Naaman’s Story Series

Naaman’s Story

Opening Illustration:

There is a myth from ancient Egypt that says when you get to the gate of Heaven you will be asked two questions:

1. Did you find joy in your life?

2. Has your life brought joy to others?

Thesis: Naaman’s story of healing and dedication to God came as a result of hearing about another person’s story “Elisha’s” and how his relationship with God brought healing to many other people’s bodies, souls and spirits.

Scripture Text: 2 Kings 5:1-27: 1Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.2Now bands from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. 3She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 4Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. 5“By all means, go,” the king of Aram replied. “I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing. 6The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.” 7As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, “Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!” 8When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: “Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.” 9So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. 10Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” 11But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. 12Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage. 13Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” 14So 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. 15Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. Please accept now a gift from your servant.”16The prophet answered, “As surely as the LORD lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.” And even though Naaman urged him, he refused. 17“If you will not,” said Naaman, “please let me, your servant, be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the LORD. 18But may the LORD forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down and he is leaning on my arm and I bow there also—when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD forgive your servant for this. 19“Go in peace,” Elisha said.

Introduction:

Naaman was King Aram’s general and had led his army to many victories. The Bible introduces this man as a great warrior who had power, pride and prestige. He was successful because of the Lord, and people respected him. In his country everyone knew his name. Notice Naaman is not Jewish he is from Aram yet God was using him there in that country as a general.

But he had a problem.

As I read this story it formed in my mind as a old movie with different scenes. It communicated to me the importance of following the direction of the Lord even when it seems illogical or ridiculous. Naaman a man of great notoriety had to at one point in his search for healing follow the directions laid out before him. His obedience to the directive of the Word of God was what set him free. So let’s take a moment and look at Naaman’s life in incremental scenes and see what we can learn from his story.