Naaman is a respected, successful, rich man, doing well. He has a lot of money, everyone respects him, a good family, he is physically strong... What would his life be like if he were alive today? Today he could be a successful man, with a good life, no worries. Women would turn around and look for him on the street. Everyone envies his life. When he goes into a restaurant, everyone is looking for his favour. A winner. He only has Apple products, even his dog has gold "apple watches" on his feet. He has a huge house on the beach with a big yard, dogs, cats, a pond, a pool, ... . . . He has his own YouTube channel, millions of subscribers, battle videos.
2 Kings 5:1-14
One day, however, he goes to the doctor and the doctor tells him that he has leprosy. Once, while bathing, Naaman saw a small spot on his body. He was a little worried, but he didn't pay much attention. Then the spot got bigger and bigger and in more and more places until he realised he had leprosy, which meant that slowly his body was rotting and there was no cure. Leprosy is a slow death (you could live 10-20 years with body parts slowly falling off). It was very humiliating.
This story warns us to THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE THE REAL VALUES IN OUR LIVES; Naaman's life is another example of how money is not everything and how human life is very fragile. It is astonishing how many people still pursue earthly things, even though it is clearly written that we can take nothing from this world with us when we die. Example: the Gypsis put their favourite objects in the coffin with the dead so that they can use them in the afterlife. Some people put money in their pockets so that they can have it in the afterlife. Unfortunately, according to the Bible, all this is in vain, because we take nothing out of here.
What is leprosy:. Leprosy often attacks the nerves, so the patient does not feel anything. If he cuts his finger or steps on a nail, he doesn't feel it either. These sores become infected and the limbs often have to be amputated or fall off on their own. In Jesus' day, leprosy was an incurable disease. . . The disease was CONTAGIOUS, spread through the skin, so no one wanted to touch them. Besides that, the germ was in the nasal secretions, so it was enough to sneeze, someone could get it anyway. So not only would people not touch a leper, they wouldn't even go near one, lest they somehow catch the disease.
Naaman the general
Naaman has probably been praising himself so far. He looked in the mirror and smiled at what a great man he was. When he became a leper, he looked in the mirror and was no longer proud. He was humiliated and desperate and panic stricken. He probably called the best doctors, promised them big money, but no one could help. Worst of all, he could NO LONGER HUG HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN. He could never have contact with people again. He was doomed to die and no one would go near him.
But Naaman had a much bigger problem than leprosy. And this is Sin. Sin is a disease from which, if one is not cured, will result in eternal death in hell, which is far more horrible than anything one can experience on this earth. Sin is similar to leprosy or cancer, only much worse.
Everybody suffers from this disease, and if you look in the mirror you can see it. This mirror is the word of God, and in this mirror we see a terrible sight, if we are honest. The first brave look into this mirror is a very shocking experience. What does the mirror show? Adultery, envy, anger, ambition, love of money, lies, selfishness, hypocrisy? The Word of God shows the symptoms of a terrible deadly disease. This disease is called SIN. And God wanted to heal this disease in Naaman's life.
God was not surprised by what happened, because He knows everything and has everything in His hand. (God's invisible hand - providence. Sometimes we see why a tragedy happens, but many times we don't.) The Lord allowed a tragedy in Naaman's life because He wanted to give him more.
„For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” Mark 8:36 ESV
God wanted to give him ETERNAL LIFE. Many times this is the only way God can get attention. Some people are converted when something tragic happens to them. IT'S SO GOOD TO KNOW THAT GOD CARES NOT ONLY FOR OUR BODIES BUT ALSO FOR OUR SOULS.
God's providential hand
The invisible hand of God, again - providence. A Jewish girl became their servant. The girl's parents probably couldn't understand why God would allow their daughter to be kidnapped by the enemy.
Why did God allow this tragedy to happen? Obviously, it was not His original will for people to fight and kill, but to love one another. It is not God who is responsible for the evil in the world, but men and Satan. Yet God allows certain bad things in the world and brings good out of it. Why did He allow the kidnapping of the little girl in the story?
It was to convert a pagan leader, who must have had an influence on those around him. I am sure that later the little girls life got better too. The Lord has everything in His hands. Many times we do not understand why He is doing what He is doing, and then we are left with nothing but trust. We trust God because we know He is a wonderful father who wants the best for His children. A little boy probably doesn't understand why his father takes him for a vaccination when he stepped on a rusty nail, but when he gets older he will understand that it was all for his own good. Trust God, even if you don't understand what he's doing. Trust Him and believe that His invisible hand is guiding your destiny.
