FAITH OF A CHILD (2 KINGS 5:1-27)
A pastor and a lawyer are seated next to each other on a flight from Los Angeles to New York. The lawyer asks if the pastor would like to play a fun game. The pastor, tired, just wants to take a nap, politely declines, and rolls over to the window to catch a few winks.
The lawyer persists and explains that the game is easy and a lot of fun. He explains, “I ask you a question, and if you don't know the answer, you pay me $5.00, and vise versa.” Again, he declines and tries to get some sleep.
The lawyer, now agitated, says, “Okay, if you don't know the answer you pay me $5.00, and if I don't know the answer, I will pay you $500.00.” This catches the pastor’s attention and figuring there will be no end to this torment unless he plays, agrees to the game.
The lawyer asks the first question. “What's the distance from the earth to the moon?” The pastor doesn't say a word, reaches into his wallet, pulls out a $5.00 bill and hands it to the lawyer.
Okay says the lawyer, your turn. The pastor asks the lawyer, “What goes up a hill with three legs and comes down with four legs?” The lawyer, puzzled, takes out his laptop computer and searches all his references, no answer. He taps into the air phone with his modem and searches the net and the library of congress, no answer. Frustrated, he sends e-mails to all his friends and coworker, to no avail.
After an hour, he wakes the preacher, and hands him $500.
The pastor says, “Thank you,” and turns back to get some more sleep. The lawyer, who is more than a little miffed, wakes the pastor and asks, “Well, what's the answer?” Without a word, the pastor reaches into his wallet, hands the lawyer $5.00, and goes back to sleep
In the fifth chapter of 2 Kings two stubborn men were on a collision course, one was a servant of the God of Israel and the other one a servant of the king of Syria. After the southern kingdom of Judah and the northern kingdom of Israel were divided at the death of Solomon, the northern kingdom went into an unending and unrepentant period of apostasy. Second Kings was a transitional period in Israel’s history, and the torch was passed from Elijah to Elisha. Syria switched from competitor in 1 Kings to conqueror in 2 Kings. The prophets prophesied extensively and almost exclusively in the northern kingdom by this time. They were thick and thin in the frontline of activity against the idolatrous northern kings and the hostile invading kings. Enter Naaman, the supreme and stubborn leprous captain of the Syrian army who initially opposed Elisha but eventually obeyed him..
Can people change? From willfulness to willingness, and from stubborn obstinacy to simple obedience? Why are people so resistant to change for the better good? How do people overcome stubborn pride and keep themselves humble?
Confess your Weakness
1 Now 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. 2 Now bands from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman's wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 4 Naaman 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. 6 The 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.” 7 As 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!” 8 When 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.” (2 Kings 5:1-8)
A skeptical physician said to his Christian patient, “I could never understand saving faith. I believe in God and I suppose I believe in Jesus Christ—I am not conscious of any doubts. I believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and I believe in the Bible, yet I am not saved, I do not feel God near me. What is the matter with me?”
“Well,” said the patient, “a week ago I believed in you as a very skillful physician. I believed that if I put myself in your hands I would recover from my illness. In other words, I trusted you. For a week now I have been taking some mysterious stuff out of a bottle. I don't know what it is; I don't understand it, but I am trusting in you. Now, whenever a person turns to the Lord Jesus Christ and says, 'Lord Jesus, Christianity seems to me to be full of mysteries. I do not understand them, but I believe Thou art trustworthy and I trust Thee; I commit myself to Thee,' that is faith. A very simple thing, isn't it?”
The faith of the patient did not heal him; it was the remedy that healed him; but in faith he took the remedy. (from Illustrations of Bible Truths # 233)
Naaman’s miracle almost did not materialize had he given up or blown up. The commander could have missed out on God’s healing had he not patiently check out at least five sources, quarters or people, of which the first was the finest. The first intermediary was a little maid. It was hard for a person in his prestigious position, of such pompous pride, and at his peak power to accept advice from a captive maid. The Hebrew text emphasized she was not just a maid but a “little maid” (v 2), in contrast to the “great man” (v 1) who was Naaman. Not just a little maid, but a Jewish slave - inferior for her race, insignificant as a slave and ignorant of a child. The range of translations for “little” include least, lesser, little, small and young. Her “captive” (v 2) state was likened to the captured Lot (Gen 14:14). She was a captive, but she did not behave like a slave. Age, appearance and ability were no barriers to her. Trusted by her owner and thinking of the family, the foreigner offered her mistress her services without being asked.
