Naaman was an important man — the head of the Syrian armies — but he had a big health problem.
Naaman was afflicted with the terrible flesh degenerating condition that is leprosy. I’m sure he tried whatever treatments he could to get well before “a little maid” from Israel who was serving in his household told Naaman’s wife how the prophet Elisha in Israel could “recover him from his leprosy.”
The little maid’s faith is just one lesson in the poignant story of what happens to Naaman. Find it in 2 Kings, Chapter 5, and read it to your kids and grandkids. There is even a “rest of the story” ending there.
This account, like so many the Lord has given us in the Old Testament, is full of lessons with principles we can apply today.
Remember that Christ invited us to read the Old Testament so we might learn of Him and how he loves us, and how we can draw nearer to him (John 5:39).
What can we learn from Naaman’s experience? To be healed — nothing else mattered to him at that time — Naaman departed for Israel with a letter of recommendation from the king of Syria as well as gold and silver and other gifts to offer for his health.
Elisha heard of his coming and told the king of Israel, “Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.”
But when Naaman arrived at the prophet’s house, Elisha didn’t even go to meet him. Instead, Elisha sent a messenger to him who said, “Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.”
Naaman took offense. Pride clouded his thinking. He expected the holy man to come out and call upon God to heal him, but instead, he was told to go to the dinky river Jordan, which is nothing compared to the great rivers of Syria.
Forget it, he said, and he turned away in a rage.
Fortunately, his servants came to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? How much rather then, when he saith to thee, ‘Wash, and be clean?’ ”
I have seen this story in film and been touched by the scene of Naaman humbling himself, taking off the armor and trappings of his high office and walking into the river Jordan, where he exercised the faith necessary to do as the prophet had bid him, dipping himself once, twice, three times and four.
What were Naaman’s thoughts and feelings then, and what are mine today? How do I humble myself enough to bend my prideful will to that of the Lord? How do I accept the Lord’s statement that His thoughts and His ways are higher than mine (Isaiah 55:8-9)?
Can I seek healing of my own spiritual weaknesses by trusting in the Lord and doing the little things He asks?
Five times, six times and seven, Naaman immersed himself “according to the saying of the man of God,” and then the joyful result: “and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.”
Our Heavenly Father loves us so much that he sent his Son, Jesus Christ, the atoning One, who gave us commandments and His perfect example of living them, so that we may trust and obey and become clean and worthy to return to our heavenly home.
We show our love for God when we learn of Him and keep the commandments He has given us.
It is a little thing to go and dip in the right river.
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