(a) Give an account of the healing of Naaman. [9 marks] (b) What three lessons can be derived from this story? [6 marks]

Answer Details

(a) The healing of Naaman (2 Kings 5:1-14)

Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Syria (Aram), a great and honourable man, but he was a leper. On one of their raids the Syrians had carried off a little Israelite girl who served Naaman's wife. She told her mistress, "Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy."

The king of Syria sent Naaman with a letter and rich gifts to the king of Israel. The king of Israel tore his clothes in dismay, thinking the Syrian king was seeking a quarrel, for he could not cure leprosy. When Elisha the prophet heard of it, he sent word, "Let him come now to me, that he may know there is a prophet in Israel."

Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at Elisha's door. Elisha did not come out but sent a messenger, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored." Naaman was angry and turned away, offended that the prophet did not come out to him personally and call on the name of the LORD, and complaining that the rivers of Damascus, Abana and Pharpar, were better than all the waters of Israel.

But his servants reasoned with him, "My father, if the prophet had commanded you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much rather, then, when he says to you, Wash, and be clean?" So Naaman went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like that of a little child, and he was clean.

(b) Three lessons from the story

1. Humility and obedience are necessary to receive God's blessings: Naaman had to swallow his pride and obey a simple command before he was healed.
2. God can use anyone, even the lowly: The testimony of a captive little maidservant led to the healing of a great commander, showing that God uses even the humble and the young.
3. Healing and salvation come from God, not from wealth, position or human effort: Naaman's riches and rank could not cure him; it was faith and obedience to God's word through His prophet that made him whole.