The political background of 2 Ki 5 is the ongoing tension between Israel and Aram (present day Syria). The nation of Aram appears frequently in the OT having wars with Israel. The following are some other references concerning Aram. First, Aram descended from Shem after the flood of Noah, and the people is called Arameans. Second, Isaac’s wife and her family lived in Aram. Third, in the NT, Paul was converted on the way to Damascus, the capital city of Syria. Fourth, the disciples of Jesus were first called Christians in Antioch, another city in Syria.

This chapter narrates the lives of two men, Naaman and Gehazi, who have different attitudes towards the things of God. Verses 1-18 describes how Naaman, a pagan army commander turned to God in humility for help. Verses 19-27 narrates how Gehazi, a servant of God’s prophet, was blinded by greed and used deception for his ulterior motive. One was blessed by God while the other, punished by God.

Verse 1 tells us that Naaman not only received favor from the King of Aram but also God. Though he was a capable military commander, he contracted leprosy. God used the illness to draw him to the prophet Elisha for healing. The story unfolded with a little girl who was captured to serve in Naaman’s household. After hearing that Elisha was a prophet who could help him, he went to King Joram of Israel with a letter from his own king, Ben-hadad.

When Naaman came to the house of Elisha, Elisha did not see him personally but sent a message instead, telling him to go and wash himself into the river Jordon seven times and be clean. He was unhappy as he expected Elisha to see and cure him immediately. He wanted to be cured; he could instead clean himself in the rivers back home. He went away angrily. But his good servants persuaded him and he listened to them to go to Jordon. His flesh was miraculously restored and healed from leprosy. One commentator suggested that there was a play of Hebrew words – “little girl” in v2 who told Naaman about the prophet Elisha and in v14 when it is written Naaman’s flesh was restored like that of a “little child”. These terms are used in contrast with the phrase “great man” in v1. Naaman was a high official with dignity that was attached to his position. But through his illness, he humbled himself to listen and obey the words of both Elisha and his servants. He put aside his pride of his prestigious status in the society. And he came to acknowledge and worship a foreign God as a little child. This is the kind of faith that Jesus also commends in Matt 18:3-4 “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Though Gehazi is a servant of the prophet Elisha, he is a total contrast from Naaman. His master declined the gifts after he had healed Naaman. Elisha attributed all the power in the healing came not from him but God. Naaman left as a transformed person that set his heart to worship and please Yahweh instead of Baal. But Gehazi schemed, went after him and took advantage over Naaman by asking for gifts out of pretext and greed. However, Elisha knew the plot through God’s help and he punished Gehazi. The leprosy that left Naaman came upon Gehazi.

My brothers and sisters, pause for a moment here to take stock of your spiritual faith in God. Do we come to God with a childlike faith like that of Naaman? Or are we like Gehazi? Though we have already believed in God, have we recently done something that did not honor God? We are to follow the good example of Naaman but beware of the dire warning from Gehazi. Choose one of the following two prayers that is applicable in your situation.

Prayer :

Dear God, thank you for the example of Naaman. May my heart continue to remain sensitive to your Spirit and my faith like that of a child that seeks to please You in all my ways. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Dear God, thank you for speaking to me through the warning of Gehazi. I acknowledge that I have not honoured you by (tell God what happened in detail). I was wrong and sinned against You. As I confessed to You, thank You for forgiving my sin. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.