„And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 ESV
The little girl
“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3 ESV
Contrast between Naaman and the little girl (strong, rich, famous, important, has everything financially, and the little girl is a slave . . ., yet she saves the great commander). The little child has sincere faith. He does not overcomplicate things. He does not reason, but believes what adults tell him. They can be taught. With simple faith, she says, "I know someone who can help you. I have seen him help others and he could help you." That's all we need to tell. Jesus can help you too. Then tell him what you have experienced. That's the point of witnessing.
The little girl helped Naaman more (and she was not vindictive, though he could have been angry and even rejoiced at Naaman's trouble. I might have thought he deserved his fate, for he had committed many sins. But the little girl was not gloating, and SHE DIDN`T THINK ABOUT HERSELF, BUT HER MASTER IN DISTRESS) as the king of Israel, who was supposed to be an anointed ruler. Even though he was anointed, his sins caused him to lose his anointing. If you depart from God, he will send someone to you in vain, you cannot help him. Only the anointing of the Holy Spirit can help people. How many times has God sent people your way, but you could not help!
The king of Aram sent 340 kg of silver and 66 kg of gold, and the clothes. That's more than 1 billion forints at today's prices. God's providence again. Had it not been for Elisha, Naaman would have returned disappointed, sick, without faith. ARE YOU READY TO SAY YES TO OTHERS? This message has been repeated recently, and not by accident. The Lord wants no one to remain in the faith as a child, but to grow up. One way to do this is by not just caring for ourselves, but by serving others more and more.
- Example: a story from a sermon by Adrian Rogers: A man delivered a letter of pardon to a convict, but on the way he went to the store, facebocked, got a free night at a welness hotel, and the next day when he woke up he read in the paper that he was too late because the man had been executed, even though he had the acquittal in his pocket.
Naaman is used to people immediately bowing to him and seeking his favour when he appears. He was very offended when Elisha did not come out to meet him. Perhaps you are one of those people who expect everyone to revolve around you. Naaman also had his own idea of God. He was used to commanding everyone and having everything his way. But God cannot be put in a box.
„For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV
We cannot impose our thoughts on God. We can only be healed by accepting His terms. Sometimes Jesus healed by laying on of hands, sometimes He put mud on a body part, sometimes He simply spoke. You can't tell God how to act. Naaman literally had to get off his high horse. He had to humble himself. Very often OUR PRIDE IS THE GREATEST OBSTACLE TO EXPERIENCING GOD'S BLESSINGS. Naaman did not want to do what God said because it was too easy. But his people persuaded him. Thanks for friends who encourage you, who encourage you in your walk with God. This is what saved Naaman's life here.
You may be in a very difficult situation yourself, perhaps even losing hope. We know from today's story that God is not surprised at your situation, but knows exactly what you are in and HAS THOUGHT BETTER than you can imagine. It may not be pleasant, it may be different than what you wanted, but God is good and loving, we can trust that what He has planned is what is best for us. We have one thing to do: do what God asks, even if it is not logical or if we would do otherwise. WE MUST GET OFF OUR HIGH HORSE.
Finally, we are all involved in a terrible disease called sin. If we do nothing, sin will kill us and we will be damned forever. Like leprosy, sin can be healed, but only if we accept God's way.
In a New Testament story, a Pharisee once came to Jesus with his own wrong idea about God. He thought that if he tried to keep the Bible's commands, God would make it up to him at the final judgment. Deep down, he probably felt that all was not well, so he secretly visited Jesus, but Jesus drastically disappointed Nicodemus. He told him that it was useless to try to keep God's commandments if one was not born again.
God doesn't want to patch up your life, He doesn't want to fix it, but He wants to give you a whole new heart and a new life. How is that possible? Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins. Like Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness. . . He who looks in faith upon the cross is healed from sin. It's as simple as that. You might say, "I thought you were supposed to do good deeds and go to church and this and that. But God sets the conditions for healing, not you.
Naaman went home praising God. He used to be a rich, successful man, now he is a blessed man. He has gained eternal life, he has gained faith. God is good.