BY HUMBERTO RASI
S YOU KNOW, MUCH OF FIRST AND SECOND Kings in the Old Testament read like additional books of Chronicles. Among the many names of kings and queens and brief descriptions of their reigns that make up these two books is the intriguing story of Naaman (in 2 Kings 5).
Naaman had it all. Commander of the army of Syria, a regional superpower; highly respected by his peers for his courage; rich and powerful.
Sadly, however, he was also a leper, and against this terrible malady
he was powerless.
Unexpected Source of Hope
The story begins with a young girl from Israel who'd been captured by Syrian marauders and taken into Naaman's home as a slave. This young woman could have become totally discouraged and bitter in her situation-captured by armed men, dragged to a strange land, and forced into slavery in a pagan society. But she kept alive the faith and hope of her family in her heart. She sensed that even in an alien land under difficult circumstances, God had a service for her to perform.
Upon learning about Naaman's condition, she said to her mistress, "If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy" (2 Kings 5:3).*
Something in the girl's attitude and courage led Naaman to believe her. Receiving permission from his king, the commander leaves for Samaria with silver and gold in his hand, along with 10 sets of rich clothing. The Syrian king even gives him a letter addressed personally to the king of Israel: "With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman so you may cure him of his leprosy" (see 2 Kings 5:6).
This is the way the world works. It's who you know. You get what you want by leveraging your position and using your connections. The only trouble is that in this case, the approach didn't work. Just as Naaman had no power over his leprosy, neither did the king of Israel.
When the powerlessness of the powerful is unmasked, the result is suspicion. "Am I God?" the king of Israel asks. "See how the king of Syria is trying to pick a quarrel with me" (see verse 7).
Fortunately for Naaman, the prophet Elisha hears about the incident and sends a message to the troubled king: "Send the Syrian commander to me, so he will know that there is a God in heaven and a true prophet in Israel" (see verse 8).
So Naaman goes with his entourage to meet Elisha somewhere in the hill country of Samaria.
He is met not by Elisha, however, but by Elisha's servant, who conveys to him the word of the prophet: "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan. You will be cleansed and your flesh will be restored"(see verse 10).
This is too much for the second most powerful man in Syria. He's in a foreign country, standing in the dusty countryside, surrounded by his personal guard, with 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, 10 sets of fine clothes, and a letter from a king. And here he is, having to seek out a rural prophet who won't even come out to meet him. And now he's being told by a servant to wash in a small, insignificant stream. What humiliation!
"Are not the rivers of Damascus better than any of the rivers of Israel?" he asks with a voice full of anger. And he begins to turn his horses around and head for home, prepared to reject his only hope of being healed (see verse 12).
But his assistants keep their heads and counsel him wisely. "If the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it?" they ask (verse 13). "Please go do as he says." So Naaman swallows his pride, follows Elisha's counsel, and is healed.
Instead of returning immediately to Syria, Naaman leads his entourage back to the humble home of Elisha. A new idea has blossomed in his mind. Naaman has come to understand the real source of power and help. "There is no god in all the world except the God of Israel," he proclaims in front of the prophet and his own people (see verse 15).
But Naaman cannot convince Elisha to accept a single thing from him. Intrigued by the prophet's refusal to receive a reward for this extraordinary miracle, Naaman heads back to Syria healed, converted, rejoicing.
We would like the story to end here. Unfortunately, there is more. Elisha's servant, Gehazi, cannot comprehend why his master has acted in this manner. He believes Elisha is missing a unique opportunity to charge something for the miracle and to take an early retirement-along with his servant, of course! So Gehazi runs after Naaman and, using an invented story, asks the commander to give him two talents of silver and two sets of clothing. Naaman is so grateful that he does not ask how come the prophet could not take care of such rather minor matters.
But Gehazi's first lie forces him to lie to Elisha as he returns. The punishment for his greed is swift. "Naaman's leprosy will cling to you," says the prophet (verse 27). And as Gehazi leaves, he is leprous, as white as snow.
Three Lessons
1. There are no small people in God's great plan. In this story the significant people are not the rich and the powerful; rather, they're the servants. The captured slave is the source of the news that there's a prophet in Israel, and a faithful witness brings miraculous healing. Naaman's assistants are the ones who keep their master from fleeing in rage, encouraging him to overcome his embarrassment and do the small thing Elisha had directed.
The Bible reminds us frequently that God uses common people to convey His messages and do His bidding-the unnamed servants in this miracle; the shepherds of Bethlehem; the fishers from Galilee; the women at the tomb. Even children matter in getting God's work done in the world.
2. The dangers of using a religious position for personal advantage. We're given opportunities to serve in many different ways: through evangelism, education, health care, development, service. These are divine assignments that can make a major difference in the lives of many, many people.
At times, however, we forget we're only channels for the resources God sends through organizations so others may be blessed. At times we may be tempted to take advantage of our position or authority for personal comfort or benefit, therefore transforming ministry into merchandise. The case of Gehazi is a striking reminder of the need to be absolutely transparent in our transactions so as not to become an obstacle for those who are seeking truth, hope, healing, and salvation.
3. This memorable story invites us to ask a sobering question: To whom or to what do we turn in our day of trouble? Wealth, power, position, and connections could not help the Syrian army commander. He had it all, and he counted on it for his deliverance. But power and wealth are gifts, not guarantees. Naaman's faith was anchored in the wrong things.
To whom do we turn for help in times of suffering or need? In what do we put our faith when crises come? In our own power? Our investments? Our connections? Our own intelligence? When we minister to others in need, to whom do they give credit? Do they see us? Or do they see in us unnamed servants of a magnificent God?
Ellen White wrote these encouraging words: "Those who turn to God with heart and soul and mind will find in Him peaceful security" (Sons and Daughters of God, p. 19).
The only true security in this life is found in a relationship with God, the Maker of heaven and earth. Only in a secure relationship with Him are we fitted to serve our churches and our communities.
* Bible references in this article are from the New International Version.
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Humberto Rasi is the director of the General Conference Education Department.
