Naaman: Do Not Despise Small Things

Title: Small Things

Text: 2 Kings 5

Opening Scripture

2 Kings 5:1 Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper.

Introduction

Illustration: The Boy and the kite

In 1848 Niagara Falls was a tourist hot spot. People from all over would come and see the great site. Not only was it a place of tourism but it would soon become a bridge between Canada and the US. The two countries got together and found the closest gorge of 800 feet span and made plans to bridge the two countries.

But how. The waters were tumultuous. The rocks and cliffs were seemingly impassable. How could you connect the two? Theodore Hulett came up with this idea. He wanted someone to fly a kite across the river to the other side. So, a contest was created, a prize of $5 was offered and a 16-year-old boy accomplished the task. You say, how did that help? Attached to kite string was a rope, to the rope was a larger rope and this kept on until a steel cable was pulled across the gorge. Now today there is a bridge that connects the two. It all started with a small piece of kite string.

Zecheriah 4:10 Do not despise these small beginnings, or even small things. What seems to be insignificant to us can be significant to God.

In Exodus chapter 2 we read about Miriam watching over baby Moses in the waters of the Nile. You may remember that it was Pharoah’s command that all male babies would be instantly put to death

Luke 9 – 2 small fish and 5 loaves of bread

Small Testimony

2 Kings 5:1 Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper.

Naaman was a commander of the pagan army of Syria.

I. Notice her love, grace and compassion – authentic

(2) And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naaman's wife. (3) Then she said to her mistress, "If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy."

This young girl was a spoil of the an invasion.

She saw a need beyond her need, she saw a hope beyond her hope

Application: What do you see in your circumstances? Where is your focus as you see where you are?

II. Notice her focus, not on her but on God

What she could have said was, “remember me” “take me with you”.

III. Hope was aroused in Naaman – from the testimony of the girl

(4) And Naaman went in and told his master, saying, "Thus and thus said the girl who is from the land of Israel." (5) Then the king of Syria said, "Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel." So he departed and took with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. (6) Then he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which said, Now be advised, when this letter comes to you, that I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

So Naaman gets permission from his king, Benhadad and goes into Israel to get healed. He shows up on the kings doorstep with, a letter and all his entourage. This had to be intimidating to the king of Isarael. He deduced that this was just a ploy to start a fight. Instead of seeing an opportunity to show God’s power.

IV. This girl have more faith in God than the King of Israel Jehoram

(7) And it happened, when the king of Israel read the letter, that he tore his clothes and said, "Am I God, to kill and make alive, that this man sends a man to me to heal him of his leprosy? Therefore please consider, and see how he seeks a quarrel with me."

This girl knew what God could do. She knew the power of God. This is exceptional faith.

V. Elisha shows up

(8) So it was, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, "Why have you torn your clothes? Please let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel."