Naaman’s leprosy was healed after he dipped in the Jordan River seven times

Naaman the Syrian had leprosy and came to Elisha the prophet, for he heard that he could heal him. Elisha instructed him what to do to remove the leprosy:

So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 2 Kings 5:14

The little Israelite maid

Naaman was a commander of the Syrian army. We are told in verse 1 that by him the Lord God had given victory to Syria. The King of Syrian saw Naaman as a great man and as a result he had high favour with the king. Therefore, he was a mighty man who had been successful in battle but he was also a leper. In one of the raids on the land of Israel the army had captured a little girl and brought her back to Syria. She was given to Naaman’s wife to help as a maid. Noticing that Naaman had leprosy she said to her mistress:

“Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 2 Kings Ch.5:3

Naaman’s wife told Naaman about this and as a result Naaman decided he needed to go to the land of Israel to be cured. He told the king of Syria about this and the king sent a letter to the king of Israel.

A little girl’s faith

Naaman appears to have ruled his own house well, so that this young girl became so content in her captivity that she could think a practical thought for the mistress’s leprous husband. Indeed we know how Naaman conducted himself, for God took note of him and of his incapacity and was moved to heal him.

The little girl had been taken from her family’s house in Israel and was now a slave in a foreign land. She must have been fearful initially. However, in her distress, she could recall with pride, and with faith and confidence, God’s prophet who was in Samaria. What is even more amazing is that her confidence was so absolute that she was believed by others.

But how did she know that Elisha could heal a leper when she said so confidently:

“Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 2 Kings Ch.5:3

What is clear is that she knew that Elisha was a prophet of her Lord and that in that capacity he was a manifestation of God Himself and thus all-powerful. She had faith in this servant of the Lord God.

It is also a compliment to this little girl’s reputation in her new household that her wholehearted belief in what she had said was accepted as truth by her mistress and was passed on to the mistress husband, Naaman.  Naaman in turn was so convinced by her that he approached the king, his master!

We can just imagine how this girl from a foreign land would have been questioned by her mistress. Maybe she was also questioned by others in the household. Naaman may have also called her into his presence and asked her about this prophet she had such faith in. Ofcourse the king also had to be convinced. But what we know is that the king was so moved by what he heard that he sent a valuable present to the king of Israel of ten talents of silver and six thousand shekels.

The king was so confident about the outcome that he also wrote a letter to the king of Israel.

“When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” 2 Kings 5:6

The king was anxious to see his brave officer restored to good health.  

Naaman travels to Elisha’s house

Naaman travels to the land of Israel. In Israel, Naaman was directed to Elisha. Elisha was a man of God and a prophet and he is the one who the little maid had been thinking could cure Naaman. He arrives at the prophet Elisha’s house in all his splendour with his attendants, his horses and chariots. 2 Kings chapter 5 and verse 10 tells us what happened next:

And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” 2 Kings 5:10

Naaman was offended. He misunderstood how the power of God operates to heal the mental and physical illnesses of men and women. Naaman felt that at least Elisha himself should have come out of his house and appeared to him. He also was angry because he was told to wash and be clean in the Jordan River. To him it was an insignificant stream when compared to the mighty rivers of Damascus!

As he travelled to Elisha’s house he may have built up expectations as to how this prophet would cure him. Now he was outside Elisha’s house, he may have been wondering why this prophet didn’t come to him and strike the leprosy from his body. So Naaman was disappointed, and was preparing to return to Syria without going to the Jordan.

But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. 2 Kings 5:11

From this verse we also learn that leprosy was not all over Naaman but only in a certain area – “over the place”.

Naaman is cured

One of the officers of Naaman spoke with him about his plan to not do as Elisha had said.

But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” 2 Kings 5:13

The wise counsel made sense to Naaman so he humbled himself and did what Elisha had said to him. He bathed seven times in the River Jordan. His faith and obedience brought its reward – the leper was cleansed.

He returned to Elisha and thanked him. Thankfulness is all important as Jesus showed when only one of the ten lepers of Israel that he cured returned to thank him. Refer to Matthew chapter 17 and verses 11 to 19 to read more about this episode in Jesus life.

Naaman, truly, was the recipient of a great blessing. Christ emphasised this in Luke chapter 4 verse 27:

And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”

Why was he given this great honour? Did God favour Naaman for a particular action? We don’t know. It is unlikely that Naaman had shown special kindness to his captives. But perhaps it was the little maiden who formed so important a link in the carrying through of this particular chain of events. Such would be quite in harmony with the God’s statement concerning Israel:

I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse. Genesis 12:3

What is clear is that after the initial problems at Elisha’s house Naaman had shown faith and obedience in following Elisha’s instructions.

Obeying the directions of the Lord God

If we want to become sons and daughters of the living God then we must come to Him through the way he has indicated.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16:16

We become the living God’s sons and daughters by accepting His Gospel and being baptised into the sin covering name of Jesus. There is no other way to identify ourselves with God. The leprosy of sin is only removable by God’s set way. This is a lesson that Naaman had to learn.