(a) Who was Naaman? Narrate the story of Naaman. (b) Mention two important lessons which Naaman learnt from his healing

Answer Details

(a) Who was Naaman? Narrate the story of Naaman (2 Kings 5)

Naaman was the commander of the army of the king of Syria (Aram). He was a great and honourable man, highly favoured by his master because through him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valour, but he was a leper.

Now 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." When Naaman reported this, the king of Syria sent him with a letter to the king of Israel, along with silver, gold and garments. The king of Israel tore his clothes, fearing it was a plot, saying, "Am I God, to kill and to make alive?"

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 to Elisha's door. Elisha did not come out himself but sent a messenger saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored."

Naaman was angry and went away, offended that the prophet did not come out to him and wave his hand over the spot, and complaining that the rivers of Damascus, Abana and Pharpar, were better than all the waters of Israel. But his servants reasoned with him: if the prophet had asked something hard, would he not have done it? How much more when he only says, "Wash and be clean." So Naaman went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, and his flesh was restored like that of a little child, and he was clean.

He returned to Elisha, confessed, "Now I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel," and offered a gift, which Elisha refused. Naaman asked for two mules' burden of earth to worship the LORD on. Later, Elisha's servant Gehazi greedily ran after Naaman and lied to obtain silver and garments, and the leprosy of Naaman clung to him.

(b) Two important lessons which Naaman learnt

1. Humility and obedience - he learnt that healing came only when he humbled himself and obeyed the simple instruction of the prophet, laying aside his pride and anger.
2. The supremacy of the true God - he learnt that there is no God in all the earth but the God of Israel, and he resolved to worship Him alone.