienced Gods blessings as well. Our text describes how God graciously frustrates Naamans top down approach and initiates a bottom up solution. It is interesting to compare the two kings in our textthe king of Syria and the king of Israel. And he did not even have the common sense to know better than to try to lie to Elisha, the seer.. Naamans healing and salvation are directly attributable to the faithfulness of this young girl. Let Naaman come to me. In 2013, there was another particularly special find. Ask the class to follow along, looking for what . His skin became healthy again like a little childs skin. September 25, 2015 by Tony Kummer Naaman was commander of the Army, wealthy, and talented soldier. Now it is time for him to pay, and pay well. I think this helped to salve the conscience of Gehazi, as he did this evil thing. The rest of 2 Kings 5:1-19 tells us how a young Israelite girl, whom Syrians took captive and was made to wait on Naaman's wife, told her mistress that a prophet in Israel can heal his master's leprosy. Elisha Cures Naaman's Leprosy. It is easy to see why he would wish to meet with Elisha, and why he would gladly leave all that he had brought with him to pay for his healing. Naaman stood in front of him and announced, Now I know that the God of Israel is the only God in the whole world. Can I kill or restore life? (verse 7) are most enlightening. Likewise, he expected that this miracle for hire would be performed with all the pomp and circumstance that such an occasion required. Lesson 102: 2 Kings 5-13 - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day When Jesus sent out His disciples, He expected that people would provide for them and support them, as an expression of their faith. After Naaman had gone only a short distance. Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, conspired to hold back a portion of the money they received from the sale of their property. The centurion contradicted the appeal of the Jewish elders. 6 Meaningful lessons from the story of Naaman Our author goes on to inform us that Naaman was indeed a great warrior (verse 1), but then he goes on to tell us something that neither Naaman nor his king knewNaamans military success was not primarily the result of his courage or military skills; it was the result of Gods sovereign plan and purpose: for through him the LORD had given Syria military victories (verse 1). I think you and I would agree that if we had our choice of approaching a problem like this from the bottom up or from the top down, we would almost certainly opt for the top down approach. I have already suggested that Gehazis sin was Judas-like. This is why Jesus can speak as He does to the woman at the well (John 4:21-24). He expected to deal directly with the prophet and to take charge of his healing. He lived up to his name. She was a true Israelite in that she was a light to the Gentiles (see Isaiah 42:6; 49:6; 51:4). Who is Naaman and what can we learn from his experience with Elisha in Naaman the Warrior Listens to an Israelite Girl - JW.ORG No wonder Jesus had good words to say about this Gentiles faith. Exodus 21-22. Elisha's servant was healed. Why does he ask me to cure a man of his skin disease? He was not an Israelite, like the Shunammite woman, who was intelligently giving expression to her faith. And may we, Gentiles like Naaman, rejoice in the fact that God purposed to save us, as well as the Jews. When Naaman saw Gehazi running after him, he got down from his chariot to speak to him. Naaman tried to pay Elisha, but Elisha refused the gifts. As I understand this story and the events which follow in chapter 6, God uses this incident to bring about peace, not war. We should remind ourselves of the relationship between Elisha and Elijahs before Elijahs death: Jehoshaphat asked, Is there no prophet of the LORD here that we might seek the LORDs direction? One of the servants of the king of Israel answered, Elisha son of Shapat is here; he used to be Elijahs servant (2 Kings 3:11).

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