The little maid’s suggestion and behavior belied her age. She knew something that nobody knew – that the leper could recover. “Recover” is a minority translation reserved for this passage and no other. The regular KJV equivalent for the term is “taken away” (Gen 30:23, Ps 85:3, Ps 104:29, Isa 4:1, Isa 16:10) – a miracle in the making. In the Torah, leprosy could be “cleansed” but never “taken away,” but the maid had the faith of a child to believe it could be completely, inexplicably and miraculously removed. The law stipulates that a leper is clean (Lev 13:25) or unclean, defiled or undefiled, but never “recovered,” normal or healthy. Further a leper has to be declared clean by a priest, isolated at least seven days (Lev 13: 31, 54) and have his clothes washed (Lev 13:34).
Sometimes we find help in the least likely person, from the most unlikely place, at a most unlikely time in the most unlikely period of our lives. The commander was a nation’s captain, a great and valiant man. He meant much to their country, the people and his master for his status in society, support from others and skills in fighting. He could have laughed off what a little maid could do for her, but he did not. He could have ignored his wife’s plea, but he did not. He could have hesitated to bother his master, who had to ask a favor from a foreign king.
Finally, Elisha was the most unlikely person to aid the enemy and help the commander. The king of Israel at that time was Jehoram the son of Ahab (12 Kings 2). The last conversation Elisha had with the king of Israel was a big stand 0ff, a bust-up and a fall-out. In 2 Kings 3:13-15, Elisha scolded the king of Israel, “What do we have to do with each other? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother… As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, if I did not have respect for the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you or even notice you. (2 Kings 3:13-14). The king of Israel (v 5) and the man of God (v 14) had nothing in common. Previously, the king of Israel sought for Elisha (2 Kings 3:12), but it was reversed this time. Why did Elisha bother? To prove how stubborn and sinful Israel was compared to the Gentiles.
Correct Your Wrongs
9 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house. 10 Elisha 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.” 11 But 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. 12 Are 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. 13 Naaman'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'!” 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. (2 Kings 5:9-14)
A Quaker had gotten himself into trouble with the authorities and the sheriff called to escort him to the lock-up.
“Is your husband in?” he inquired of the good wife who came to the door.
“My husband will see thee,” she replied. “Come in.”
The sheriff entered, was bidden to make himself at home, and was hospitably entertained for half an hour, but no husband appeared. At last the sheriff grew impatient.
“Look here,” said he, “I thought you said your husband would see me.”
“He has seen thee,” was the calm reply, “but he did not like thy looks and has gone another way.” (More Toasts, Gertrude Stein)
Can you imagine Naaman’s wrath when Elisha refused to see him and instead left some instructions at the door to a messenger? He felt insulted, infuriated and incensed, but he had no one but himself to blame. First of all, Naaman made the mistake of going to Elisha with an impressive show of force. Horses and chariots hardly did the trick and actually did the reverse and caused major damage because “horse and chariot” together as a phrase was always unfriendly, unreliable and unwelcome (1 Kings 20:1, 21, 2 Kings 6:14, 15, 17, 10:2). Horse and chariot in the singular were a far better choice than horses and chariots in the plural (v 9).
Next, he had false expectations and preconceived notions. Naaman expected the reverse – Elisha would “come out and stand” before him to do his thing, not Naaman “entering in and kneeling” before Elisha. Better still, the prophet should meet the commander at the door, but there was no way in the world for Elisha to greet him as it was against Jewish law for lepers to run around. Naaman had not done his research or asked the maid. He came to “name it and claim it.” There was no sincerity in the commander. It was more of a conquest than a quest or a request from the commander. He thought he was entitled and endorsed, and he just had to sign up and show up. It was not a confession, but a command from him. In other words, he did not get off his high horse.
