Scripture Notes: The Unexpected (2 Kings 5)

Naaman has everything going for him. He is a commander in the army of the King of Aram with a great deal of power and wealth and respect. But not everything is perfect in Naaman’s life, for he is a leper. This likely does not refer to what we call leprosy today, namely, Hansen’s disease. It is probably some kind of skin ailment. But in any case, it isolates Naaman from others; it is a blot on his otherwise satisfying life. And of course, he wants it gone.

So when a slave girl suggests that Naaman go to the prophet in Israel, Naaman jumps at the chance to be healed. But when he arrives, Elisha refuses even to see him in person. He merely sends a message, and a strange one at that: “Go and wash seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will heal, and you will be clean.” 

Naaman is highly offended at this unexpected treatment. Doesn’t this prophet know who he is? Doesn’t he realize that the great Naaman is to be treated with respect and deference? How can he just send a message like this and not even come out to greet him? How rude! And the message itself? Wash seven times in the Jordan? What? Naaman furiously declares that there are plenty of rivers in his homeland if he wants to take a bath. This prophet sure has some nerve.

Naaman decides to forget the whole thing. He is not going to go bounce around in a foreign river. But his servants reason with him. He would do much more if the prophet asked, they say. He would do all kinds of difficult things. So why not go have a bath seven times and see what happens? Naaman has to agree.

So he follows Elisha’s instructions, and the unexpected happens again. He comes out of the river healed and clean with his skin as soft and smooth as that of a young child. He is surprised to say the least, but he also comes to realization. Only the God of Israel could have done this. So this is the God he will worship for the rest of his life. Elisha refuses to receive payment, and instead Naaman takes two loads of soil home with him so that he can have a little piece of Israel on which to offer sacrifice to his newly found God, the unexpected extra delight of his healing from leprosy. Naaman is no longer ill physically or spiritually.