The Faith of Namaan

2 Kings 5:1-19a

Key Verse 14

So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.

The story described in the passage can be seen as the gospel hidden in the Old Testament Scriptures. It can be a wonderful embodiment of all the points of the New Testament Scriptures esp. the four gospels or the book of Romans (the gospel to the Gentiles). 

God is the God of Love. Although Elisha was described as the prophet 'in Israel', the God he served is not just the God of Israelites but of all nations. He is the only Lord worthy of true worship, for in love, he used a lot of people especially low class people to save one poor Gentile soul named Naaman.  

1. Skim through the passage and think about the relationship between Aram (present day Syria) and Israel. How were the two nations at odds with each other (7)? Yet what do you think the event (miraculous healing) might have done to the relationship? 

** They were enemies to each other. The relationship remained broken. They did not trust each other.  

** Most likely as Naaman became a believer, and through the grace that fell on him, many such as the king of Aram, might have grown friendly and even respectful to the nation Israel, due to the service offered by Elisha.

2. Read vs. 1-3 and put yourself in the position of the "young girl". In what respect might it not have been easy for her to 'love' her 'master' (Naaman)? Yet what did she do for Naaman? 

** In the day of the 2 Kings, it was customary for an invading nation to kill men and take captive young women. It is not unlikely that she lost her parents and brothers, perhaps mercilessly murdered. Not only that she might have been subjected to violent treatments by the lawless men, "bands from Aram". And Naaman was a military chief of the enemy nation. 

** She calls Naaman 'my' master. She was not ego-centric. He was unselfish. She reminds us of Joseph in Egypt, for while in Egypt, Joseph was more mindful of the well-being of the people the Lord put in his life than the well-being of himself. I think she is a believing woman. She had faith in the Lord, so in a foreign land, she could love and serve the Lord and thereby love and serve Naaman her neighbor.  In this way she became a true missionary.

3. Read vs. 4-6 and examine the conversation between the general and the king. How was the relationship between the two? 

** Normally the relationship between the employer and the employee (or master and servant) is not good. But in the case of the king and Naaman there is a love relationship. The two respected each other. And they served one another without reserving anything back. [The king gave him 6000 shekels of 'gold' along with many other gift items, only to wish well for his servant. [One shekel - 0.58 oz or 18 grams; gold fix as of August 16, 2011 - $790 oz; 6000 x $498 = $2,988,000] 

They also trusted one another, for when the General talked about what a mere 'slave girl' said, the King trusted and gave a permission indicating that they were opened minded, open to listen to the good advice from a low (or sub) class citizen such as a slave.

4. Read vs. 7-8 and consider what the king of Israel said and what Elisha said. What do their words indicate about the relationship between the two?

** The king had no faith in the Lord. He even did not acknowledge Elisha as God's servant. Yet, Elisha did not look down on him. He treated the king as his master and a sheep, so with God's spirit of love and power, faith and servantship, he comforted the king, and ask the king to pass the buck to him.  

5. Read vs. 9-10. With what did Naaman visit Elisha? Yet, with what did Elisha greet him?

** Horses and chariot

** With the word of God [via messenger]; Note - the direction in v. 10 is the same as "repent and turn to God". (Acts 3:19; 26:20) [Cf. Matthew 3:6; Mark 1:5]; 7 times - obey the direction meaning 'business' with absolute faith and spirit of sincerity and truth. 

6. Read vs. 11-19. Compare what Naaman said to what his 'servants' said. What does this passage indicate about the relationship between Naaman and his servants? In what respect might it have been not easy for Naaman to go down to the water of Jordan and wash himself? Yet, what did he do? With what result? 

** The title 'my father' indicates that the relationship between the general and his servants was that of father-son relationship, not the master-servant relationship. It is based on love. Although Naaman became upset and emotional, the servant(s) advised the master. The fact that the servants freely offered advice indicates that the general was a generous person, being kind and open-minded in listening others, treating his subjects as friends. The servants then looked to the interest of the master. They loved their master. Knowing the master's the desire to get well they all pleaded with him to obey Elisha, and be well.

** He had to take his clothes off, exposing his 'shameful spots', get into the water, in full view of his servants. Most likely he was carefully hiding the leprous areas of his skin. It might have been as hard as confessing one's sins. Overall people want to carefully hide their shameful spots/areas/points, shameful physically or spiritually. They want to present their good aspects only. 

** He obeyed. Read 10:8-14; 1Jo 1:8-11

** He got cleansed physically (flesh restored) and spiritually (soul [you] cleansed).   

The end

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