2 Kings 5. Outwardly Naaman’s life was ideal. He was commander of one of the most powerful armies of his time. He was gifted with strength and stamina like no other. He was honored and revered by all who knew him and extremely valuable to his Syrian king and kingdom. God had used this valiant warrior to bring outrageous victories. The Bible literally says that God had given him victory. God gifted victory to him.
He was a man of integrity and honor and knew how to serve others well. I imagine he had a beautiful wife, the envy of all her peers. His household was filled with servants and staff who loved him in an uncommon way. They viewed him more as family, rather than an employer. I know this because later in the chapter his servant actually called him “father” instead of master. He must have been a good master, treating his servants with love and kindness.
He seemed to be quite the perfect package. Yet there was one thing about this man’s oh-so-ideal life that he wished was nonexistent. His outward clothing hid his inward turmoil. Those dear to him knew. Gossip rippled through the kingdom, as he hid his shame the best he could.
To the human eye, he seemed nothing less than ideal. So what was his secret? Meet the honored, loved, and revered Naaman, the leper.
The Bible doesn’t say whether Naaman had leprosy from birth or contracted it from one of his military conquests, but one thing was certain: he longed to be free from his disease. When a girl is taken from the children of Israel during one of King Aram’s raids, it’s no coincidence that she is placed in Naaman’s home. I can only surmise that the love and care she felt within Naaman’s household stirred her to share the miracles she had heard about.
There was a man, a prophet of God, who could heal Naaman. One day she told her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his skin disease.” I love the way she says this—so certain. So sure. So simple.
Can you imagine the hope that Naaman felt when he heard that his disease could be healed? Like a fresh wind blown into his sails, transitioning him from a place of stagnation, and moving him steadily towards what he dreamed was possible.
Let me pause: I’m here to breathe hope into your life. God has a plan to restore you. To bring you to fresh places in Him you’ve never experienced before. To take things out of your life that seem impossibly permanent and divinely reverse it for His glory. You’re going to walk differently. You’re going to talk differently. You will never be the same. God’s going to give divine faith to your heart again. May you have lasting hope in a God who still does the miraculous.
So Naaman journeys. He journeys with gifts in hand and hope in heart. He journeys roughly 354 miles on horse, which is anywhere from a four to seven-day journey. I’m positive he spent a great deal of that time imagining what it would be like to be completely healthy. Maybe he even asked around to learn about the man he was going to meet.
Perhaps he uncovered stories of other miracles Elisha had performed, and tales of his predecessor Elijah. Would Elisha perform miracles like he had done in the past? Each step towards his destination brought him closer to the divine miracle he hoped to receive.
"Just take the first step. Then take another step and another. Be willing to take the journey to heal my sweet friends, even when it’s longer than you expected."
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