Further, Naaman’s faith was in man and prophet, not God. Elisha was merely a messenger of God, never the Master himself. Naaman was annoyed and angry, not agreeable in attitude. He was still in his usual command and demand mode. The commander was so averse to asking, acknowledging and accepting that he could not hear the precious promise of Elisha, just the prophet’s provocation. He was seeking for a cure, but the prophet promised him more than a cure; it included cleansing – his flesh will be restored and he will be cleansed (v 10).
Fifth, Naaman was superstitious rather than sincere. The Syrian wanted cure without commitment to God. He wanted things done his way, which was to “wave of the hand,” probably what medicine men from his country would do - faith that is pampered, passive and practical. He preferred God’s activity to His authority. The magic, however, was not in the ocean, but in the obedience. Doing something so simple but so specific was more than a test.
Continue Your Walk
15 Then 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.” 16 The 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. 18 But 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. After Naaman had traveled some distance, 20 Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, “My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.” 21 So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him. “Is everything all right?” he asked. 22 “Everything is all right,” Gehazi answered. “My master sent me to say, 'Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.'“ 23 “By all means, take two talents,” said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and then tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi. 24 When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the things from the servants and put them away in the house. He sent the men away and they left. (2 Kings 5:15-24)
As two Zen monks walked along a muddy, rain-drenched road, they came upon a lovely woman attempting to cross a large mud-puddle. The elder monk stopped beside the woman, lifted her in his arms, and carried her across the puddle. He set her down gently on the dry ridge of the road as the younger monk discreetly admired her charms.
After bowing politely to the woman, the two monks continued down the muddy road. The younger monk was sullen and silent as they walked along. They traveled over the hills, down the valleys, through a town, and under forest trees. At last, after many hours had passed, the younger monk scolded the elder, “You are aware that we monks do not touch women! Why did you carry that girl?”
The elder monk slowly turned and smiled. He said, “My dear young brother, you have such heavy thoughts! I left them the woman alongside the road hours ago. Why are you still carrying her?” (Heather Forest, Wisdom Tales form Around the World, August House, Bits and Pieces 3/27/97)
Naaman was a man made new. First he saw God in a new light. He acknowledged that there was no God in all the world except in Israel (v 15). The phrase “none in all the earth/world” is taken from a similar Hebrew phrase in Exodus 9:14 – “there is no one like me in all the earth” – when God predicted the devastation of the land of Egypt and the destruction of the army of Egypt. The commander declared His duty and devotion, obligation and obedience to Yahweh; he will not sacrifice to other gods (elohim), but to the Lord (Yahweh) only (v 17).
Next, the humbled commander saw himself in a new light. He realized he had a responsibility to God. Above all, he was God’s servant, addressing himself as “thy servant” a remarkable five times (vv 15, 17*2, 18*2). Previously he was servant to Syria’s king (2 Kings 5:6) and he had servants (2 Kings 5:13) at his disposal, but now he is the servant of the Lord. He also sought pardon (v 18*2) from the Lord.
Finally, Naaman saw others in a new light. Overall, he was gentlemanly, genuine and generous. When the gentleman Naaman saw Elisha’ servant Gehazi running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him (v 21), which was what he should have done with Elisha. To show his genuineness, Naaman used two Hebrew imperative “By all means” and “take” (v 23), the former (“by all means”) is translated elsewhere as “please” (2 Kings 6:3), “agree” (Ex 2:21) and “kind” (Job 6:28). Generous as he was, Naaman gave more than was requested and required of him and also secured the silver for Gehazi’s return trip. Gehazi wanted a talent of silver (v 21), but he doubled it and offered two (v 22).
Conclusion: God wants to heal us – mind, body and spirit, but is your pride, pretension and presumption in the way and work of God? Are you resistant to God’s work in you? Is there a sin or a habit you have not given over to God? He wants to you to commit your taalents, tasks and time to Him. Is there something you can do for God with the privileges and position God has given you?
