2 Kings 5 recounts the story of Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram, who suffers from leprosy. A young Israelite girl, who was taken captive and serves Naaman’s wife, suggests that Naaman go to the prophet Elisha in Samaria for healing (2 Kings 5:1-3).

Naaman obtains a letter from the king of Aram and takes it, along with gifts, to the king of Israel (2 Kings 5:4-5). The king of Israel is distressed, thinking it a provocation (2 Kings 5:6-7), but Elisha hears of it and tells the king to send Naaman to him (2 Kings 5:8).

When Naaman arrives, Elisha sends a messenger to tell him to wash in the Jordan River seven times to be healed (2 Kings 5:9-10). Naaman is initially angry, expecting a more dramatic cure, but his servants persuade him to follow the prophet’s instructions (2 Kings 5:11-13). Naaman obeys, and his leprosy is miraculously cured (2 Kings 5:14).

Naaman returns to Elisha, offering gifts, but Elisha refuses them (2 Kings 5:15-16). Naaman then asks for two mule-loads of earth to take home, pledging to worship only the God of Israel from then on (2 Kings 5:17-19).

Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, covets the gifts and deceives Naaman to get them. He lies to Elisha about his actions and is struck with Naaman’s leprosy as a punishment (2 Kings 5:20-27).

Life Applications

1. Faith and Humility:

• Naaman’s healing required him to put aside his pride and follow simple instructions. This teaches the importance of humility and faith in God’s methods, even when they seem simple or unexpected (2 Kings 5:10-14).

1. God’s Power and Grace:

• Naaman was a foreigner and an enemy of Israel, yet God healed him, demonstrating that God’s grace extends beyond national or ethnic boundaries (2 Kings 5:1, 14).

1. Obedience:

• The story emphasizes the importance of obedience to God’s instructions. Naaman’s healing came only after he followed Elisha’s directions precisely (2 Kings 5:10, 14).

1. Integrity and Honesty:

• Gehazi’s greed and deceit lead to his downfall, highlighting the importance of integrity and the consequences of dishonesty (2 Kings 5:20-27).

1. Witnessing Through Actions:

• The young Israelite girl’s faith and her willingness to help Naaman despite being a captive serve as a powerful example of witnessing through actions (2 Kings 5:2-3).

1. Gratitude and Worship:

• Naaman’s response to his healing was gratitude and a commitment to worship the true God. This reflects how experiencing God’s work in our lives should lead us to gratitude and a deeper relationship with Him (2 Kings 5:15-19).