“So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.”
2 Kings 5:14
Naaman, the revered Commander of the Aramean army, was destined for ruination because he suffered from leprosy. And it surely would have been so but for the kindness of an Israelite slave girl whose name we don’t even know. She had served Naaman’s wife and said to her mistress one day, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy” (v. 3).
Though enslaved in a foreign country and undoubtedly missing her family, she shared her faith with her captors and pointed Naaman to Elisha, a man of God. Naaman went to Elisha laden with gifts, hoping to perhaps buy a miracle. Elisha’s servant told him to go wash seven times in the Jordan River. Angry (why hadn’t the prophet himself met Naaman?) and insulted (no one would dare go in that dirty river!), Naaman turned to leave. Now Naaman’s servant spoke up: “If the prophet had told you to do some great deed, would you not have done it?” (v. 13)
Naaman humbled himself and dipped in the Jordan. God used Elisha’s servant, Naaman’s servants, and a muddy river to draw him near.
Though enslaved in a foreign country and undoubtedly missing her family, she shared her faith with her captors and pointed Naaman to Elisha, a man of God. Naaman went to Elisha laden with gifts, hoping to perhaps buy a miracle. Elisha’s servant told him to go wash seven times in the Jordan River. Angry (why hadn’t the prophet himself met Naaman?) and insulted (no one would dare go in that dirty river!), Naaman turned to leave. Now Naaman’s servant spoke up: “If the prophet had told you to do some great deed, would you not have done it?” (v. 13)
Naaman humbled himself and dipped in the Jordan. God used Elisha’s servant, Naaman’s servants, and a muddy river to draw him near.
Scripture Focus
2 Kings 5
Insight
As He did with Naaman through his young servant girl, God devastates our pride and reaches us in exactly the way we need it most.
Bible In A Year
- Genesis 22-23
- Psalm 11
- Matthew 18
